Since the collapse of the steel industry in the late 1970s, the Pittsburgh area has completely transformed its economy to one that is now based on medicine, higher education, and research. Although the region has changed dramatically, the transit system failed to keep up and was being heavily criticized for providing substandard and inefficient service.
Nelson\Nygaard conducted a comprehensive overhaul to dramatically improve service to serve Allegheny County’s current needs. We analyzed the transit markets, identified alternative transit service models, and evaluated a wide range of service improvement options. Following intense public outreach, we prepared a set of transit service plans, including the identification of corridors for new rapid bus transit lines.
The Transit Development Plan produced the most sweeping of transformation ever conducted of an American transit system–changes that produced much better service for most existing riders, attracted new riders, and made Port Authority services much more relevant and meaningful as Pittsburgh’s renaissance continues.