Sidewalk Installation to Continue at Market Street Station

Earlier this week, PRT’s contractor placed granite curb along with wood frames for the new expanded sidewalk and accessible ramps at Fifth Avenue and Liberty Avenue adjacent to Triangle Park. The sidewalk has been expanded on Fifth Avenue between Market Street and Liberty Avenue to accommodate the new bus shelter. Traffic will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction.

On Saturday, October 12, Fifth Avenue will be closed from Market Street to Liberty Avenue will be closed for paving. One travel lane on Liberty Avenue will also be restricted in that block.

Next week, the contractor will continue to pour concrete sidewalks and accessible ramps. Accessible curbs on the other side of Market Square Station were completed last week.

When construction for the University Line is complete, Market Square Station will have a 30-foot bus shelter with an ADA compliant loading zone, new sidewalk, and new curb with accessible ramps. Station amenities will include an emergency phone, security camera(s), seating, lighting, and real-time arrival signs.

Currently, one outbound travel lane is being maintained. The sidewalk remains open across from the work site.

Construction fencing is expected to remain in place 24/7 until late fall.

Traffic Signal Activation to Continue on Fifth Avenue Next Week

Earlier this week, electrical crews began activating traffic signals on Fifth Avenue. In total, there are 35 new traffic signals along Fifth and Sixth avenues in Downtown Pittsburgh that will be activated over the next few weeks. 

Contractors will work on one intersection at a time, each expected to take one or two days to complete. Most work will be completed in a parking or travel lane and should have minimal impact to vehicular traffic. 

Traffic signals will be out of service while work is performed, and safety personnel will facilitate traffic at each work location.

At the end of the month, PRT’s contractor will being removing existing line striping on the roadway. The traffic will be reconfigured to accommodate areas with expanded sidewalks and align with new traffic signals.

Temporary paint will be placed for winter traffic conditions.

When construction for the University Line is complete, red paint will be placed, creating a bus-only lane on Fifth and Sixth avenues.

Over the next few weeks, electrical crews will move backwards throughout the downtown loop as follows:

When construction is complete, there will be 35 new traffic signals supporting the new University Line bus rapid transit project in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The old signals and poles will be removed later this fall.

Pedestrian access will always be maintained; however, some work may require the use of the adjacent parking/travel lane.

Granite Curb and Sidewalk Installation to Continue at Steel Plaza Station

PRT’s contractor will continue to install new concrete sidewalk and accessible ramps along Sixth Avenue between Grant and Ross Streets.

Last week, concrete slabs were installed to support the new PRTX station.

When construction for the University Line is complete, Steel Plaza Station will have two 60-foot bus shelters with ADA compliant loading zones. Station amenities will include an emergency phone, security camera(s), seating, lighting, and real-time arrival signs.

Traffic is being maintained in both directions adjacent to the work zone. The sidewalk remains open across from the work site.

Construction fencing is expected to remain in place 24/7 until late fall.

Construction Locations for the University Line

PRT’s contractor has seven major work zones in Downtown Pittsburgh. Five of the locations will be PRTX stations (highlighted in green) and the other two locations are safety improvement zones (highlighted in blue).

When construction for the University Line is complete, there will be five new PRTX stations:

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

​ ​ 6. Sixth Avenue (between Fifth Avenue and Diamond Street) 

​ ​ 7. Sixth Avenue (between Smithfield Street and William Penn Pace) 

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

Thank you for your continued support of this project.

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