After more than 18 months of work, Pittsburgh Regional Transit wants to hear what Monongahela Valley riders think about proposed changes to improve efficiency and reliability of buses that serve the corridor between Homestead and McKeesport.
Through Friday, the agency is conducting an online survey on preliminary concepts to consolidate bus stops in Homestead, create queuing lanes so buses can move through traffic lights first and improve safety at stops in Duquesne and McKeesport. This is an interim step as the agency develops plans for the corridor that could cost $47 million to $58 million.
“We are still early in the process,” said Seth Davis, PRT’s manager for corridor planning. “I would call these concept designs at this point. We want to make sure we haven’t missed any problem points of access with what we’re suggesting so far.”
The corridor carries five bus routes — P7, 53, 53L, 59 and 61C.
In Homestead, early plans concentrate on “rebalancing” bus stops on East Eighth Avenue (Route 837), a process that involves eliminating some stops, providing more space between stops and relocating stops to move buses through the corridor faster and create safer stops.
On the inbound side, the recommendation is to eliminate two stops between Library Place and Dickson Street as well as stops at Ann Street and the Homestead Grays Bridge. The stop at Library Place would be retained, and new stops would be added at McLure and Amity streets.
Half of the six outbound stops would be eliminated — at the bridge and Ann and Dixon streets — while stops at Amity, McLure and Library Place would be retained and improved.
Stops on East Eighth Avenue are about 500 feet apart, and PRT guidelines call for them to be about 900 feet apart.
The agency also is calling for upgraded crosswalks at intersections with midstreet islands at the bridge, queuing lanes at Amity and improved bus shelters throughout.
In Duquesne, the challenges are different because Route 837 becomes a four-lane highway that crosses in front of Kennywood Park. Recommendations call for improved bus shelters at Hoffman Boulevard, a main access point at Kennywood, more prominent crosswalks and sidewalk improvements to eliminate gaps.
In the residential area, bus stops on Grant Avenue heading toward Route 837 would be eliminated just before Second Avenue and on Second just before Grant. Stops on the other side of Second and on Grant near Muir Alley would be expanded, and the intersection at Grant and Second would have bump outs on all four corners to reduce the length of crossing the street for pedestrians.
McKeesport improvements would include a new traffic light at expanded stops on Fifth Avenue near the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.
Davis stressed that initial plans call for fewer changes in Duquesne and McKeesport because many of those changes will involve more discussions with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that will come later in the process.
The agency will use the input from the survey to develop more concrete plans by the end of the year, including a timeline for improvements, estimated costs and potential funding sources. Many of the changes such as sidewalk and road improvements will involve cooperation and potential funding from the state and local governments.
The agency does have money from two previous grants to begin shelter improvements as soon as they are approved, Davis said.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.