Preparations Are Underway for Red Bus Lane Installation
May 16, 2025
PRT’s contractor is preparing to install red bus lanes along Fifth, Sixth, and Liberty avenues in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Crews started to remove the existing roadway paint used to identify travel lanes and crosswalks. This process began on May 12 and will continue for the next few weeks. New roadway paint will be placed to align with the new bus lanes.
Red bus lanes will be installed in phases, with each phase impacting bus service and traffic patterns in the area, beginning May 19.
Crews will establish traffic detours for most phases at 7 a.m. and the work will begin each evening at 8 p.m. Crews will be working a combination of day and night shifts in each section.
When the bus lanes in Downtown are complete, routes 61A, 61B, 61C, 71B will travel in the new lanes: inbound on Fifth Avenue and outbound on Sixth Avenue. General traffic will do the opposite and travel inbound on Sixth Avenue and outbound on Fifth Avenue.
Weather permitting, the schedule is as follows:
- Starting Monday May 19, crews will be working on Liberty Avenue between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The red paint is expected to be installed by 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 20.
- Starting Tuesday May 20, crews will be working on Sixth Avenue between Grant Street and Centre Avenue. The red paint is expected to be installed by 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 21.
- Starting Wednesday May 21, crews will be working on Sixth Avenue between Wood and Grant streets. Work will begin at 5 a.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
- Starting Tuesday, May 27, crews will be working on Fifth Avenue between Grant Street and Liberty Avenue. Work will begin at 7 a.m. and is expected to be completed by Wednesday, May 28.
- Wednesday, May 28, crews will be working on Fifth Avenue between Sixth Avenue and Grant Street. Installation will begin at 5 a.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
Work is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change. Additional details for each phase will be announced weekly here on the newshub.
Shelter Installation to Continue at Wood Street Station
Installation of the new 15-foot bus shelter at Wood Street PRTX Station is nearly complete.
The new Station will remain closed until all shelter components have been tested. Station amenities will include an emergency phone, security camera(s), seating, lighting, and real-time arrival signs.
Construction fencing is expected to remain in place 24/7 until mid-summer 2025.
When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be five new PRTX stations in the Downtown Loop.
Sidewalk Demolition to Begin at Fifth Avenue and Stevenson Street in Uptown
PRT’s contractor recently established a new work zone on the north side of Fifth Avenue between Diamond and Pride streets to build the University Line.
Within that work zone, sidewalk demolition has started on Fifth Avenue between Stevenson and Logan streets. Later this summer, crews will return to install new sidewalks and curbs.
The construction barrier is expected to remain in place 24/7 until fall.
When construction is complete, there will be two new PRTX stations this section of Fifth Avenue - Uptown West at Washington Place and Pride Street Station at Pride Street.
In addition to the new bus stations, the University Line project includes new sidewalks on most of Fifth and Forbes avenues in Uptown.
More than 40 intersections along the University Line will be modernized to include accessible ramps and crosswalks, new traffic singals, accessible pedestrian signals with push button activators and illuminated pedestrian countdown signals.
Electrical Work to Continue in Uptown
PRT’s electrical subcontractor is working on Fifth Avenue in Uptown to place new light poles and pedestrian poles as well as underground electrical conduit to supply power to the future PRTX stations.
Crews will be working on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Forbes Avenue between Diamond and Pride streets.
To accommodate this work, one travel lane and the sidewalk adjacent to the work area may be closed. Traffic restrictions will be removed every evening.
Catch Basin Replacements to Continue in Uptown
PRT’s contractor is replacing drainage infrastructure in Uptown. Crews are working weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to replace several catch basins on Fifth Avenue between Diamond and Wyandotte streets.
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 work progresses and moves from side to side within the zone. Traffic restrictions will be removed each night.
.png "Map of 24 PRTX stations along the University Line corridor")
The University Line Corridor
When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be 24 PRTX stations throughout Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland.
PRTX stations will have new shelters with upgraded amenities including next bus arrival screens, fare vending machines, seating, lighting, emergency phones, and security cameras.
To learn more about the Downtown construction locations, please visit our Downtown web page. Uptown and Oakland will be coming soon.
Thank you for your continued support of this project.
For questions or concerns, please contact brt@rideprt.org or 412-442-2000.