Significant bus, light rail delays expected during monthlong project

PITTSBURGH — Bus and light rail service in the South Hills will be significantly impacted for about one month starting Friday as the Port Authority of Allegheny County begins a track and concrete replacement project.

About 480 feet of light rail track and concrete will be replaced between South Hills Junction and the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel, the Port Authority said.

The work is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday and will be performed 24 hours a day over two phases, ending on Aug. 22.

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Significant delays are expected throughout the light rail system and on the affected bus routes, according to the Port Authority.

“The construction will impact approximately 10,000 weekday and 5,000 weekend light rail riders and 5,000 weekday and 2,000 weekend bus riders,” a news release said.

The following detours will be in effect for the duration of the project:

LIGHT RAIL SERVICE

INBOUND

All inbound rail service will operate via the tracks that run through the city's Allentown neighborhood. Inbound rail cars will be unable to serve Station Square.

Inbound passengers heading to Station Square from the South should continue toward downtown on an inbound rail car, disembark at First Avenue and take an outbound rail car to Station Square.

Inbound passengers at Station Square will board a rail shuttle on the inbound platform during Phase 1 and on the outbound platform during Phase 2.

OUTBOUND

Outbound rail cars will use the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel from the start of service until 11 p.m.

After 11 p.m., outbound rail cars will use the tracks that run through the city’s Allentown neighborhood and will be unable to serve Station Square. During this time, a rail shuttle will operate between Station Square and First Avenue Station.

Customers heading outbound from Station Square after 11 p.m. should take the rail shuttle inbound toward downtown (boarding at Station Square on the inbound platform during Phase 1 and on the outbound platform during Phase 2) to First Avenue Station and then board any outbound rail car.

TRENDING NOW:

BUS SERVICE

Buses that regularly use the South Busway (Routes 39, 40, 41, 44, Y1, Y45, Y46, Y47 and Y49) will not use the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel.

INBOUND

The last inbound stop before buses are detoured will be South Busway at Palm Garden.

Inbound buses will be unable to serve the following stops: South Busway at South Hills Junction; Station Square Station at South Busway Slip Ramp; East Carson at Smithfield. Additionally, Route 44 will be unable to serve the stop at South Busway at Haberman Ramp Step (at South Hills Junction).

Port Authority will establish a stop at Wabash Tunnel Ramp at the Monongahela Incline (West Carson Street).

OUTBOUND

The last outbound stop before vehicles are detoured will be E. Carson Street at Station Square Station.

Outbound buses will be unable to serve the South Busway at South Hills Junction stop.

Port Authority will establish a stop at Warrington opposite Boggston (at the top of sidewalk that comes up from South Hills Junction).

Cox Media Group