Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Monday rolled out a new vision for its network in Allegheny County that proposed to boost service every 30 minutes to some routes, increase weekend service and add more single-seat bus rides to Oakland.
Draft Network 1.0 is part of PRT’s long-range plan released in 2021 and is going to be taking public comment over the next few months before announcing the final route network in 2025 and then starting to put the changes into place in 2026.
It would be the first redesign of the PRT routes in a decade. Pittsburgh transit advocates have been urging changes to the routes and timing to better service the community.
“The draft network reflects a collaborative, data-driven approach aimed at answering key questions – where our bus routes should go, when should they operate and how frequently should they run,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman in a statement. “We’re eager to receive public feedback and make these improvements as soon as possible.”
There will be several in-person and online meetings to go through the proposed changes and to solicit public comment, beginning with an Oct. 16 hearing in Schenley Plaza in Oakland.
Another feature will be microtransit zones that will connect smaller communities with less-than-bus service with the help of a $4 million pilot grant from Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
You can see more details of the proposed changes on the PRT website.
“Allegheny County has changed a lot over the last decade. By redesigning the network to reflect where people live and work today, we’re making sure public transit plays a critical role in creating a more equitable and inclusive future,” PRT’s Chief Development Officer Amy Silbermann in a statement.
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