PRT Seeking Bids for Phase II of University Line Bus Rapid Transit Project
July 15, 2024
Pittsburgh Regional Transit has begun seeking bids for construction on Phase II of the University Line bus rapid transit project.
Phase II includes the Fifth and Forbes Avenue corridor from the edge of downtown Pittsburgh through the city's Uptown and Oakland neighborhoods.
PRT issued the bid documents on Sunday and expects to award a contract this fall. Bid documents can be found at https://www.rideprt.org/business-center/procurement/bids-and-rfps/.
Once a contract is awarded, PRT will host meetings with the community and stakeholders before construction begins in spring 2025. Construction is expected to take about two years.
The University Line will deploy battery-electric buses in dedicated lanes to transport thousands of riders between Oakland and downtown Pittsburgh, the second- and third-largest economic centers in Pennsylvania.
Phase II will include more than four miles of dedicated bus lanes, new traffic signals capable of giving buses priority over other vehicles, new bike lanes and shared-use paths, and pedestrian improvements like wider sidewalks that are accessible for individuals with disabilities.
It will also include 18 new transit stations along Fifth and Forbes avenues, most of which will include real-time bus arrival signs, fare vending machines, seating, and lighting.
"This will be a transformative project not just for public transit but for the communities in which it operates," said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman.
PRT's Board awarded Independence Excavating of Cheswick a $27.9 million construction contract for Phase I in March 2023. Construction began in September 2023. Phase I includes five transit stations on Fifth and Sixth avenues in downtown Pittsburgh, each with similar amenities to the stations in Phase II.
PRT has budgeted $291 million for the total project, more than half of which is federally funded.
To receive the most up-to-date information on the University Line bus rapid transit project, visit https://prt-brt-newshub.prezly.com/.