Project Details:
Planned Multi-Modal Transit Center w/ adjoining Park n’ Ride lot, located adjacent to the intersection of Route 51 and Route 88. This development would provide easy access to the existing light rail line and bus-way, and would accommodate a new Park n’ Ride facility. The project would also include the development of phased commercial (retail/office) space adjacent to transit center.

Project Rationale:
This project would address many of the issues identified in prior area redevelopment plans, specifically:

Easing Congestion
The increased access to transit will help increase transit ridership; this will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road network. Likewise, the Park n’ Ride facility will consolidate existing commuters into fewer vehicles, further reducing the total number of vehicles

Addressing Key Development “Nodes” and “Gateways”
This intersection is a key “Gateway” to our neighborhoods. The project site is located in the City of Pittsburgh, but is immediately adjacent to our communities and is often identified as being within our borders. This property is also an important confluence of the local road network, ensuring that the blight and disinvestment is visible to all visitors to the area – creating a negative “first impression” to those entering the area.

Transit Oriented Development
This project will better integrate commercial redevelopment with public transportation alternatives. Commercial development as part of this project would benefit both from the number of commuters/transit users moving through the site (retail tenants) and from the overall accessibility of the site (office tenants).

Reinforcing the Long Term Competitiveness of the EDS Communities
The accessibility of the EDS communities (proximity to downtown) should, in theory, be an important driver in attracting new residents and businesses. However, because of the limitations of the local road network, these communities are not particularly convenient to downtown. This potential convenience could be an important advantage of these communities as oil prices rise, and a new generation displays a preference for access and a more urban lifestyle. This project would help us to better position the EDS communities as the “Convenience” alternatives to downtown living – offering the benefits of single-family living, without forsaking the benefits of having access to regional amenities.

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