Pittsburgh's Mayoral Candidate Pitches Light Rail Expansion

Could an expanded light rail line reduce congestion and expand economic development in Pittsburgh's educational and medical hub? That's the idea behind mayoral candidate Bill Peduto's multi-billion dollar plan to extend the city's light rail, commonly referred to as the “T," to Oakland and throughout the city, reports Danielle Fox.    

"Peduto, the city’s District 8 councilman, said if he is elected to office, he plans to establish a light rail line that connects with the existing system Downtown,' she writes. "As part of the expansion, Peduto is envisioning a light rail line that would go through the North Side neighborhoods to Cranberry Township, which is about 20 miles north of Downtown. Another new light rail line would travel through the West End neighborhoods to the Pittsburgh International Airport, which is about 20 miles west of Downtown. He would also build a rail line that would run along the East Busway to Monroeville, which is about 15 miles east of Downtown along that route."

"Republican candidate Josh Wander said it would be 'particularly cruel' to the region’s young people to pretend such a project was possible since neither the state nor federal government could afford to fund the multibillion-dollar project," she notes. 

“Unlike my opponent I have no intention of attempting to fool the fine residents of our city into believing that there really is a government Santa Claus and that this government Santa Claus plans to shower billions of dollars on Pittsburgh,” Wander said.