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Published byFrancine Norton Modified over 9 years ago
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BRT in Pittsburgh: Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
David E. Wohlwill, AICP Port Authority of Allegheny County Priority Bus Transit Conference Washington, DC June 24, 2009
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Pittsburgh BRT Facilities
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Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
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Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
Links CBD and Oakland with Pittsburgh’s eastern neighborhoods and suburbs 9.1 miles, 9 stations and 1 stop Proposed in Port Authority’s Early Action Program adopted in 1970 Initial 6.8-mile Downtown – Pittsburgh Oakland segment opened in 1983 Capital cost - $115 million with funding from local, state and federal sources 2.3-mile extension to Swissvale opened in 2003 Capital cost - $68 million with funding from local, state and federal sources including highway funds flexed to transit.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway
Busiest BRT facility with 25, ,000 weekday riders ( ) Allows buses to bypass severe congestion on major arterials and streets in Pittsburgh’s eastern communities Built along active railroad line
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Service Design 32 East Busway Routes
Basic service provided on 3 routes carrying 50% of riders: EBA: Daily service on entire length of busway to Downtown Pittsburgh EBS: Weekday peak period service from Wilkinsburg to Downtown Pittsburgh EBO: Weekday service from Swissvale to Oakland (Pittsburgh’s educational, medical & cultural center)
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Service Design Other 29 routes operate on busway and exit at various locations to serve City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods and Allegheny County’s Eastern suburbs Some routes receive and discharge passengers at intermediary stations, others pass through Other Service: 100 through route which also operates on the West Busway 3 Westmoreland County Transit Authority routes operating non-stop on the busway
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Express buses can pass local buses stopped at stations
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Performance: Travel Times
Swissvale - Oakland 61B route using local streets: 26 minutes EBO route on East Busway: 19 minutes Wilkinsburg - Downtown 71C route using local streets: 54 minutes EBA route on East Busway: 18 minutes
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Performance: Operating Costs
Port Authority’s Non-BRT radial bus routes: $2.81/rider Average for busway routes (East & West busway routes operating length of busways): $1.78/rider EBA Route: $1.29/rider LRT System: $4.41/rider
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Performance: Energy Consumption
2005 Average for all buses 4 mpg Hybrid electric buses mpg Diesel bus on East Busway (EBA route) mpg Hybrid electric bus on East Busway (EBA route) mpg
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New Development along the East Busway
$740 million worth of development along East Busway 1983 – 2008 Scale of development comparable that experienced by rail lines in other cities Comprised of new construction and renovation of older structures including vacant industrial buildings This level of development is remarkable considering Population loss in the corridor Topographical and railroad barriers to development Traditional absence of local and regional policies directing development along rapid transit lines (changed in recent years)
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New Development along the East Busway
Expansion of medical sector from its traditional base in Oakland to the Corridor Central location of several busway communities along made is appealing to retail developers Popularity of East End neighborhoods with students and young professionals Since 2000, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and community groups have begun more pro-active planning for development in the corridor.
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Examples of Development along the East Busway
Residential Complex Homewood Professional Offices: Shadyside Pennsylvanian Apartments: Downtown Mixed Retail: East Liberty
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Baum-Centre Corridor 1.6 miles in length interfacing with five East End neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh The Baum – Centre Corridor initially developed with an automobile orientation As the corridor matured, many automobile- oriented uses closed, creating opportunities for new development The corridor is attractive to developers Proximity to Oakland (Pittsburgh’s cultural, educational and medical center) Corridor’s function as a key conduit for access to and within Pittsburgh’s East End communities Presence of the East Busway
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Baum - Centre Corridor
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City of Pittsburgh Plan for the Corridor
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Maturing Corridor Dominated by Automobile-Oriented Uses
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Three Nodes in Corridor
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New Development in Corridor
Negley Station with Centre Professional Building in background UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
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Development at Negley Station in Shadyside
Expansion of Supermarket and New Condos at Negley Station
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Eastside Development – East Liberty
East Side Mixed Use Development (almost completed) and East Liberty Station First Whole Foods Store in City of Pittsburgh
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Proposal for New Station Serving the Corridor
Site for station serving UPMC Hospital Area of potential sites for new station
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Proposed BRT Improvements
On-street BRT between Downtown and Oakland BRT treatments in Downtown Pittsburgh Extension of the East Busway to Turtle Creek area
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Manager of Extended Range Planning Port Authority of Allegheny County
Author Contact Information David E. Wohlwill, AICP Manager of Extended Range Planning Port Authority of Allegheny County
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