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In the event of an emergency evacuation of Downtown Pittsburgh, we ask that you tune in to any local television or radio station for the most up-to-date information. Our police and operations personnel will direct you to the appropriate bus stops and light rail stations.
There are three levels of evacuation depending on the level of emergency:
Level 1: Voluntary Evacuation
Should a voluntary evacuation of Downtown Pittsburgh be ordered, we will attempt to provide the highest level of regularly scheduled bus and light rail service possible at regular stops and stations. The Monongahela Incline and Duquesne Incline are expected to operate during a Level 1 evacuation.
Level 2: Mandatory Partial Evacuation
The Level 2 evacuation plan would be implemented only in an extreme emergency situation.
In the event of a mandatory evacuation, every available bus and rail vehicle will be dispatched to Downtown Pittsburgh. Regular routes will be used, and will serve regular Downtown bus stops and light rail stations wherever possible.
Buses will transport passengers outbound using busways and selected main roads. Buses will drop off passengers along their route and will immediately return to Downtown once all passengers have been discharged. Passengers will not be picked up on the inbound trips.
Outbound light rail service will operate for as long as possible during the evacuation. In this event, riders must board from outbound platforms only. Inbound platforms will be closed. Outbound light rail service will let riders off at high-platform stations only (view a map indicating high-platform stations).
Once the last rider is discharged, light rail vehicles will return Downtown to continue the evacuation. Passengers will not be picked up on the inbound trips.
In the event of light rail closure, replacement shuttle buses will be available and will stop at locations near each Downtown light rail station.
The Monongahela Incline and Duquesne Incline are expected to operate during a Level 2 evacuation
Level 3: Mandatory Full Evacuation
The Level 3 evacuation plan will be put in place if buses are prohibited from entering Downtown Pittsburgh.
Bus
Five perimeter locations will be established as emergency evacuation bus passenger boarding areas. Proceed to the area that best fits your direction of travel:
| North: Fort Duquesne Boulevard at 7th Street Bridge |
| East 1: East Busway's Penn Station (near the busway entrance at Liberty and Grant) |
| East 2: Fifth Avenue at Washington Place |
| South: Fort Pitt Boulevard at Wood Street |
| West: Liberty Avenue at Stanwix Street |
Secondary bus boarding locations will be used in the event that primary locations become inaccessible (see chart below for secondary location details).
Buses will operate nonstop to remote locations where all passengers will be discharged (see chart for tentative drop-off locations). No passengers will be discharged en route. The only exception to this will be in the event of a Downtown light rail shutdown, in which case South buses will discharge passengers at South Hills Junction to transfer to rail service.
After discharging passengers at the remote locations, all buses will return to Downtown Pittsburgh to continue the evacuation. Passengers will not be picked up on the inbound trips.
When the evacuation is completed, buses will return to the remote drop-off locations to take passengers as close as possible to their final destinations, continuing until all remaining evacuees are transported.
Light Rail
Outbound light rail service will be provided to all Downtown light rail stations and all outbound high-platform stations for as long as possible. Outbound low-platform stops will not be served.
Should the Downtown light rail system become inaccessible or closed, all outbound light rail service will originate at South Hills Junction. To get there, passengers should go to the South bus pick-up location (see chart below) and a bus will transport them to South Hills Junction, where they may transfer to an outbound light rail vehicle.
After discharging passengers, light rail vehicles will turn back and return to Downtown Pittsburgh to continue the evacuation. Passengers will not be picked up on the inbound trips.
Level 3: Mandatory Full Evacuation of Downtown Pittsburgh with Perimeter Service – Bus/T Location Chart
| Evacuation Direction | General Direction of Outbound Travel | Pick-up Location | Tentative Drop-off Location |
| East 1 | East Busway/Toward the Strip District | Primary: Penn Station on the East Busway (off Liberty & Grant, Downtown) Secondary: 26th Street at Penn Avenue |
Wilkinsburg Park and Ride |
| East 2 | Uptown/Oakland | Primary: Fifth Avenue at Washington Place Secondary: Centre Avenue at Washington Place |
Schenley Plaza (Oakland) |
| North | I-279 HOV | Primary: Ft. Duquesne Boulevard at 7th Street Bridge Secondary: W. General Robinson Street at Mazeroski Way |
Ross Park and Ride (Ross Township/West View) |
| South | South Side/South Hills/Mon Valley | Primary: Fort Pitt Boulevard at Wood Street Secondary: Smithfield Street at Landmarks Building (near Station Square) |
South Busway at Whited Station (Brookline)* |
| West | Fort Pitt Bridge and/or West End Bridge | Primary: Liberty Avenue at Stanwix Street Secondary: Stanwix Street at Boulevard of the Allies |
Carnegie Park and Ride (Carnegie Borough) |
| Rail | South Hills | Primary: All Downtown stations Secondary: South Hills Junction* |
All high-platform stations (low-platform stops will not be served) |
* In the event of a light rail shutdown in Downtown, South buses will also drop off at South Hills Junction so that riders may transfer to outbound light rail service.
Inclines
The Monongahela Incline and Duquesne Incline are expected to operate during a Level 3 evacuation.