The Power 100, a listing of the region’s most influential business leaders, is being presented by categories this year. Here are Connectors.

Connectors are everywhere. They are the often behind-the-scenes players who drive business decisions and whose influence extends well beyond their given industries.

Rich Fitzgerald

Executive Director, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission appointed Rich Fitzgerald as its executive director in November 2023 — a role he assumed in January. He brings a wealth of leadership experience to the federally certified metropolitan planning organization. Following his 12-year tenure as Allegheny County executive, Fitzgerald now oversees the strategic growth of the region through collaborative planning and decision-making. By leading the SPC, he will direct a team of 50 staff members across seven departments that are focused on economic and workforce development, transportation planning, strategic initiatives and others. His connections with stakeholders throughout the region mixed with his extensive executive leadership background, including founding a water treatment services company prior to his stint as county exec, position Fitzgerald as a key player in shaping public investment plans and programs. Throughout his career, Fitzgerald has prioritized economic diversification, infrastructure investment and improving public services, emphasizing his commitment to the region’s prosperity.

View the full article at bizjournals.com.

The numbers that Pittsburgh consultant WSP Inc. has put together estimating the funds the city needs to care for its 146 bridges are stark: $471.6 million over the next 32 years.

That includes $135.4 million for nine bridges that need immediate work, $276.3 million for 98 bridges that need extensive work by 2039, and $59.4 million for long-range projects that should be completed before 2056. Additionally, the city should start spending at least $9.65 million a year on routine bridge maintenance to reduce deterioration, the consultant said.

The good news is that the routine maintenance money is budgeted for the first time this year and the city has shown renewed participation in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which serves as the clearinghouse for federal funding to support the city’s immediate needs and prepare for future projects.

The city hired WSP shortly after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in January 2022 to give new Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration a full rundown of the city’s bridge needs. Fern Hollow had been rated in poor condition for more than 10 years before the collapse, but the city had done little to obtain funding to fix it.

The consultant has prepared five reports for the city over the past two years, including assessing immediate needs and recommending an in-house bridge division, which didn’t exist before. The Union Progress obtained the most recent reports on the city’s overall bridge needs and yearly maintenance requirements through a Right to Know request.

Eric Setzler, the city’s chief engineer, said the numbers are huge, but they aren’t a surprise. The city has been “very aggressive” in working with SPC and the state Department of Transportation to move immediate and major projects forward, he said, and nine projects have been recommended for inclusion in the June’s Transit Improvement Program, which SPC updates every two years.

“I think it’s fair to say we’re more involved in that process,” Setzler said. “SPC and PennDOT have been great partners in moving these projects forward.

“That way of taking a project from early design to construction is a multi-year process. We have a lot of projects in the very early stages right now.”

The most immediate project is the Charles Anderson Bridge that carries the Boulevard of the Allies from Oakland into Schenley Park and has been closed since last March. After a special appeal from Gainey, the city worked with SPC to cancel emergency repairs and move a full rehabilitation project into the funding stream earlier than expected.

Final design won’t be done for six months, the bids on the work are due before the end of the month and construction should start before the end of the year.

Setzler noted that at the recommendation of PennDOT the city added the replacement of another small bridge known as Panther Hollow Overpass to the project. The bridge also has problems and it makes sense to upgrade it at the same time rather than interrupt traffic again in a few years, he said.

Both projects could cost as much as $50 million total.

The Swindell Bridge, which crosses above Interstate 279 to link Pittsburgh’s Perry South and Northview Heights neighborhoods and has been closed twice in the past year for emergency repairs, has been under design since last summer. It is scheduled for a $13.7 million rehabilitation that will include rehabilitation of the truss, cleaning, painting and replacement of the deck.

The other seven projects proposed for the new TIP in priority order are:

Davis Avenue Bridge over Woods Run, $3.75 million replacement; Swinburne Bridge over Saline Street in lower Oakland, $26.1 million replacement; 28th Street Bridge over the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway in Polish Hill, $10 million rehabilitation; parking lot bridge over Saw Mill Run Boulevard at Woodruff Street, $1.5 million demolition; West Carson Street bridge over Chartiers Creek, $7.9 million replacement; Bloomfield Bridge, $36.5 million preservation.

Overall, WSP cited 37 bridges in need of high priority work, but some of them were recommended for work after 2026.

Setzler said the city is taking steps to move along other proposed projects by engaging consultants to design small groups of bridges. For example, one consultant will do the Maple Avenue Bridge over North Charles Street on the North Side and the Corley Street and Calera Street bridges over Streets Run on the South Side while another is doing the Elizabeth Street Bridge in Hazelwood and the Herron Avenue Bridge in the Strip District.

Design should begin in a couple of months with construction expected in about three years.

The maintenance recommendations also are key, Setzler said. Before Fern Hollow collapsed, the city had spent about $700,000 annually on routine bridge maintenance, far below WSP’s recommendation of $9.65 million.

This year, Setzler said, the city has budgeted just over $9 million for maintenance, such as cleaning drains, spot painting and other improvements that can extend the life of bridges. With a $900,000 carryover from the previous year, he said, the city should be able to do the recommended work.

Additionally, the city is expanding its in-house bridge maintenance crew, so it should be able to do some of that work at a lower cost with its own employees in future years, he said.

Inspection reports from Fern Hollow criticized the city for ignoring repeated recommendations for routine work like cleaning drains, which led to serious deterioration of steel components.

“These kinds of maintenance projects will slow down the deterioration process and prevent problems before they become bigger issues over the years,” Setzler said.

View the full article at unionprogerss.com.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission is sharing plans to lessen traffic at the Squirrel Hill Tunnel inbound.

The project is part of the “Eastern Pittsburgh Multimodal Corridor.”

It will allow public transit buses to bypass the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, by creating a bus lane on the shoulder of the Parkway East (Interstate 376) from Churchill to Edgewood, connecting the parkway to the busway.

Parkway inbound traffic is something Rose MacDonell avoids.

“Even after rush hour, there’s always traffic going through the tunnels anymore. And I’m baffled as to why,” MacDonell said.

Angela Burley avoids it too, out of fear for her safety.

“I avoid the parkway because it’s very dangerous to me,” Burley said.

She opts for the long way around the Squirrel Hill Tunnel that is likely to see a slowdown daily.

Rich Fitzgerald, executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, is hopeful a $142 million federal grant could lessen the traffic.

“They’re going to be building a bus lane, a bus ramp, a bus lane on the Parkway East coming by where the Churchill exit is. That will then connect up onto the East Busway at Edgewood,” Fitzgerald said.

He said this would allow public transportation buses to bypass the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. This extended bus lane will be part of what’s called the Eastern Pittsburgh Multimodal Corridor Project.

The goal is to have fewer buses passing through the tunnel and more drivers opting to commute to work via public transit.

“Anytime you make things more convenient, more reliable, quicker and cheaper, more cost-effective, people are going to use those options,” Fitzgerald said.

“It would definitely make it easier, more reliable,” East Pittsburgh resident David Tyler said.

Fitzgerald said while work could begin soon, the project will likely take a few years to complete.

View the full article at wtae.com

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission board elected Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian to chair that panel for the next two years.

Fabian was chosen along with Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites, who will be vice-chair of that board, and Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure, who was chosen as secretary-treasurer.

A spokeswoman for the commission said the new officers will shape SPC’s work for the next several years and intend to focus on workforce and economic development, transportation planning, and other initiatives like investments in broadband, water resources, attracting business investments, and expanding pedestrian and bicycle trails throughout the region.

Fabian, who has a master’s degree in community counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, spent more than 15 years as an outpatient and family therapist at the Family Counseling Center of Armstrong County before being elected as a county commissioner for the first time in 2016.

“I cannot wait to hit the ground running and serve the board in this leadership role,” Fabian said. “The entire region is well-positioned to work collectively as a team with one voice on major issues like job creation and broadband connectivity. While our approach to challenges may, at times, be different, we all have one goal — and that is to improve the overall quality of life for southwestern Pennsylvania’s residents.”

Fabian serves on the executive committee of the SPC board, as does Indiana County Commissioner Robin A. Gorman.

Both, in turn, are board members, with Indiana County also represented on that board by Commissioners R. Michael Keith and Sherene Hess, Indiana County Office of Planning & Development Executive Director Byron G. Stauffer Jr. and Indiana County Chamber of Commerce President Mark Hilliard.

SPC covers the city of Pittsburgh as well as Indiana, Armstrong, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.

“Together, commissioners Fabian, Vicites and McClure make a dynamic team, and we are fortunate to have their leadership,” said Rich Fitzgerald, a former Allegheny County executive recently named SPC’s executive director. “Our organization functions as a consensus builder and we work in a collaborative manner in order to support the needs of the entire region. We bring entities from the public and private sectors together to discuss wide-ranging issues that impact our 10 counties.”

SPC employs 50 individuals, working for the federally designated metropolitan planning organization, local development district, and economic development district for the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania.

View the full article at indianagazette.com.

Since our 2014 Member’s Meeting, Bike Pittsburgh has been pushing Pittsburgh’s mayors to adopt a policy toward zero traffic deaths. While other policy goals of ours such as a Complete Streets policy and a new bike plan were achieved in 2017 and 2020 respectively, we still lacked the bold policy goal of zero traffic fatalities until this week.

On Monday, March 4, Mayor Gainey answered our call and made a commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries as part of his vision of making Pittsburgh the safest City in the country. This policy commitment, known as Vision Zero, is due to be supported by City Council, with the introduction of Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution.

At the core of Vision Zero is the recognition that these fatalities and serious injuries are, in fact, preventable. All humans make mistakes, so we need to design our streets in a way where the chances that someone will be maimed or killed because of that mistake is reduced. When this engineering is combined with a holistic approach including education, a change in processes and policy, encouragement, evaluation, and public safety, true gains can be made toward eliminating harm.

Additionally, a formal city commitment towards zero traffic fatalities will help open Pittsburgh up to even more Federal safety funds, as the Biden Administration has developed a National Roadway Safety Strategy to address what they refer to as a “national crisis” of the needless loss of more than 40,000 American lives per year.

Councilperson Warwick’s resolution begins with the standard legalese justifying why the bill is necessary with statistics and values.

WHEREAS, traffic deaths and serious injuries occur disproportionately in low-income communities, communities of color, and communities with low car ownership and disproportionately affect individuals with limited mobility, people with disabilities, and people who are unhoused, children, and the elderly

A sample from Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution

After addressing why this is necessary, the resolution gets into “how” the city will achieve this goal. This section sets specific actions that city departments and staff should take, however it still lacks a target date to by which to reach this goal of zero. The resolution is by no means comprehensive, but it outlines the first necessary steps to catalyze action. It will also inform the future Vision Zero Action Plan that the City, County and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission are developing with funds from President Biden’s federal infrastructure bill.

First, the resolution formally adopts the goal “of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roadways and endorses the Vision Zero strategy as a comprehensive and holistic approach to achieving this goal, while maintaining constant evaluation of programs and practices.”

Second, DOMI will create a Vision Zero Task Force comprised of individuals from various City departments “that may be expected to commit resources or take actions toward the objective of Vision Zero.” This is a standard step in making sure that all appropriate departments are collaborating toward the goal in their work through this new lens, as well as adopting new policies and procedures that are missing. We don’t know everything that will come of this, but a focus on the goal may yield some surprising results. For instance, they may determine that a policy banning right turn on reds should be implemented citywide. In another example in New York City, they realized that outfitting large city fleet and contracted vehicles with side-guards will improve safety results. Other cities have lowered speed limits.

The third section gets into how the city will use the newly launched High Injury Network (HIN) map as a guide for where focus street improvements, policy, and education resources, with an eye toward equity. The “Vision Zero Working Group shall create a Vision Zero Memorandum to commit City resources to the goal…while prioritizing the most vulnerable and dependent users of the most dangerous parts of the transportation network.”

The fourth and final step of the resolution directs DOMI to include a Vision Zero component in their biennial Complete Streets Report.

Earlier in the day on Monday, March 4, DOMI presented their first Biennial Complete Streets Report to Council, a requirement of the 2017 Complete Streets Policy, another major policy win that BikePGH campaigned on during the Peduto administration. The report is a snapshot on what the City is currently doing toward road traffic safety, what the City needs to do, and a large dose of statistics on what’s happening on the ground.

Behind the statistics are people – our families, friends, and neighbors. Each crash has a ripple effect that touches countless lives.

DOMI 2023 Complete Streets Biennial Report

Another aspect of the 2017 Complete Streets Policy included the formation of a Complete Streets Advisory Group (CSAG). The group dissolved, along with many things during the pandemic, but in 2023, DOMI and the Mayor resurrected it. The CSAG Engage Page will be the primary public-facing location to keep track of the progress toward Vision Zero. On the page, you can currently find the CSAG Biennial Report, the HIN Map, a list of planning documents, and past meeting minutes.

BikePGH is glad to see the Gainey Administration and City Council make this commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Pittsburgh. Committing to zero deaths is good policy and help ensure that Pittsburgh families cease getting their lives upended by a mistake that could have been prevented in the first place.

Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution will be discussed in Council Chambers during their Standing Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 10am. There is an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the meeting (sign up here) to support the commitment to Vision Zero. If you would like more information about how to talk to Council, please contact us: advocacy@bikepgh.org.

View the full article at bikepgh.org.

Avid cyclist Bob Cropp enjoys blazing a trail.

And with the addition of 10 miles to Armstrong Trails in Armstrong County, Cropp of Grove City arrived on his bike Monday morning to learn more about the ongoing efforts to expand the trail in the Kiski Junction corridor through Gilpin.

“It’s new to see, and I want to support this,” said Cropp of his reason for attending the “Celebrating the Impossible” trail christening, a public event at the Armstrong Trails trailhead in Schenley that drew a large crowd despite rainy weather.

The gathering was sponsored by Armstrong Trails, an organization dedicated to protecting and converting railroad corridors into trails for public use, with a goal of acting as an economic stimulus for area communities.

Hundreds gathered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to officially open the newest section of completed trail that runs from Crooked Creek/Manor Township in Armstrong County to Gilpin, part of the 52.5-mile trail on the former Allegheny Valley Railroad corridor.

The completed trail extends from Rosston in Manor Township, near the confluence of Crooked Creek and the Allegheny River, to the Kiski River in Gilpin and includes a refurbished railroad bridge that dates to 1899.

Armstrong Trails Executive Director Chris Ziegler said she was a little overwhelmed with emotion by the turnout Monday.

“We worked really hard for a solid nine months. Without Art and Pam, this task would have been much harder. They showed up every day,” Ziegler said.

Trail volunteers Art Haugh and Pam King are core helpers. King of New Castle smiled with satisfaction as she reflected on her new volunteer pursuits.

“It’s just really neat to see this,” said King, who volunteers operating heavy-duty excavating equipment. “It’s a great turnout, and I’m feeling good.”

“(Ziegler) is amazing. She has done the impossible,” Armstrong County Commissioner Anthony Shea said.

Shea recalled when a factory in Schenley closed in 1982.

“It was a really sad day, and people said the best days of this area were done. I don’t believe that. I believe with these trails, our best days are ahead of us,” Shea said.

Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn traveled from Harrisburg to serve as one of the guest speakers.

Dunn noted beyond the connection of the communities the trail provides, the trail ultimately connects people and their stories.

“These things take time. This Armstrong Trails has been underway for 30 or more years,” Dunn said. “And this trail is significant. This bridge is special.”

Closing the trail gaps statewide is a priority this year, Dunn said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro allotted $112 million for park and forest infrastructure last year. In the latest proposed budget, Shapiro is asking for $8.5 million to build trails across Pennsylvania.

“It’s attracting and keeping communities together, particularly young people — having people come home to the best places to live, work and play nestled along the banks of these rivers,” Dunn said.

Armstrong Trails transportation history dates back to 1855 when the first railroad line along the Allegheny River began hauling passengers, lumber, iron ore and coal.

Rail service continued into the 1970s.

In 1992, Armstrong Trails (formerly Allegheny Valley Land Trust) purchased the rail corridor for Armstrong Trails.

Gilpin resident Megan Beattie lives about a mile from the trail and attended the ceremony.

Beattie said she was happy to hear that the next 4 miles of trail on tap will continue from Schenley south to Leechburg.

“It’ll be neat to just go straight to Leechburg. This is super convenient,” Beattie said.

Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal was among the local officials in attendance.

She said Leechburg is ready to welcome the trail and hopes to welcome plenty of recreational tourists this summer.

“All of the easements are approved, and property owners along Kiski, River and Hicks avenues have worked with the borough. We’re going to do everything we can to make our little town a tourist town,” Smeal said.

Three free bike racks recently were installed in Leechburg Riverview Park, at the Volunteer Fire Department near the Kiski River boat launch and one at the end of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge, all donated by the Leechburg Rotary.

Cyclist and retiree Chris Lorenzato of Canonsburg showed up to check out more biking options for himself and his cyclist friends.

Lorenzato, 71, has been riding since 2001.

“They’re doing good. I’ve been all over these trails. I just go to the trailhead, and we ride all day,” Lorenzato said.

Next up for the trail volunteers is locating cross pipes and cleaning up the trees along the 4-mile stretch to Leechburg.

Already funded by the trail volunteer fund, the Leechburg expansion will cost about $60,000.

The trail is expected to be completed in late spring in time for the summer season, Ziegler said.

“We’re not guaranteed money or funding or anything, but we are guaranteed smiling faces that we see riding down the trail — the grandparents and families — that’s what we’re guaranteed,” she said.

Armstrong Trails follows along the eastern bank of the Kiski and Allegheny rivers in Westmoreland, Clarion and Armstrong counties.

Ziegler told the crowd that a $120,000 cash investment paid for the project, but not without the donations and volunteer hours of an estimated $657,000 in labor costs and $813,00 in donated equipment.

Gilpin Supervisors Chairman Charles Stull is eager to see the next phase of the trail connecting Gilpin and Leechburg completed.

“This will not only help bolster the Gilpin economy, but also Leechburg’s economy and the entire Leechburg area. This extension is huge for our local recreation and economy,” Stull said.

View the full article at triblive.com.

Armstrong Trails on Monday held its opening ceremony for the Crooked Creek-to-Schenley section of the passage.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources (DNCR) Secretary Cindy Dunn said, “This is the most significant trail gap that I’ve had the honor of closing this year.”

The Crooked Creek-to-Schenley section is a part of Armstrong Trails — a 52.5-mile rail to trails program that is protects and converts former railroad corridors for public use in Armstrong, Clarion and Westmoreland counties. This section is part of the larger trail project that will stretch 270 miles and connect Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. “I see what’s on the horizon. I look at the little trail towns and how they developed, and so many people are contacting us to be a part of this,” Armstrong County Commissioner Chairman John Strate said.

Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation (PennDOT) Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet says, “It’s a huge accomplishment, but we’re not done yet.”

With the opening of the Crooked Creek to Schenley section, Armstrong Trails will now be focusing on completing the Schenley to Leechburg section, and plans to have it done by May 1.

The future

All those who spoke at the opening expressed their hopes of what the trails would bring to Armstrong county as the sections are completed.

“People say that the best days of this area are done. I don’t believe that. With these trails our best days are ahead of us,” Armstrong County Commissioner Vice Chairman Anthony Shea said.

“What better way to bring visitors to our area, and create tourism, than our beautiful part of the world,” PA State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63) said.

Speakers at the opening foresee that the completion of the trails will boost tourism in the region, as people come to experience the natural beauty that PA has to offer. It was even hoped that the completion of the trails would see people moving to region. “What gives Pennsylvania the best hope for its future is attracting and keeping our communities together,” Dunn said. “Attracting new people and having people come home to Pennsylvania.”

Chris Ziegler is spotlighted

All those who spoke at opening took time to thanks Executive Director of Armstrong Trails Chris Ziegler for her work.

PA State Rep. Abby Major (R-60), “This wouldn’t have happened without Chris.”

Ziegler was a leading force in the Rails to Trails program, and all were amazed by what her, and her team, has managed to accomplish so far. “If we had 10 of you, just imagine what this county could be,” Strate said.

View the full story at leadertimes.com.

The Port of Baltimore, which has been closed since a barge collided with and brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River, gets billions of tons and millions of dollars’ worth of goods shipped its way from the Pittsburgh region — including Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland counties — according to information provided over the weekend by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

While the data was gathered this past week, it came from a disaggregated freight analysis provided in 2017 from the Federal Highway Administration through the Eastern Transportation Coalition.

An SPC spokeswoman stressed that industry changes and market shifts make possible that the 2017 levels are not reflective of 2024, but, Caitlin O’Connor said, “it was the data that we were able to get our hands on” Friday.

In that year, $609,322,000 in goods were exported from southwestern Pennsylvania to the Port of Baltimore, representing a volume of 2.9 billion tons, while $616,322,000 in goods were imported through Baltimore to the SPC region, representing a volume of 188.96 million tons.

Exports included 3,766,180,000 tons of coal shipped out of the SPC coverage area, with 21.2 percent coming from Indiana, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties — 323.79 million tons from Indiana, 290.5 million tons from Armstrong, and 182.76 million tons from Westmoreland.

That translated into $327.07 million worth of coal exports from the 10-county SPC region (Armstrong, Indiana and Westmoreland, as well as Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties, as well as the city of Pittsburgh), including $28.12 million from Indiana County, $25.22 million from Armstrong County and $15.87 million from Westmoreland County.

The three counties also accounted for approximately a third of the 41.92 million tons of wood products and 25.14 million tons of logs shipped out from the Pittsburgh region through Baltimore.

That included 7.88 million tons of wood products and 2.61 million tons of logs from Westmoreland, 3.08 million tons of wood products and 3.29 million tons of logs from Indiana, and 2.63 million tons of wood products and 2.61 million tons of logs from Armstrong.

In turn, that translated into $38.39 million in exports of wood products from the SPC region, including $7.23 million from Westmoreland County, $2.81 million from Indiana County and $2.40 million from Armstrong County.

Imports to southwestern Pennsylvania included motorized vehicles, machinery, pharmaceuticals, base metals, plastics and rubber, and non-cereal agriculture products, with motorized vehicles providing the largest amount of imports in terms of cost, $539.16 million from the 10-county region, $68.75 million from Westmoreland County, $15.51 million from Indiana County and $11.01 million from Armstrong County.

Much of the commerce involves the more than 200 miles of commercially-navigable waterways in western Pennsylvania, including those in 13 counties covered by the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, Indiana, Armstrong, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.

Mary Ann Bucci, executive director of the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, said in comments quoted on her organization’s Facebook page that those who import to or export from Pittsburgh often come through Baltimore, as it’s a short truck or train ride away.

“The biggest challenge is going to be what port can handle these additional vessels,” she asked. “And that’s going to be a challenge in the short term.”

Other ports already have been reacting to that challenge. The Port of Philadelphia said this past week that it has received inquiries regarding diverted cargo. On www.philaport.com one finds ways that containers and schedules can be tracked.

The Port of Virginia, which covers shipping through Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Warren County, all in Virginia, said its operating team was already working with ocean carriers whose vessels were due to call Baltimore and offering the capability of its port to discharge cargoes as requested.

Also, the Associated Press reported, the governors of New York and New Jersey offered to take on cargo shipments that have been disrupted, to try to minimize supply chain problems.

View the full article at indianagazette.com.

After more than two years of planning, Pittsburgh Regional Transit has settled on the types of improvements it needs to provide more reliable service along Route 837 between Homestead and McKeesport.

But it only has money for a small portion of the work and will have to work with other agencies and municipalities for the rest.

The overall plan calls for the consolidation of several bus stops in Homestead, West Mifflin and Duquesne and safety improvements at numerous intersections along the corridor. The agency has two grants that total $1.38 million for what Director of Corridor Planning Seth Davis called “low-hanging fruit” but additional funding will be needed to complete all the recommendations, which could cost as much as $13 million.

Davis presented the final plans to the board’s Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee last week.

Davis said one grant for $420,000 from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission is earmarked for improvements in Homestead and Munhall. Those improvements could include a new traffic signal where the Homestead Grays Bridge meets East Eighth Avenue (Route 837) in Homestead, complete with improved crosswalks, turning lanes with pedestrian islands to reduce the distance crossing the intersection, and the elimination of inbound and outbound bus stops.

The other grant of $960,000 from the federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program will be used for bus stop consolidation throughout the corridor. The plan will eliminate 10 stops to improve the flow of bus traffic in the corridor, five in Homestead and Munhall, two in West Mifflin and three in Duquesne.

Nearby stops will be enlarged and improved to provide safer areas for transit riders.

The corridor primarily carries five bus routes: P7, 53, 53L, 59 and 61C.

The plan also includes establishing a series of queuing lanes for buses to have priorities at traffic lights and other intersection improvements, including Fifth Avenue at the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge in McKeesport. Fifth Avenue also could have a “road diet,” where reduced traffic leads to reducing the roadway from four lanes to two lanes with left-turning lanes to make the area safer for pedestrians.

Although all the concepts are in place, Chief Development Officer Amy Silbermann noted that plans are only at the 10% design stage now so that even changes that have funding still are “several years away” from construction. She noted the corridor naturally flows into the University Line that is under construction to set up exclusive lanes between Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh and those amenities eventually will extend through Squirrel Hill and Greenfield to the Homestead area to meet that corridor.

View the full article at unionprogress.com.

When you survey a group of 30 young professionals about what it is that they do and the aspects that make each individual unique, there are bound to be some trends that appear.

But what is interesting about the trends that emerged among this year’s group of 30 Under 30 honorees is that they are not necessarily what you’d expect them to be.

While this year’s group of honorees is not made up entirely of members of Gen Z — there are still some young millennials born before 1997 — these honorees represent a new generation of business and community leaders. And with the reputation of younger generations lie some stereotypes.

Those stereotypes include, but are not limited to: Being addicted to the internet and social media, being lazy and being unproductive.

In other words, it’s simply an age-old tale of how the generational divide perpetuates the reputations of the up-and-comers. As a 24-year-old member of Gen Z myself, I’m no stranger to being the subject of some of this ire.

But upon taking a look at our impressive 30 Under 30 honorees, I am confident that any water those stereotypes may hold will disappear.

For one, our honorees this year come from an array of places, both across the country and the world. Jones Day’s Kaavya Ramesh, who’s from Bangalore, India, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Maria Jose Rodriguez, who’s from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, are prime examples. It was encouraging to see such a mix of both Pittsburgh natives and transplants, a true demonstration of the fact that while Pittsburgh may be facing ongoing population loss, especially among young professionals, there are still plenty of draws in this region attracting young talent, chief among them being job opportunities. Leaders in the region should take this as a sign that supporting the growth of companies and prime employers in Pittsburgh should be a top priority as we look to grow the population.

Another trend I noticed may affirm the idea that the younger generations are often on the forefront of new technology. Many of our honorees this year, in one way or another, utilize artificial intelligence in their work or are leading the way in bringing AI tools to their workplaces — Marlon Brown from Infosys and Jonathan Dencker from the Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center come to mind. Notably, two of our honorees’ work has to do with space travel — Andrea Davis at Astrobotic Technology Inc. and Anna Voelker at AstroAccess. There’s also Lisa Carter from Motional, who conducts work on autonomous vehicles, another technology frontier, and Duquesne Light Co.’s Matt McDonald, who is working to prepare the region’s electrical grid for the growing use of electric vehicles. In the health care space, Lauren Grice from Respair Inc. is developing new devices that will better protect patients who are put on ventilators from infection, and Madison Campbell of Leda Health is exploring how blockchain technology could make at-home rape testing kits more feasible.

You’ll notice as you read through each profile that we chose to photograph this year’s honorees at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and its MuseumLab on the North Side. No, this was not done in an effort to further highlight their youth. Rather, we wanted to celebrate the cultural attractions in the region that many of us Pittsburgh natives have grown up with. The Children’s Museum first opened in 1983 and grew significantly in the decades that followed, serving as a staple children’s attraction to young Pittsburghers who are now young adults. Last year, it celebrated its 40th anniversary, and it continues to serve our region’s kids today.

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Lillian Gabreski, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, the region’s federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization, was directly responsible for obtaining nearly $144 million in federal funds in 2023 for planning and infrastructure projects in the Pittsburgh area, and Lillian Gabreski had a big role to play in that work. Gabreski is the manager of sponsored programs development for the SPC, and in her role she helps drive these planning and infrastructure projects forward, work that in some cases involves obtaining funding for the projects as she leads SPC in developing grant applications. She also drives SPC’s efforts in adhering to federal environmental justice guidelines and advises the organization on how to best adhere to federal and state laws and regulations. Gabreski is a Jamestown, New York, native. She joined the SPC in 2018 after earning her undergraduate degree in political science from Penn State and her master’s degree in public administration from Cornell University. She sits on the board of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh and is on the Zoning Hearing Board for the Dormont neighborhood where she lives.

Age: 29

What inspired your career? I was inspired by the way people utilize the built world and wanted to improve its beauty, functionality and accessibility.

What was your favorite cultural attraction to visit as a kid? My mom is an English professor and spent her summers working at Chautauqua Institution — I spent most of my summers “on the grounds” growing up.

What’s one change you would make to improve Pittsburgh? Enhance and protect public transportation infrastructure to improve accessibility for all, fostering a more sustainable and connected urban environment that people can enjoy.

What’s one thing about you that would surprise people? My husband and I got married in Stellenbosch, South Africa. We met during my study abroad in Cape Town and frequently travel back to visit family.

What would be your walk-up song? “The Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga

FAVORITES:

Favorite book: “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens

Favorite movie: “Charade” 1963

Favorite local restaurant: Driftwood Oven

Dream vacation destination: New Zealand

View the full article at bizjournals.com.