Major Changes Likely For Pittsburgh Bus Routes

PITTSBURGH, PA — Major changes are afoot for bus routes in and around the city. Pittsburgh Regional Transit on Monday unveiled the first draft of its Bus Line Redesign, a new bus network designed to improve service quality, attract new riders and better meet community demans.

The transit agency contends 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.

“The draft network reflects a collaborative, data-driven approach aimed at answering key questions – where our bus routes should go, when should they operate, and how frequently should they run,” PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said in a release. “We’re eager to receive public feedback and make these improvements as soon as possible.”

The draft network is cost-neutral, using the same budget and resources as today’s network by reallocating and streamlining service from places where demand has waned, particularly since the pandemic.

Agency planners will incorporate the feedback they receive at hearings this winter and update the plan before unveiling the proposed final network in spring. 2025. The agency expects to implement the changes in phases beginning in 2026.