Multi-year, $150 million project to improve Pittsburgh's light rail system
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A multi-year, $150 million project to improve Pittsburgh's light rail system will start next month.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced on Tuesday that it will combine multiple projects that were initially intended to be completed separately in an effort to streamline operations and minimize disruptions.
The agency says the first project will close the light rail system between Steel Plaza and Gateway stations in Downtown Pittsburgh for about seven weeks immediately after the Pirates home opener on April 5.
The projects will continue back-to-back through 2028. While some projects will require significant detours, others will come with only minor travel delays, PRT says.
"These projects are an important investment in our region's future," said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman in a news release. "By fortifying our light-rail system, we're building a stronger, safer, and more reliable foundation for years to come."
Many of the projects are fully funded, and the PRT said it will continue to seek funding for those that are not.
PRT will discuss the projects and how they'll impact riders at 6:30 p.m. on March 21 at St. Catherine of Siena Church on Broadway Avenue. An online meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on April 2. A presentation at both meetings will include an overview of all the projects.
Downtown subway tunnels
Starting on April 5, immediately after the Pirates home opener, Downtown light-rail service will be impacted through the end of May.
"That is starting April 5, as soon as the home opener is over and all the fans are taken away from the station, that's when the crews will mobilize and get to work," said PRT spokesperson Adam Brandolph.
For those nearly two months, Wood Street station will not be serviced and anyone traveling inbound from the South Hills will be diverted to Penn Station after stopping at Steel Plaza. From there, riders will be able to get a shuttle bus to Gateway. From there, they will be able to continue on to either North Side or Allegheny stations.
After May 30, the same detours will take place on some weekends through the summer and more extended work is expected to take place next year.
Red Line interruptions in Beechview and Dormont
This summer, from June 16 through the end of August, all Red Line trains will be detoured around Dormont and Beechview using the Blue Line's route.
Service will be unavailable on the Red Line between South Hills Junction and Overbrook Junction.
The Red Line will be referred to as the Blue Line to avoid confusion and riders will be able to ride outbound to Willow on the Blue Line, where they will be able to board the existing Red Line to travel to Mt. Lebanon and Bethel Park.
PRT says that bus routes will be changed and rail shuttles will be added to help accommodate the detours.
Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel project
In 2025, the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel will be closed for several months.
Detours for both buses and rail cars will go through the city's Allentown neighborhood.
PRT says that a detailed schedule for this will be announced later this year.
Mt. Lebanon Transit Tunnel
The tracks inside the Mt. Lebanon Transit Tunnel are expected to be replaced sometime in 2026.
Panhandle Bridge rehabilitation
The Panhandle Bridge connecting Station Square to First Avenue station is expected to be rehabilitated for the first time in around 40 years. Brandolph said, "It's past due."
That project is expected to begin in 2026 and is expected to take approximately two and 1/2 years to complete. It's unclear what type of detours or closures will be in place when that project begins.