OVERVIEW
The Airport Multimodal Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS) is being
advanced by the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Southwestern Pennsylvania
Commission (SPC), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT),
Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny County Airport
Authority.
The Project Team solicited input from the public and analyzed previous
studies to determine a variety of transportation improvements to increase
mobility, foster economic development opportunities and enhance transportation
connections in and around the airport corridor.
The airport corridor includes downtown Pittsburgh, Oakland, Pittsburgh
International Airport, communities west of Downtown to the Beaver County
border, and the corridor's major roadways such as the Parkway West (I-279),
Ohio River Boulevard (Route 65), Route 60, the West Busway and Route 51.
Two light rail transit alternatives that would originate in Downtown and
extend the existing light rail system from the North Shore to the Pittsburgh
International Airport are the major public transit investments being proposed
to address the corridor's transportation needs.
Also, as the primary highway connection between the airport and Downtown,
the study is recommending widening the Parkway West (I-279) to improve
efficiency, enhance connections to Downtown and Oakland and reduce the
potential for traffic accidents. The Parkway West proposal also includes
a bus rapid transit option that provides enhanced service, new park and
rides and improved passenger information.
In addition to the major transit and highway capital investments, which
may take more than eight years from planning to construction, several
low cost transportation enhancements are recommended. These enhancements
- new park and ride facilities, pedestrian improvements and improvements
to the existing bus service - could be implemented in less than five years
if funding can be secured.
The Airport Multimodal Corridor Study's outcomes and the results from
other planning efforts currently underway, such as the Eastern Corridor
Transit Study, 20/20 Vision (Strategic Regional Transit Visioning Study)
and the Pennsylvania High-Speed Maglev Project will need to be analyzed
as part of a comprehensive public transportation improvement strategy
for the region. This strategy would help assess which transportation projects
are priorities for the region, aggressively advance those projects forward
into the next phase, secure financial support and continue ongoing dialogues
with stakeholders, elected officials and community residents.