$4.9 Billion Planned for Transportation Investments in Southwest Pennsylvania

The public had a chance to review the substance of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission's Transportation Improvement Program this week.

1 minute read

June 8, 2018, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Pittsburgh Bridge

jessicakirsh / Shutterstock

Ed Blazina reports on the regional Transportation Improvement Program announced by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which proposes $4.9 billion in funding over the next four years.

According to Blazina, the proposal reflects a changing region around Pittsburgh—in terms of traditional construction projects like bridge rehabilitation, intersection construction, and freeway extensions, and also in terms of more innovative projects, like:

  • "Pittsburgh’s 'smart spines' — seven major traffic corridors that will have adaptive lights installed at all intersections to improve the flow of traffic
  • "[C]onstruction of the Port Authority’s Bus Rapid Transit system to link Oakland and Downtown Pittsburgh with electric buses using dedicated lanes to provide rush-hour service every 4 minutes or less.

Blazina also breaks down the categories of spending included in the proposal:

  • $2 billion on public transit
  • $1.7 billion on roads and bridges
  • $1.3 billion in intermodal projects

There's also $1.87 billion for the Port Authority of Allegheny County in the 2019-2022 plan, up from $130 million from the 2017-2020 version of the plan.

All of that money isn't just coming from state coffers—the proposal recommends spending from federal, state, and local sources. The proposal got a public hearing in Pittsburgh this week.

Wednesday, June 6, 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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

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.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of autonomous cargo train moving across bridge across river in wooded area between Texas and Mexico.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor

The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

2 hours ago - FreightWaves

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

3 hours ago - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit