For Immediate Release
April 4, 2008
PITTSBURGH, PA — Following a meeting yesterday between the City of Pittsburgh Public Works Department, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the URA and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the key leaders, including the Mayor, are announcing today that they support the rerouting of buses from Market Square beginning May 15.
The focus of yesterday’s meeting was to balance the importance of public transit with the need to encourage ongoing investment in new growth areas of Downtown, including Market Square.
“These changes are being made to accommodate a changing and evolving Market Square,” said Mayor Ravenstahl. “The City is investing heavily in the revitalization of Downtown, but we also are very mindful of the need to minimize the impacts on commuters.”
Almost 50 percent of the Downtown workforce and over 50,000 people travel to and from Downtown Pittsburgh each day via public transit. The goal of Thursday’s meeting of key stakeholders was to develop short and long-term strategies that will make the transition as easy as possible on commuters. That will be done by communicating specific changes in advance, enhancing the flow of all traffic and having police officers at key locations to direct traffic.
For the first time last year, buses were rerouted out of Market Square. The buses returned to the Square in the fall.
“In addition to the changes in Market Square, the City will make various traffic control enhancements Downtown, which will help to enhance the flow of all traffic, including bus traffic, affording more reliable travel times for transit commuters,” said Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bland. “As with any change, it will take some time to adjust, but we believe this will help contribute to the many positive changes currently happening Downtown.”
All 22 Port Authority bus routes that currently operate through Market Square will be rerouted, with approximately half moving to Wood Street and Boulevard of the Allies and half taking Sixth Avenue. Some routings are temporary while Three PNC Plaza is being completed. A few weeks prior to the rerouting, the Port Authority will print and distribute a detailed routing guide to assist commuters in understanding how the changes will impact their daily trip.
“Market Square is the core of much of the development happening Downtown, such as Three PNC Plaza and Market Square Place (G.C. Murphy Building) and it is an important connection to the Cultural District,” said Mike Edwards, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “Rerouting the buses will enable us to continue offering programs and events geared towards visitors, residents and Downtown workers.”
Contacts:
Patrick Hassett
Bureau of Transportation and Engineering
Department of Public Works
(412) 255-2883
Judi McNeil
Port Authority of Allegheny County
(412) 566-5134
Cell: 412-874-7072
JMcNeil@PortAuthority.org
Hollie Plevyak
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
(412) 325-0153
Cell: (412) 780-6709
hplevyak@downtownpittsburgh.com
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