Pittsburgh rapid bus line project lands $100M from federal government

The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved nearly $100 million for a rapid bus line linking Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.

President Trump announced in a tweet Thursday that the Port Authority of Allegheny County would receive $99.9 million for its long-planned Bus Rapid Transit project.

.@USDOT is committing $99.95M to @PGHtransit in Pennsylvania to connect Pittsburghers to their two largest commercial employment centers through safe, quick transit service. Great things coming to a great State!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2020

“We are pleased to learn such positive news for our bus rapid transit project,” Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman said. “The federal dollars are a significant portion of the overall funding plan. We look forward to discussing this with federal transit officials next week.”

Local officials earlier this year said the federal grant was a key piece of funding needed to start construction.

Mayor Bill Peduto lauded local congressional representatives for securing the grant.

“It is fantastic that we received the funding,” Peduto said. “It means that we’re moving now to the implementation part and out of the planning phase.”

He said the project might have to be scaled back somewhat because of Port Authority funding cuts, but the overall concept would remain the same.

Plans call for dedicated bus lanes running outbound from Downtown along Forbes Avenue to Oakland and back along Fifth Avenue. Three branch lines will extend to Swissvale via a connection in Oakland to the Martin Luther King East Busway, Highland Park and Hazelwood.

BRT buses will operate seven days a week, arriving about every three minutes during rush hours and up to seven minutes during off-peak hours. The system will have 44 stops, including one on Wood Street, Downtown, where riders can access the Port Authority’s light rail system.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said he is excited about the project.

“We were delighted to get the news about the funding decision and thank President Trump for the financial support of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project,” he said in a statement Friday. “We are also lucky that Congressman Doyle, the ‘Dean of the Delegation,’ has such vision and clout and has championed this project from the very beginning. He, along with Congressman Conor Lamb who is a member of the Transportation Committee, have been vocal advocates for this important connection since it was first envisioned.”

Fitzgerald said he is grateful the project has bipartisan support.

“This project will be transformative for our city, connecting Downtown Pittsburgh with fast-growing areas like Oakland and the East End,” Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said in a statement. “This project will connect some of the fastest-growing parts of our city and provide a fast, efficient way for workers to commute.”