So speaking of transportation links, the final version of the Port Authority's NEXTransit plan is now available:
https://nextransit.network/
This is a new proposed 25-year plan, and as usual these days there was a long process of public engagement. But now it is final and will start working its way through the approval process. Of course funding is a whole other issue, but this provides a sort of prioritization and framework for what might get done if and when funding is available.
There is a lot of interesting information in the document, but the high level structure is they identify 8 target areas, one of which is basically the City of Pittsburgh, and then 7 corridors radiating out from the City. And a ninth "area" is then just the concept of circulating around without going through the City--but I think it is interesting the degree to which that is really pretty downgraded at this point, as I think we are now mostly back to people understanding rapid access to the core employment/activity clusters is the most important transit need.
Indeed, the whole thing is much more about addressing unfilled transit needs we already have, rather than anticipating future needs based on greenfield development and such. Of course this is a county-level entity and you might still get a somewhat different vision when you start moving up to regional (Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission) or state/national levels. But still, I think it is notable and welcome how much we are getting back to trying to make transit in Pittsburgh work like we know it can and should work in modern, thriving cities across the globe.
Another thing they emphasize is they really need to invest heavily (as in $200M plus or minus) in some "boring" things like expanded vehicle storage and maintenance facilities before they can do anything else of significance. Fair enough. Maybe this sort of thing could get funded on a sort of stimulus logic.
OK, then they divide it up into 1-5 year "essential expansion" projects, 6-15 year "opportunity expansion", and then 16-25 year additional "opportunity expansion". Although it is a bit fuzzy of a line, they are typically pushing more speculative, further-out suburban-growth type projects to that last bucket, with projects more involving existing developed areas in the second bucket.
OK, then the 1-5 year phase involves some interesting stuff!
The very first project is +/- $200M for a "East/Central Pittsburgh River to River Connection," which would go from the Strip over the Hill through Oakland to Hazelwood, then cross the river to Carrick/Overbrook and a connection to the LRT system. And in light of the topographic challenges, they mention an aerial gondola system! But also note it would probably be multi-mode overall.
People who know me will know I am extremely pleased about this. I do think it makes sense, and I think this is the perfect first application for such a technology in our area. And I am somewhat shocked it actually made the very top of their list (well, after the facilities thing).
OK, next . . . I won't discuss all these in detail, but the other 1-5 projects are a Downtown Transit Center; doing something about the Library Line (and reading between the lines, I think they are really thinking it might need to be downgraded from light rail, because the cost of maintaining it as part of the LRT system is hard to justify given the limited ridership/TOD potential); a light BRT plan for 837 between Homestead and McKeesport; phased extensions of the East Busway, possibly to McKeesport eventually; studying the Allentown line (this one they sound more bullish on upgrading back to LRT); a BRT connection between the East Busway and Monroeville with either shoulder-running or center-running buses on the Parkway East; and light BRT along McKnight Road.
Phew! Only some of that is actual expansion, some is planning, but that is still a lot of stuff. And I am glad to see so much BRT focus for connecting in physically close developed areas that are currently very underserved with rapid transit.
OK, then 6-15 years they lead off with a revived plan for some sort of rapid transit along the AVRR right of way. But rather than commuter rail, they are more talking light rail or BRT. Interesting, and again I think a sort of shift in focus to making all this more neighborhood friendly and less about whisking commuters through this area.
Also on the 6-15 list: BRT expansion from the West Busway to the airport; light BRT on Brownsville/51; and studying LRT extensions along the Ohio River and/or out to Ross.
I note those last couple projects would be ENORMOUSLY expensive. Never say never, but I am personally thinking most of these other things listed so far would be far better benefit-to-cost ratio projects. Indeed, in another chart they list the capital range estimate for these projects, and check off a "Top 10". These are by FAR the most expensive projects, and don't make the top 10. The most expensive project on the top 10 is the Airport corridor plan.
I also personally think if they did do a first aerial gondola system that worked out well, that might be an alternative technology to explore for at least nearer parts of the North Side/North Hills, likely at a fraction of both the capital and operating costs.
OK, out to 25 years you get rapid transit out to Cranberry, Pleasant Hills, Bridgeville, and along Freeport Road.
Everything on the list would end up costing an estimate $3-3.75 billion. But, just the Top 10 cuts that to $1.2-1.6B. And that might be a realistic funding number for the next 25 or so years, maybe even a shorter timeframe depending on relevant population and political dynamics over the next decade or so.
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