PRT Will Begin Red Bus Lane Installation to Support The University Line
May 9, 2025
One of the most visible and impactful changes of the University Line Bus Rapid Transit project will be coming to downtown Pittsburgh this month.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit will begin installing red bus lanes along the University Line corridor in Downtown on May 19.
Dedicated bus lanes are a major step toward improving bus service and reducing congestion. This highly anticipated upgrade is set to transform daily commutes and make public transit more reliable for thousands of riders.
What to Expect
Permanent pavement markings other than the red bus paint will be completed during day and night shifts beginning May 12. This work will begin in advance of the red bus lanes and is expected to continue for several weeks.
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.
Work is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change. Additional details for each phase will be announced weekly on our newshub.
Phase I: Liberty Avenue, Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue (Starting May 19)
In phase one, the red bus lane will be installed on Liberty Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in the northeast bound direction. Work will begin on Monday, May 19 at 8 p.m. at Liberty and Fifth Avenues and will progress in the northeast direction to Sixth Avenue, weather permitting. Work on Liberty Avenue is expected to be completed by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20.
General Traffic Changes:
- The contractor will maintain general traffic on Liberty Avenue.
- Sixth Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Wood Street will be closed.
Buses will not stop at:
- Liberty and Sixth Avenue (K&L Gates)
- Sixth and Smithfield (Trinity Cathedral)
Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of Liberty Avenue.
Phase 2: Sixth Avenue, Grant Street to Centre Avenue (Starting May 20)
In phase two, a red bus lane will be added on Sixth Avenue between Grant Street and Centre Avenue in the eastbound direction. Work is expected to begin on Tuesday, May 20, weather permitting.
The contractor will begin placing traffic detours at 7 a.m. in advance of work beginning at night. Installation will begin at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, and is expected to be completed by 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21.
General Traffic Changes:
- The outbound travel lane adjacent to Mellon Green will be closed.
- The contractor will maintain two-directional traffic.
Bus service will not be impacted. Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of Sixth Avenue.
Phase 3: Sixth Avenue, Wood Street to Grant Street (Starting May 21)
In phase three, the red bus lane will be added to Sixth Avenue between Wood Street and Grant Street in the eastbound direction. This section of installation is expected to begin at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
General Traffic Changes:
- Sixth Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Grant Street will become a bus-only lane in the eastbound direction, restricting outbound vehicle access.
- General traffic will only be able to travel westbound (inbound) on Sixth Avenue between Grant Street and Wood Street
Buses will not stop at:
- Sixth Avenue & Smithfield Street (Trinity Cathedral)
Pedestrian access will be maintained opposite the work zone.
Phase 4: Fifth Avenue, Grant Street to Liberty Avenue (Starting May 27)
In phase four, A red bus lane will be installed on Fifth Avenue between Grant Street and Liberty Avenue in the westbound direction. Traffic detours will be placed at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, in advance of work beginning at 8 p.m., weather permitting. This section of Fifth Avenue is expected to reopen on Wednesday, May 28.
General Traffic Changes:
- The westbound (inbound) section of Fifth Avenue between Grant Street and Market Street will become a bus lane.
- General traffic will travel eastbound (outbound) on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Grant Street.
- Vehicles will share a single lane with buses on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Liberty Avenue.
Buses will not stop at:
- Fifth at William Penn Place
- Fifth Avenue at Smithfield Street
- Fifth Avenue at Wood Street (Goddard School)
- Fifth avenue opposite McMasters Way
Pedestrian access will be maintained opposite the work zone.
Phase 5: Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue to Grant Street (Starting May 28)
In phase five, a red bus lane will be installed on Fifth Avenue between Sixth Avenue and Grant Street in the westbound direction.
Traffic detours will be placed at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, in advance of work starting that night. Installation will begin at 8 p.m. and is expected to be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting.
General Traffic Changes:
- The westbound (inbound) section of Fifth Avenue between Grant Street and Market Street will become a bus lane.
- The westbound (inbound) section of Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Liberty Avenue will have general traffic and buses.
- General traffic will travel eastbound (outbound) on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Grant Street.
Buses will not stop at:
- Fifth at Smithfield
- Fifth at Wood
- Fifth at William Penn Place
- Fifth Avenue opposite McMasters Way (Goddard School)
Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of Fifth Avenue.
The installation of bus lanes is weather dependent, and dates are subject to change.
Additional details for each phase will be announced weekly here on the newshub.
Thank you for your continued support of this project.
For questions or concerns, please contact brt@rideprt.org or 412-442-2000.