Downtown PRTX Stations are Now Open

August 1, 2025

*Wood Street PRTX station at Sixth and Liberty Avenues*

Downtown PRX Stations are Now Open

On Sunday, July 27, PRT officially opened five new PRTX stations in downtown Pittsburgh. The stations are as follows:

1. Ross Street Station - Fifth Avenue and Ross Street

2. William Penn Station - Fifth Avenue and William Penn Place

3. Market Square Station - Fifth Avenue and Liberty Avenue

4. Wood Street Station - Sixth Avenue and Liberty Avenue

5. Steel Plaza Station - Sixth Avenue between Grant and Ross Streets

Downtown stations have new glass shelters with seating, lighting, next bus arrival screens and wayfinding signage. Security cameras and emergency phones will be activated in the coming weeks.

Ticket vending machines will be installed at four of the five downtown stations in early 2026.

In addition to the five new stations, there are two new safety improvement sites at:

Sixth Avenue (between Fifth Avenue and Diamond Street)
Sixth Avenue (between Smithfield Street and William Penn Place)

Both locations have newly expanded sidewalks with granite curbs and ADA accessible ramps, improving the safety and accessibility along the corridor.

Bus routes 61A Braddock, 61B Braddock Swissvale, 61C McKeesport, 71B Highland Park, G2 West Busway and P1 East Busway will serve the new stations.

*Aerial view of upcoming paving locations on Forbes Avenue in Oakland*

Paving to Impact Traffic on Forbes Avenue in Oakland This Weekend

PRT’s contractor is preparing to pave portions of Forbes Avenue in Oakland over the next two weekends.

Crews will mill and pave the right lane of Forbes Avenue at three locations between Craft Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard starting at 8 p.m. Friday, August 1 through 5 p.m. on Saturday August
2.

While paving will only occur in the right lane, adjacent to the curb, the center lane will be blocked by construction equipment. Crews will maintain one lane of traffic during the work.
Parking and stopping along Forbes Avenue will be prohibited during paving.

Paving is also scheduled for Saturday, August 9 in the right lane of Forbes Avenue from Schenley Drive to Schenley Drive Extension (both of which border Schenley Plaza). Additional details regarding this section of paving will be determined early next week.

Traffic and Pedestrian Impacts:

Buses will continue to serve stops on Forbes Avenue during the paving, with the exception of the stop on Forbes at Craft, which will be temporarily out of service.
Most side streets along Forbes Avenue between Craft Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard will remain accessible for traffic.
Flaggers will be on site to help with traffic flow. However, motorists are advised to allow extra travel time.
Pedestrians will continue to have access to sidewalks and crosswalks.
Roadway barriers are expected to remain in place until line striping is completed, which is expected to happen before August 15.

*Concrete recently placed at Fifth and Ruskin avenues*

Sidewalk Demolition to Continue on Fifth Avenue in Oakland

Sidewalk demolition is underway at several locations along Fifth Avenue in Oakland.

After excavation, utilities including water, sewer and electric can be relocated or upgraded since PRT will not build on top of the underground infrastructure.  PRT’s contractors will also set utility connections for future station amenities

Future PRTX stations within the work zone are:

Chesterfield Road Station - Fifth Avenue at Chesterfield Road 
Atwood Station (existing) - Fifth Avenue at Atwood Street 
Bigelow Boulevard Station - Fifth Avenue at University Place 
Tennyson Avenue Station - Fifth Avenue at Tennyson Avenue 
Pedestrian access is being maintained on both sides of Fifth Avenue except for a small area at Fifth Avenue and Chesterfield Road.

Most bus stops within the new work zone remain available to accommodate riders, but may be moved a few feet to the left or right of the existing stop. Two bus stops – Fifth Avenue at Thackery
and Fifth Avenue at University Place – are combined into one new temporary stop between the existing stops.

This phase of construction on Fifth Avenue is expected to be completed in fall 2025.

*New catch basins recently installed at Forbes Avenue and Magee Street*

Utility Relocation to Continue in Uptown and Oakland

PRT’s contractor is relocating water and drainage infrastructure in Uptown and Oakland. Crews are working on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to relocate catch basins and fire hydrants.

This work will require a partial lane closure providing access to the manhole and/or catch basin on or near the curb. Traffic restrictions will change as the work progresses and moves from side to side within the zone. Lane restrictions will be removed each night.

The University Line Corridor

When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be 24 PRTX stations throughout Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland.

PRT continues to work closely with stakeholders including community groups, universities, businesses and other impacted groups during construction.

PRTX stations will have new shelters with upgraded amenities, including next bus arrival screens, fare vending machines, seating, lighting, emergency phones and security cameras.

For questions or concerns, please contact brt@rideprt.org or 412-442-2000.