New 25-Year Transit Plan in the Works in the Pittsburgh Area

A new 25-year transit planning process for Allegheny County will allow the flexibility to keep up with technological advances.

1 minute read

June 4, 2019, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Port Authority Bus in Pittsburgh

David Fulmer / Flickr

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is embarking on a new 25-year transit plan, reports Ed Blazina.

The Pittsburgh-area transit authority will spend 18 months devoted to deciding plan where the agency should provide service, rather than deciding which mode of service will be used, according to Blazina's explanation of the process. 

"With new modes of transportation arriving every few years — self-driving vehicles and shared services such as Uber and Lyft were just forward-thinking ideas five years ago — the agency can pick the vehicle to follow the transit road map when the time comes," writes Blazina.

The Port Authority last produced a transit plan for the country in 2006, working with the nine counties represented in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. "This plan will consult other counties so it is compatible with their plans and services and will go to the SPC for approval […] but it will concentrate on Allegheny County," according to Blazina.

Sunday, June 2, 2019 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Young Professional

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 and Environmental 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 and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

6 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

2 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

3 hours ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

4 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.