About the Project

Bus Line Redesign is a unique opportunity to comprehensively review all of PRT's bus routes. The study will consider where, when, and how people travel in and around the region and recommend updates to bus routes to better serve all of Allegheny County. This project was prioritized in PRT's 2021 long-range plan, NEXTransit.

How Did We Get Here? Introducing Draft Network 1.0

Draft Network 1.0 connects more Allegheny County residents to more jobs, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, and shopping centers. It creates additional one-seat rides to Oakland, improves connections between communities with new crosstown routes and transit hubs, and increases frequencies throughout the week and on weekends compared to today’s bus network. Many of the proposed network changes are a direct result of what we heard during the BLR engagement Phases 1 and 2.

Draft Network 1.0 reflects improvements such as:

  • New routes connecting communities without the need to transfer in Downtown Pittsburgh.
  • New one-seat rides to top destinations like Oakland.
  • Improved reliability by shortening route length and adjusting schedule times.
  • Additional connectivity with an expanded system of transit hubs.
  • Improved access to jobs, services, health facilities, and grocery stores.
  • Increased transit service throughout the day and on weekends, favors more service to vulnerable and transit-dependent riders.
  • Consistent trip frequencies that are easier for riders to know when their bus will arrive.
  • Better use of busways by eliminating stop restrictions.

Many of the routes, frequency and service span improvements are intentionally focused on equity neighborhoods within the PRT service area.

  • Fewer Routes, But More Frequent Service
    • Fewer routes are proposed, but more routes are operating every 30 min or better for all but in the late evenings. There are also more routes operating in the weekday late evenings.
  • More Equity Communities Have Access to More Frequent Service
    • 143,000 residents in neighborhoods identified as having high concentrations of low-income and/or minority residents have access to 30-minute or better service. This is a 32% improvement over existing service.
  • Buses are More Direct and Easier to Understand
    • Routes are more direct, efficient, and reliable in response to changing travel patterns
    • New crosstown routes allow regional mobility without first riding downtown to transfer
    • New one-seat ride connections from equity areas to work and shopping destinations


PRT developed three project goals in response to public input during the phase of engagement. An initial analysis shows the Draft Network 1.0 is addressing these goals in a number of ways.

Goal 1: Improve service quality and reliability by streamlining routes, making routes more direct, and improving on-time performance.

  • Increase from 25 to 43 routes providing 30 minute or better service frequency
  • Over 400,000 residents have access to 30-minute or better service – a 27% improvement
  • Reduction of long routes, over 20 miles in length – by 50%

Goal 2: Prioritize equitable service by aligning routes with the land use and socio-economic changes since our network was created, better serving transit-dependent and vulnerable riders.

  • 143,000 residents in equity communities* have access to 30-minute or better service – a 32% improvement
  • Nearly 340,000 job locations have access to 30-minute or better service - an improvement of nearly 35,000 jobs

Goal 3: Expand transit connections to major job centers, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, and between neighborhoods.

  • Over 605,000 residents have access to transit – an improvement of over 35,000 people
  • Over 230,000 residents have a one-seat ride to Oakland - an improvement of nearly 21,000 people
  • 99.4% of current PRT riders continue to have access to fixed route service within ¼ mile from their home

Notes:

  • Metrics shown above based on service proposed during the midday on weekdays.
  • Equity communities as measured by PRT’s Equity Index of Mobility Need.

Learn More and Provide Input Now!

Draft Network 1.0 does more that propose just changes to routes, it shows PRT's commitment to working with the community to design a network that provides consistent, reliable service. Public engagement for this phase of the project started September 30th, 2024 and will continue through January 31st, 2025.

There are several methods for you to provide input!

Public Engagement Events

See below for upcoming project meetings and events. View the full list of upcoming events here.

Events currently underway and past events and materials can be found in the Project Archive.


More Details

Bus Line Redesign is more than a route plan, it includes a number of other improvements to make the system better for our riders. Learn more about these other components of the project below.


PRT developed three project goals in response to public input during the phase of engagement.

  • Improve service quality and reliability by streamlining routes, making routes more direct, and improving on-time performance.
  • Prioritize equitable service by aligning routes with the land use and socio-economic changes since our network was created, better serving transit-dependent and vulnerable riders.
  • Expand transit connections to major job centers, healthcare facilities, shopping centers, and between neighborhoods.

This map below shows areas within a 5-min walk of current on-street bus service or a 10-minute walk from PRT's busways and light rail corridors. This is generally referred to as PRT's current coverage area.

Click here to view the enlarged map.

This project addresses the following values from PRT’s long-range transportation plan, NEXTransit, adopted in 2021.

  • Accessible: infrastructure is fully available in every way to those with specific needs, such as physical or mental disabilities, those traveling with infants or small children, and those traveling with groceries or other goods.
  • Affordable: this project makes it easier for those of all means, including the underemployed and unemployed populations, to utilize transit without needing to sacrifice other life sustaining activity, such as buying food, medicine or heating, to do so.
  • Equitable: the project not only ensures the fair provision of services to those with limited means or higher risk, but affirmatively acts to better the services offered to these groups in an effort to combat historical and environmental imbalances in the community.
  • Sustainable: the project enhances the health of communities and the natural environment through its design and operations with regard to energy use, water use, raw material use, land use, and waste production.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Fall 2023

    Phase 1: Where should we go?

    • Conduct Existing Conditions Analysis
    • Public Engagement Round 1
      • Host two online public meetings
      • Host in-person pop-up events around the service area
  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Winter 2023 and Spring 2024

    Phase 2: What have we learned?

    • Conduct Market Analysis
    • Analyze results from Phase 1 public input
    • Public engagement round 2
    • Topic-based focus groups
  • Timeline item 3 - active

    Summer and Fall 2024

    Phase 3: Draft Network 1.0

    • Develop service concepts and assess feasibility
    • Draft network proposal
    • Public engagement round 3
  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Winter 2024 and Spring 2025

    Phase 4: Proposed Network 2.0 and Final Plan

    • Complete public engagement round 3
    • Develop Proposed Network 2.0
    • Public engagement round 4
    • Finalize proposal for board action

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