"Americans rely on public transit every day to get to work, go to school, and connect with loved ones," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "The Biden Administration's investment in the new Downtown-Uptown-Oakland bus rapid transit line will help commuters in Pittsburgh get where they’re going quickly and safely — while reducing congestion and pollution."
The BRT project will improve the travel experience for riders with dedicated bus-only lanes, traffic lights that will automatically turn green, and faster, more friendly boarding. It also will create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment with new bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure. With a bus arriving every five minutes during peak periods, 22 hours a day, it will provide new options to get to the Hill district, Oakland, and the Central Downtown area. More than 40,000 riders per day used the current bus options in the communities served by the expected BRT.
"The Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT line will improve transit speed and reliability on one of the highest transit ridership corridors in Pittsburgh," said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. "We are pleased to support this project that will better connect communities to jobs and education."
FTA is providing $149.9 million to the 7.1-mile Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT, which is estimated to cost $291 million. The funding comes from FTA's Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.
