On Tuesday July 17, the City planning office will hold a public forum on the Strip District Transportation and Land Use Project.  This is connected with the transportation and safety recommendations for the Allegheny Riverfront Vision and the SPS Regional Safety Audit at Liberty Avenue.

This forum will take place at the Guardian Storage Building, 2839 Liberty Avenue (just outside of Polish Hill).  Sessions will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m..  Free parking is available opposite the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre at 2900 Liberty Avenue.

More information on this event, c/o Pittsburh City Planning:

The Strip District Transportation and Land Use Project is meant to provide a level of feasibility for a series of transportation and safety improvements. Over the course of the project we will develop visualizations to help stakeholders “see” and experience the features and benefits of specific improvements, while maintaining an open line of communication in order to discuss trade-offs. On a more technical basis, future land use goals will be related to alternative funding strategies that can allow the City of Pittsburgh to move ahead with implementation, potentially without the need for major federal subsidy.

Previous studies have recommended pursuing transportation improvements such as a streetcar connecting the Cultural District Downtown through the Strip District and into Lawrenceville. There are a number of recommendations for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian movements through the Strip. Recommendations have been made along Liberty Avenue, Penn Avenue and Smallman Street to address pedestrian safety. Movement and access for wholesale operations could be improved upon. Creating strong connections along 21st Street toward the river has been envisioned, and a new transit station at 21st Street along the Busway has been proposed. It has even been suggested that we re-introduce an Incline connecting the Hill District with the Strip District.

What does that all look like? Where would it go? How do we pay for it? Those are some of the questions that we intend to address over the course of the next few months. The process includes the Issues Forum on July 17th and is centered upon a 6-Day Charrette Design Studio with multiple public engagements in September (September 10th-15th). Project updates will soon be available through Department of City Planning website.

Please feel free to contact the Department of City Planning with any questions.