As the Pittsburgh Regional Transit forges ahead with its University Line project, commuters in Downtown Pittsburgh are bracing for traffic modifications that promise both improvements and inconveniences. Marking the next phase of transit enhancements, these changes began Monday and will affect the daily rhythm of the city’s Fifth and Sixth avenues.
According to WTAE, the current focus on reconfiguring lanes aligns with earlier sidewalk expansions and the integration of new traffic signals. "It's been crazy for the past three to four years," Diana O'Connell, a local resident said. “I park in Chatham, so there's been construction on Fifth Avenue, and adding this to the mix, it's just made commute times ridiculous." This sentiment reflects a broader disruption felt by those navigating the ongoing construction.
Adding to the traffic woes, on-street parking and valet zones are being relocated, pressing drivers to seek alternative spots. Traffic will be guided by safety personnel from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays to assist in minimizing disruptions during this transition period. These changes are part of PRT's broader vision for bringing the city's first on-street bus rapid transit system to life, which, as CBS News Pittsburgh reports, began construction in September 2023.
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