Outbound T Line Re-Opens At Station Square
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STATION SQUARE (KDKA) – The T heading outbound is up and moving once again at the Station Square stop. This is news commuters have been wanting to hear for several weeks.
"That's great because getting to the South Hills was horrible," said T rider Tenisha Watson.
"That's an extra 10 or 15 minutes back off my commute," said T rider Charles Zimmerman.
The Station Square stop has been closed for weeks since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and damaged the light rail tracks below. Contractors and Port Authority employees have replaced more than 1,600 feet of light rail track, 4,000 feet of overhead power lines and a 5,000-pound power line support frame.
"I'm just shocked it was so fast. I'm sure they did a great job. I just really appreciate the quickness of how they did it," said T rider Diane Braun.
The inbound T tracks are still closed, workers are testing the rails and the Port Authority said they anticipate re-opening them over the weekend if everything goes well.
Inbound rail cars will continue to be detoured via the former Allentown line. Outbound rail cars were also detoured through the former Allentown line, but that won't be the case anymore.
"That would be good. It's a little slower through Allentown so that's nice," said T rider David Bigbee.
Watch Ralph Iannotti's report --
Commuters will have to take shuttle buses for a short time Friday. Buses will transport riders between Steel Plaza and South Hills Junction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. while crews complete repairs at Station Square
Inbound bus shuttles will serve stops at South Hills Junction, East Carson Street at the Smithfield Bridge and Grant Street opposite the main entrance to Steel Plaza.
Outbound bus shuttles will serve stops outside the main entrance to Steel Plaza, at the Landmarks Building along the Smithfield Street Bridge and South Hills Junction.
All light rail vehicles will operate between South Hills Junction and the Red Line and the Blue Line, and between First Avenue Station and Allegheny Station.
As for who's going to pay the hefty bill, that's still unclear. However, the Port Authority is doing all it can to make sure it doesn't end up footing the bill.
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