Pittsburgh Set to Begin Comprehensive Light Rail Project

Next month, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) next will embark on an ambitious, multi-year rehabilitation effort by investing more than $150 million to bolster the safety, reliability, and longevity of the region’s light-rail infrastructure, the agency announced.

PRT will combine multiple projects initially intended to be completed separately to streamline operations, maximize efficiency, and minimize disruptions, while enhancing the overall reliability and safety of this critical transit corridor.

A Look at PRT’s Projects

The projects include:

• Expanding an ongoing effort to repair the concrete rail foundations in the downtown subway tunnels.
• Replacing more than 10,000 feet of light-rail track and four grade crossings in Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Beechview, and inside the Mt. Lebanon and Mt. Washington Transit Tunnels.
• Reconstructing Belasco Station in Beechview.
• Upgrading Station Square and Dormont Junction light-rail stations.
• Rehabilitating the Panhandle Bridge — the 1.2-mile span that takes light railcars over the Monongahela River near Station Square.

Many of the projects are fully funded. PRT will continue to seek funding for those that are not.

“These projects are an important investment in our region’s future,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman. “By fortifying our light-rail system, we’re building a stronger, safer, and more reliable foundation for years to come.”

PRT Project Timeline

The first project will begin with the closure of the light-rail system between Steel Plaza and Gateway stations in downtown Pittsburgh for about seven weeks immediately following the Pirates home opener on April 5.

The projects will continue consecutively through 2028. As one project ends, another will begin. Some will present only minor travel delays to riders while others will close portions of the light rail system and require significant detours.