Overview

The Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway (East Busway) has been providing bus rapid transit service to Downtown Pittsburgh, the eastern communities of Pittsburgh and the eastern suburbs of Allegheny County since February 1983. In addition to the many routes providing express and local bus service, nine busway stations are within walking distance of homes and businesses in some of Allegheny County's most heavily populated communities.

Despite the presence of busy railroad operations and steep topography along much of the East Busway, there is residential, retail, recreation, office and institutional development along and near the busway right-of-way. For example, there is a residential development and a neighborhood park that has a direct pedestrian connection to the Homewood Station.

Express routes travel the busway from the east end and eastern suburbs, offering a traffic-free ride from many neighborhoods. All stations are all served by route EBA East Busway-All Stops, with frequent service to Downtown Pittsburgh seven days a week. Route EBO East Busway-Oakland provides trips directly to Oakland and serves all stations between Swissvale and Negley Avenue, and Route EBS East Busway-Short serves all busway stops from Downtown Pittsburgh to Wilkinsburg. The Westmoreland County Transit Authority also operates three express routes on the East Busway linking Pittsburgh with Westmoreland County.

With the addition of the 2.3-mile East Busway Extension - which opened in June 2003 - and three new park and ride lots, busway customers have improved access to employment, entertainment, educational and retail centers along the East Busway, and in Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh. Average weekday ridership is nearly 25,000 with annual ridership close to 7 million.