Downtown Pittsburgh to Oakland BRT Moving Forward, With or Without Federal Money

Expect more cities and transit agencies around the country to wrestle with funding quandaries if the Trump Administration gets its way with existing capital investment grants.

1 minute read

February 16, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Port Authority of Allegheny County

Paul Sableman / Flickr

Ed Blazina reports: "The proposed $195.5 million Bus Rapid Transit system between Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland is a high-priority project that will proceed regardless of federal funding, the [Port Authority of Allegheny County] said Thursday."

The Port Authority of Allegheny County has requested $100 million in funding for the project through the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts program. "The federal agency this week gave the project a positive review, but its proposed budget for 2019-20 recommends no funding for the Small Starts program," according to Blazina.

The article includes more details about the substance of the plan for the BRT system.

Thursday, February 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

7 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Nevada State Senate building.

Nevada Legislature Unanimously Passes Regional Rail Bill

If signed by the governor, the bill will create a task force aimed at developing a regional passenger rail system.

3 hours ago - KRNV News 4

Blue sidewalk curb cut painted with white accessibility symbol.

How Infrastructure Shapes Public Trust

A city engineer argues that planners must go beyond code compliance to ensure public infrastructure is truly accessible to all users.

4 hours ago - Governing

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

Photos: In Over a Dozen Cities, Housing Activists Connect HUD Cuts and Local Issues

We share images from six of the cities around the country where members of three national organizing networks took action on May 20 to protest cuts to federal housing funding and lift up local solutions.

6 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine