Downtown WILL BE open
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6:47 AM
Leave my house to walk the block and a half to the bus stop at Wilkins & Beechwood. My plan is to catch the first W bus into Downtown. The W is an express bus serving the Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze section of the East End. Each morning there are two that go in, one just before 7 AM and one just before 8 AM.
6:52 AM
Arrive at the bus stop. I’m the only one there. Usually there are kids waiting for school buses and a school crossing guard in addition to bus riders. Today it’s just me at the bus stop.
6:55 AM
A young man in sweats and a hoodie joins me at the bus stop.
7:00 AM
A neighbor passes by on her way back from an early morning yoga class. No buses have gone by.
7:01 AM
Both the W and the 67A arrive back to back. The young man and I get on the W. There is one other rider on the bus.
Between Wilkins and Centre Avenue in Oakland, only one other person gets on the bus. We whizz by stops that usually have people waiting for the W.
7:08 AM
The bus driver comments that there is so little car traffic on Fifth Avenue that “it feels like a holiday”. The Neville Ramp onto the East Busway is the first time we run into any traffic and it’s a parade of buses coming off the Neville Ramp and making a right onto Centre Avenue. We wait our turn to make a left onto Centre.
7:15 AM
Our bus is in a parade of buses going up Centre Avenue through Schenley Farms in Oakland and then through the Hill. I’m seeing a part of Pittsburgh that I’ve never seen before or, as our bus driver says, “we’re doing a little sightseeing today”. As we continue through the Hill, I can see the buildings change from boarded up to renovated and newly constructed as the Mellon Arena comes into view.
7:21 AM
Our bus is stuck in a line of buses waiting to go through the checkpoint at Fifth and Ross. One of the hold ups is the left turn the buses coming from Centre Avenue have to make at the light onto Sixth Avenue. The other hold up is that many of the other East End buses have come through Oakland and down Fifth Avenue, and we’re making a right at a light onto Fifth Avenue to join the parade of buses coming down Fifth.
7:40 AM
Our bus is through the checkpoint at Fifth and Ross and I get off at the corner of Fifth and Grant and am in Downtown.
G-20 Summit 311 HotlineThe City of Pittsburgh launched a 311hotline to answer questions and concerns related to the G-20 Summit and related transportation safety plan. City residents may dial 311, but residents outside of the city must dial 412-255-2621. Also, many questions can be answered at www.g20safety.org. Just click on "frequently asked questions." |
While the G-20 Pittsburgh Summit doesn’t officially begin until Thursday, it’s hard not to notice the significant changes that have already taken place Downtown. Some may even think it’s already begun and I would agree. Barriers are taking shape and police and law enforcement officials are patrolling the Golden Triangle. Some businesses have installed plywood on their street-level windows. While we certainly understand the logic, we urge business owners to refrain from doing so or to at least consider another option that looks more presentable to those who will pass by over the next several days. The Pittsburgh Beautification Project is offering free colorfully painted 4 ft. x 8 ft. chipboards to businesses interested in protecting their windows during the Summit. For more information, or to make arrangements, please contact Bob Ziller at 412-606-1220 or via e-mail at bobziller@gmail.com.
Yes, Downtown Will Be Open For Business
Most businesses have decided by now whether or not they will remain open during the Summit. The PDP partnered with VisitPittsburgh to survey stores and restaurants about their plans and we are pleasantly surprised by the large list we’ve compiled. I definitely don’t see Downtown being desolate like many are predicting. Nearly 100 eateries and 40 stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Office Depot will be open during the Summit. Some restaurants are even offering special G-20 menus, such as Franktuary and Tonic Bar and Grill. If you’re in town, there will be plenty of options to shop and eat. Check out our list here.
Getting to Downtown
The Port Authority will be operating on Thursday and Friday and we recommend public transit as the most efficient way to get into Downtown. If you do plan to drive, be sure to give yourself extra time and consider car-pooling with someone. Better yet, car-pool to a Park and Ride lot and take the bus or T. For Port Authority updates and route information, go here. Another option for commuters is to bike into town. Bicyclists will be treated the same as pedestrians and will be allowed to move freely throughout the Golden Triangle, but will need to enter through designated checkpoints to get into the secure perimeter around the Convention Center. Keep in mind that a portion of the Riverwalk on the North Shore will be closed between the Alcoa Building and Lincoln at North Shore apartments. There will be significant restrictions in the Strip District as well. Check Bike Pittsburgh’s Website for tips on traveling by bike. If you are a Zipcar user, you will be able to enter into Downtown through one of three access points, however we learned today that most of the Downtown-based Zipcars will be moved to temporary locations starting tonight through early morning on Monday, Sept. 28. Go to www.zipcar.com for details.
Staying Informed
There are many ways you can stay informed now and during the Summit. Sign up for alerts on www.g20safety.org and be sure to follow the PDP on Twitter and Facebook. For public transit information and alerts, go to www.portauthority.org/g20. If you have questions or concerns, call the City’s 311 hotline which has extended its hours and added staff, so you’ll be sure to have your question answered in a timely manner. If you are outside City limits, call 412-255-2621. Don’t forget that all emergencies should be referred to 911.
Why Do You Like it Here?
Have you been asked by visitors why you like it here in Pittsburgh? Chance are, you have at one point or another. At the PDP, we had the recent pleasure of meeting a Pittsburgh transplant who shares his thoughts and experiences in a song we know you’ll like as much as we do. Check it out and watch the video. Share it with your friends, relatives and coworkers. Let’s tell the world why we like it here and why they should too! Forbes Magazine offers great insight into why Pittsburgh was chosen to host the Summit. Read the article here.
Remember, only a few more days of inconvenience remain, but the memories we’re making here in Pittsburgh will last us all a lifetime. Obviously, there are still some uncertainties about what to expect between now and Friday, so I urge you to stay informed and be flexible. Go to www.DowntownPittsburgh.com for the latest PDP G-20 updates.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Regards,
Michael Edwards
President and CEO
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
With The Pittsburgh Summit now just one week away, the excitement Downtown is palpable. Sedans with diplomatic plates are beginning to show up around town amid last-minute paving. Volunteers staffing the Welcome & Media Center have already begun greeting international journalists and other visitors, while hundreds of others are trained and ready to offer foreign-language hospitality and support in key hotels.
For some, there is a feeling of anxiety. This morning a local media personality asked me a question we've heard before: "Why? Why bring this to Pittsburgh?" The simple answer is because the President of the United States asked us to. We should have said no, I was told, a comment followed up by falsehood we've heard too often: that 11 (or 12, or 25) other communities had turned it down.
Click here to read more.
G-20 Summit Transportation Safety Plan Released - Sept. 15, 2009.
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