PAT posts Transit Development Plan (Pittsburgh, Phoenixville: centers, authority, port authority)

[BrianTH]

Incidentally, here is a better source with more recent data (now also 2000 instead of just 1990) about vehicles per household in various metros:

Chapter 5. VEHICLE AVAILABILITY - CTPP - Planning - FHWA

New York is an off-the-charts outlier, as you might expect, at 1.26. But as of 2000, the Pittsburgh Metro still had fewer vehicles per household (1.55) than Chicago (1.56) or Washington (1.66).

[pman]

Brian, what's the new 28X route?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by pman

Brian, what's the new 28X route?

The 28X would become the R28 (the R prefix is for all the Rapid Bus routes):

http://tdp.portauthority.org/paac/po...es/28X-R28.pdf

Here are a few more details from this document:

http://tdp.portauthority.org/paac/portals/1/pdfs/2009DraftRecommendations.pdf (broken link)

Route 28X would be upgraded to provide premium Rapid Bus service between the Airport, downtown Pittsburgh, and Oakland. The route, which would be renamed Route R28 Airport Rapid, would be reconfigured to operate more directly (by skipping the deviation through Robinson Town Centre) and to use the proposed Rapid Bus corridor between downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland. In addition, the buses would be equipped with racks to
better accommodate luggage.
. . .
Summary of Recommended Changes:
* Upgrade to Rapid Bus Service: Operate directly from Airport to downtown Pittsburgh via Routes 22 and 60, and the West Busway (without the deviation through Robinson Town Centre). Operate between Downtown and Oakland via proposed 5th Avenue Rapid Bus corridor.
* Reconfigure buses to provide luggage racks.
* Operate at 30 minute frequencies throughout the day.
* Charge a premium fare for cash riders, most of whom are air passengers and would be less price sensitive than regular transit riders. However, to avoid cost increases for airport employees, pass riders could continue to use regular passes.

[pman]

when will this start?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by pman

when will this start?

No clue. They are supposed to start phasing in route changes next March, but full implementation of the plan is scheduled for 3-5 years, and I think you could be looking at more when it comes to stuff requiring significant capital (particularly depending on what happens with funding for urban transit over the next few years). On the other hand, most of this stuff is designed to increase ridership on the relevant routes and thus could quickly provide a return on investment if implemented well. So I guess we shall see.

[ctoocheck]

Summerset as a intermediate node in a commuter line from the East to town makes sense and could be done.

There is a proposed rapid bus line along Browns Hill Rd...once the development of Summerset is completed and connected to Browns Hill Rd I guess that western portion at least would be a point along the route.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by ctoocheck

There is a proposed rapid bus line along Browns Hill Rd...once the development of Summerset is completed and connected to Browns Hill Rd I guess that western portion at least would be a point along the route.

Oh sure. But the 61D actually goes into Summerset right now, and a rapid transit route coming up Browns Hill Road to eventually connect to Murray won't do that. And that was my point above: it is hard to see a rapid transit route ever choosing to take a detour through Summerset, as opposed to taking that alternate path straight through the heart of the Greenfield/Squirrel Hill South area.

[ctoocheck]

it is hard to see a rapid transit route ever choosing to take a detour through Summerset

I guess so. Naturally a "rapid transit" line going straight through wouldn't make sense, at least. Maybe if the population and bus ridership when the development is complete ends up being significant something else would be feasible. I couldn't say. But in any case, hopefully some day, Summerset would have at least some access to rapid transit. It doesn't necessarily have to be straight through the neighborhood; a good deal of the finished development would be within a walkable distance of Browns Hill Rd. But yes, this would be a much different set-up that that with rapid transit traversing Squirrel Hill, Oakland, etc.

[BrianTH]

What I could see serving Summerset some day is a shuttle of some sort to a rapid transit stop on the nearby line. That would, of course, depend on demand.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

That would, of course, depend on demand.

Properly advertised, I see transportation being an 'if you build it, they will come' type venture.