University of South Florida Scholar Commons CUTR Research Reports CUTR Publications 2-1-1997 Guideway Transit and Intermodalism: Function and Effectiveness: Case Study, Pittsburgh Mitchell P. York Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cutr_reports Scholar Commons Citation York, Mitchell P., "Guideway Transit and Intermodalism: Function and Effectiveness: Case Study, Pittsburgh" (1997). CUTR Research Reports. 387. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cutr_reports/387 This Technical Report is brought to you for free and open access by the CUTR Publications at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in CUTR Research Reports by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. •• :·.·:~-. l .... .. .... :•.· ~. /:. l: ·:. .-. ' ;,. .. '• .... .... ,.·· .. ' ·.. ... .. , .... ': • • ' ··. .. ·.:. -~·.:: •. ': :"·~ · . .... ·... ':·;..·-:: ;. " ··. ~-....' ::·- .?:· ~<: :).·; '~·· .· .,·. ·0 · · ·.····0 · "·:~·~· • .... .._ .... •• •• • •••• ,.-• • • ••• •• ··. ··· ·., J ' " ' t\ > " ' / 0 r .. '•.t· ..... \ .. ·:·. .. ,• . ,. .•. ·.• · • . ,. ·.•. .' I' . ·... '• : ' " ' . ..,., .···•. .·. ... : .... ··: .·.,. .•• ,.. ..... .. ' . .. ... .' ' .., ... .:. .•··· ..,, .• ,·:·. .. ·.···. ' . :''·:···_. ;.r:•·" . :... .. :·: ·_,._,.\ ' : .. ·:· ., :~ . ::·..,·, ... ...... ....: .•· . •.~ .... .... •. · ..~ /' ·. • 1(:' . ·' .· ; · ..-. .. •·"· . ..... '•· ' . ·. '\•· ····. .· ~· ·:·':-: :-'::~~-~--~ : . /'~/·'· .-.~~-- ·.~:~:·. ... ~· ·: ··~ "·"···.; • ,t I'~ .' '! · .. •• • •- .. ~.:·. • ·.,·'":.·_<,: -.; .. · , ... _ •• ' • '··.... ~- .. : :~ . :;~ ~:.:: ~ •' ... ·, '• ... .. :... ...: -. ~ ·:-:. :l>~<:~ ::.-.:.:··:;it:;_~~~- ::~· ~ .... ~ '•. .. • .. •:_·::.· .. .. ,, .-::.- · -.::' .··:: .. -. ..... :- .• . -!·. ... -.. -:, ·.~ · ·,· ••• ···\.'···· ·{·~.. ··• • •..•.-. _ t~.; .... ... ... '< ·-~··: :' .. ' •;. '· . •'· • . .. .. •. i .• . .. pO ·'o .. • • .0 .. 0 .._ ...... ·' • ' I "•.. .. .. • ~ ··;. .... ..... -.... .. • ' 0 •• .. .. >. •• " '< · ·: ..~ '.. .. : 1. ..... ....) .. ....; ; •_i ·- . ·'. ... ... .. ... .. .... ~· .. ; . •. .,. ...• .'•• · ' . Guideway Transit andlntermoda/ism: Function andEffectweness Case Study Pittsburgh Centt r for Urban Transporta1ion Research Colege or Engineerin9, Univer&iy of Solih Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ENS 118 · Tampa, FL 3S620·53SO (813) 974-3120, Suncom 574-3120, Fax (813) 974-5168 email: bfosc:hOeng.uSI.edu Gary L. Brosch, Ol~t~otor February 1997 Project M~nagtr Mitchell P. York Project Stoll Julee Gteen Ronald c. Sheck Ben Walker The cOntents of thiS tVJport rtlltct tho vttws of the aut/Jot'$, who an: rosponslble 101 the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This documont is dlssemlnat~ under tht sponSol'$hip of th6 Departrrumt of Transporla6on, Federal Transit .AdminjsfTBtion, in the interest of info,.,at}on exchange. The U.S. Government 8$$Umes no liabiNty for the CQnfents or use thor~! 1nd dou not Ond0!$e any vtn<JOI'$ orproducts monuon~ In tho tVJport. this page • IS blank t. Repcnm. '2. Ge¥tftmentA<~IQn No.(H'TI!;) S, Rl"~•C$tiiOgNO. GUID96USF2.1 UMTRISIFTA Section. t. 'Tiro afld 81111W111 !), ~CW.c- February 1997 GUIDEWAY TRANSIT AND INTERMODALISM: FUNCTION AND s, PC!I'formila orga,.q;Mion Co<rc: EFFECTIVENESS: CASE STUDY, PITTSBURGH 7. A~thot(s) 8. Pcrlormila OrtPri:mlion Report No. Mitchell P. York, et al 9. ~hg Org~rhation Name andAdclr85& 10, Woflc IJN!No. (IRAIS) Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) Univers~y of South Florida 4202 East Fowter Avenue 11. Con«raetorGrantNo. Tampa, Florida 33620 12. Spon$oring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period CGwred U.S. Department of Transportation Case Study Federal Transit Administration (FTA) November 1994-February 1997 400 7th Stree~ S. W. Washington, DC 20590 1-4. Sponsor1ng Agency Code 15, Supplflmenbtty ~os 16. Abstract This report is one of nine case studies prepared as part of the study, Guideway Transit and Jntermoda/ism: Function and Effectiveness. This case study examines guideway transh and intermodalism in the context of the nation's pioneer in transit busways, a maj or metropolitan area revhalizing an old streetcar system, and continuing use of incline planes. Pittsburgh is serving as a model for other metropolitan areas considering using busways as a primary method of public transportation. Numerous main points and lessons teamed can be·useful for other communities that are considering Investing in fiXed guideway transit. 17, Key \\folds 18, DistrilxJtion~tetMne Report available to tha public through the Guideway transit, light rail, Pittsburgh National Technical Information Sel'lice (NTIS) urbanized area, Pittsburgh trans~. 5285 Port Royal Road busway, incline plane, lntermodalism Springfield, Virginia 22161 (703)4$7-4650 19, S«urity Classif. (otthls report) 20. SecurityCiassif. (of tiS page) 21. No. of pages 22. P1lee (NTIS) unclassified unclassified Form DOT F 1700.7 (9•72) Reproduction of complete d page this page • IS blank ' . Guideway Transit and lntermodal/sm: Function and Effectiveness Preface Over the past few decades more than a ~ozini u,s. cities have implemented new guideway public transit systems and virtually every major urban area has or is considering increasing of public transportation infrastructure investments, frequently including the consideration of guideway transit investments. The country's dramatic suburbanization and socio-economic changes have placed new challenges on public transportation. Various guideway Investments are among the solutions that local communities have considered to meet the changing transportation needs of their communities. The result has been growing guideway transit ridership and an increase In the Importance of guideway in the overall transportation system. Guideway transit investments are perceived as the public transit investment that provides an excellent opportunity to compete with auto travel, Influence land use, motivate public and business financial support and address air quality and environmental goals. This report does not advocate guideway solutions or discourage careful consideration of non­ guideway transportation investments, but provides a knowledge base to support those involved in guideway planning and implementation. Vllith the development of numerous systems over the past few years, a great deal of experience and knowledge has been gained about all aspects of using guideway investments to meet transportation and other local goals. Much of this knowledge resides with local planning agency staffs and is of great value to other urban areas if the most relevant information can be captured and communicated . to the ever growing and changing. group of professionals that are involved in guideway project planning and decision-making. This report is one of several that are being produced as part of a study funded by the Federal Transit Administration on intermodalism and guideway effectiveness. This multi-year effort is being conducted by the Lehman Center for Transportation Research at Florida International University and the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. The broadly­ defined research project, a response to a U.S. congressional authorization, focuses on the examination of factors that influence the effectiveness and efficiency of guideway transit systems and passenger intermodal transportation. The work program is driven by eight primary research tasks, each of which is being addressed through a variety of research methodologies. The overall objective Is to assemble existing and new information and interpret and communicate that information in a manner that supports the planning and decision-making efforts of public transportation planners. Knowledge gained in this project will provide useful information for the many communities and transportation professionals that are planning or considering guideway transit as a key component In their transportation system. tn addition, many of the issues and much of the information will have application for all public transportation planning. The products of this research effort in 1g95 include technical reports, case studies, and data books. CfiiJter for Urban Transportation Research Guideway Transit and lntennod;tl/sm: Function and Effectiven8SS Center for Urban Transportation Research iv Guideway Transit and lntennodallsm-: Function and Effectiveness Table of Contents Preface iii List of Tables . .. .. vii List of Figures . ' . .. ix Foreward . .. Xi Introduction 1 The Study Area . .. 3 Physical and Political Characteristics . 3 Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics . .. 8 Transportation and Travel Characteristics 11 Population and Employment Projections 12 Urban Patterns and Transit History . .. 14 Guideway Transit Components in the Region . .. ... • ...... .. ..... • . .. 17 Light Rail Transit . .. .......... .. .. .... • ... • . .. • . .• • . .... • .. 21 Busways . 26 Inclines 30 Transit Finance . .. • . .... 0 • •••• ••• • •••• • • • • •• • • • • • • 0 •• • •• • •••• 0 ••• 32 Transit Fare Policy . .... ... ...... .. • ... • . .. • .. .. • . ... • .. • ... 33 Pittsburgh lntermodal Transportation System .. • . .. .•... • • .. • • . .. • .. •. • . 37 Regional lntennodal Management System .. .••. .... • . •. • . • . 37 Mode to Mode Trans_fer .... ...... ......•....•. • .... • . ... • •.. • .. 39 lntemiodalism in Pittsburgh 40 Planning Guideway Systems and lntermodalism .. ...• . • • .. .. .. • .. .. • .. 41 Light