Tube City Almanac

August 29, 2009

Plan Suggests Sweeping Changes to Local Bus Service

Category: News || By

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Port Authority's proposed "transit development plan" would add express service between the city and Oakland's hospitals and universities, and transform the Downtown bus terminal into a park-and-ride facility.

Those and other improvements have the potential to make the Mon-Yough area more attractive as a "bedroom community" for people who work in downtown Pittsburgh.

They also would allow residents to ride directly from one side of the Mon Valley to another without changing buses on Lysle Boulevard.

But the reorganization comes at a cost --- namely the elimination of lightly-used bus routes in areas such as Elizabeth Township and Lincoln Borough.

And it will force many buses to be renamed or renumbered, which could confuse longtime riders.

The Port Authority's board of directors will take a final vote on the rationalization plan on Oct. 23.

. . .

Tearing Up Traditional Routes: The plan, released Friday, suggests a sweeping reorganization of Port Authority's bus routes --- some of which have been virtually unchanged since the agency's 1964 creation.

"This proposal would improve service for the majority of our riders by adding more trips, cutting travel times and offering new high-frequency options," Steve Bland, Port Authority's chief executive officer, said Friday.

Devised by Nelson-Nygaard Consulting Associates, a San Francisco-based engineering firm, the plan is the product of more than two years of study and several public hearings, including one at the Palisades, Downtown.

. . .

Many Mon-Yough Changes: Noticeable changes recommended to local bus service include:
  • A new so-called "Rapid" bus making fewer stops but operating on shorter headways --- 15 to 30 minutes between trips --- would connect the city with Oakland's hospitals and universities

  • A new "Flyer" bus making fewer stops and using the East Busway would operate on 30 to 60 minute headways between the city and downtown Pittsburgh

  • A new park-and-ride lot would be created at the current transportation center on Lysle Boulevard, Downtown

  • Replacing bus routes that currently operate as "stub-ended" services into the transportation center with new "cross-town" services

  • Downgrading the 56C via Second Avenue --- currently the fastest all-day route between the city and downtown Pittsburgh --- and eliminating 56C side trips to the city's Penn State campus and Kane Center


Besides increasing the agency's efficiency, Port Authority officials say their goal is to "provide a much stronger link between McKeesport and the rest of the Pittsburgh area."

The new route map would "reflect that economic changes have created a need (for) better ties between McKeesport and employment opportunities in the rest of (the) region," according to the draft report.

. . .
Jason Togyer/Tube City AlmanacUntangling a '60s Merger Mess: Presently, a mish-mash of short-haul bus routes numbered in the 60-series connects Downtown with Port Vue, White Oak, North Versailles, West Mifflin and other surrounding boroughs and townships.

Those were inherited from defunct local companies like Ridge Lines and Penn Transit.

Some, like the 60P Port Vue-Liberty route, run only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., making them worthless for working commuters who have to be at work by 9 a.m. or earlier.

Beginning in 2010, many of those runs would be replaced by cross-town services that would drop some stops but start earlier and run later.

. . .

New All-Day Services: The 58-series express buses connecting Downtown, Versailles and Port Vue with Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle are a legacy of the old "PATrain" commuter service, discontinued 20 years ago this spring.

Those three runs --- with nine inbound and nine outbound trips weekdays --- currently operate on surface roads and run a limited schedule. The last trips depart Pittsburgh before 6 p.m.

They would be consolidated into a new "P7 McKeesport Flyer" operating via the East Busway. "P7 Flyers" would operate all day between 5:30 a.m. and 12 midnight, running on 30 minute headways during rush hours and one-hour headways at all other times.

. . .

Fewer Stops, But More Buses: The 61C service that operates via Duquesne, Homestead and Squirrel Hill would become one of eight "Rapid" routes offering fewer stops but more frequent buses.

All eight "Rapids" would connect downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland on five to 10 minute headways.

The McKeesport "R3 Rapid" would be coordinated with additional new "Rapid" routes serving Braddock and Homestead.

. . .

No Trains, Light Rail in Plan: The plan does not call for any light-rail (streetcars, subways or "trolleys" ) or "heavy" rail (conventional trains) into the Mon Valley or Oakland.

Commuter train service to the Mon Valley was canceled in 1989, while 1963 marked the end of trolley service in McKeesport and its suburbs.

Instead, Port Authority officials said, the plan is designed to better utilize the agency's existing buses by eliminating services that don't connect, or which do not operate at peak hours.

No personnel would be laid off under the plan, officials said.

. . .

Boston, Greenock Lose: The main losers in the draft plan are residents of the Elizabeth Township neighborhoods of Greenock, Central Highlands and Boston. All 60A service south of Olympia Shopping Center would be canceled.

Port Authority officials said that fewer than 18 people daily use the Greenock service, while only eight per day ride to Central.

Also losing service would be residents of Lincoln Borough and those who live along Washington Boulevard in Glassport, Liberty and Port Vue.

Officials said the new 62 bus that would replace the 60P would offer much more frequent service at the expense of a simpler route through the South Allegheny School District.

. . .

Confusion for Some: Such drastic changes --- including renumbering and rerouting buses that have remained the same for generations --- also offer the potential for confusion.

Many riders in the Mon-Yough are disproportionately elderly, poor or with limited literacy. For instance, according to the U.S. Census, nearly a quarter of Port Vue residents are over the age of 65 --- more than 10 percent are over the age of 75 --- versus 12 percent nationally.

In the city, more than 20 percent of residents lack a high school diploma, and 18 percent are over the age of 65, according to the Census Bureau.

The benefits far outweigh the risks, Bland said: "This is a smarter way of doing business while improving daily service for our riders."

People concerned about the changes should file written complaints with Port Authority Fare and Service Proposals, Heinz 57 Center, 345 6th Ave., Pittsburgh 15222-2527, or via the agency's website.

Comments --- positive and negative --- will be accepted through Sept. 30.

. . .

Hearing Sept. 15: A final public hearing has been slated for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Marriott City Center, 112 Washington Place, Downtown Pittsburgh near Mellon Arena.

According to a Port Authority spokesman, individuals who wish to testify should register by calling (412) 566-5437.

Speakers who do not register will be allowed to talk as space is available.

. . .

More Information: Maps and explanations of the service changes can be viewed at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville; the Braddock Carnegie Library, 419 Library St., Braddock; and at other locations around Allegheny County. Printed and Braille versions of the changes can be requested by calling, toll-free, 1-866-583-0837.






Your Comments are Welcome!

well, once again, these “consultants” have no idea what they are doing. They must have made thier plan using Google maps and never actually followed the routes. The 61 bus they are propsing follows a route that DOES NOT EXIST. Beaver street is not continous, breaking at maple st and again at patterson. Plus it is not a very good street, mostly being more like an alley. Duh. Try driving that route and you will be screwed. Then, it jumps over down meadow and up/down Grover street to Grandview at Beulah Park Church. I hope they have new buses, cause those hills are pretty bad. Are they going to be using short buses with 4 wheel drive? I would love to see the driver on the first day! Stupidity, pure stupidity.
Adam Spate - August 29, 2009




Wait, Wait, there’s more. Then the bus is going down tulip towards Eden Park and it makes a left on Park St! Then a right by the old ROTC building! Then it will cross Eden Park at Stephen Barry Field! HA! I am dying here! I can just imagine a bus doing all this! How about when they put a bus stop sign at the corner of Duquesne Ave and Beaver Ave.? I need a picture of that…
Adam Spate - August 29, 2009




I think you’re right, they’ve used a very over-simplified map.

I’d bet the actual route will follow the present route over Jenny Lind, not Beaver Avenue.

In fact, I suspect a lot of actual street routings will change, but do you think the basic idea of a through bus is bad?
Webmaster - August 29, 2009




No, actually, I like the plan overall, I just noticed the routing and I just couldn’t help myself. It makes sense. Buses going in circles in McKeesport is an oxymoron. The whole town is going in circles…
Adam Spate - August 30, 2009




It just amazes me that they didn’t check these planned routes out, not even a little bit. I surprised ther isn’t one going across the Third Avenue Bridge!
Adam Spate - August 30, 2009




Really, though, there is not a good way to get from Jenny Lind to Versailles Ave in a bus, or to Penn State any other way either…
Adam Spate - August 30, 2009




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