Port Authority and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) led an effort to identify future public transportation improvements and study transit alternatives needed to improve mobility in the population-dense eastern corridor between Downtown Pittsburgh and the western corridor of Westmoreland County. The Westmoreland County Transit Authority was also a partner in the study.

The eastern corridor accounts for 40 percent of all public transit trips in Allegheny County and is an area of significant and continuing growth. This study was the first step in identifying ways in which the region could build upon the existing transportation infrastructure to enhance mobility and economic development.

The study examined and recommended public transportation improvements for the eastern corridor that consisted of proposed bus rapid transit, light rail transit and commuter rail projects. The study’s public input was closely coordinated with the 20/20 Transit Vision and Airport Multimodal Corridor studies’ outreach efforts. The Eastern Corridor Transit Study’s second phase is underway to identify and recommend a condensed version of alternatives and improvements for the corridor. This effort will conclude in Fall 2006.