By rosebell
In order to advancing the essential upgrades on the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) has announced plans to temporarily close of this project for almost eight months.
Commencing on 23 February, the infrastructure repairs plans will involve replacing the tracks, repairing the tunnel’s roadway, as well as fixing the overhead electric lines powering light-rail vehicles.
Located beneath Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel is for buses and light rail trains and has a remarkable role in linking South Hills Junction and Station Square Station and is said to be the only US tunnel shared by buses and light rail.
Additionally, servesing all currently operating lines of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system, including the Red, Blue, and Silver Lines, as well as the Subway Local shuttle service, is a content of this project.
Utilising this tunnel by 15 bus routes, with 10 operated by PRT and 5 by other carriers, was done since November 2024, and it is going to reopen once the work is completed and the tracks pass inspection.
Also the Mt. Washington Tunnel underwent a $14.1m electrical system upgrade in 2022.
Considering that closure of the Mt. Washington Tunnel requires several changes to rail service, the Red and Blue Lines is due to detour through Allentown on weekdays via Warrington and Arlington Avenues, with a temporary stop on Warrington Avenue at Allen Street, whereas the Silver Line will only operate between Library Station and Washington Junction on weekdays to help reduce congestion in Allentown. Riders can transfer to Red and Blue Line trains at Washington Junction.
On weekends, the Red, Blue, and Silver Lines will all operate through Allentown.
Stretching between Station Square and Allegheny Station, a special Subway Local service has been considered for the duration of the closure, while Station Square will also be included in the Free Fare Zone from 23 February until the completion of the work.
As a key part of PRT’s multi-year, $150m investment, this closure is slated to improve the region’s light-rail infrastructure.
With the aim of ensuring the long-term safety, reliability, and efficiency of the system, this next phase is following last summer’s Red Line rail replacement project.
The track replacement in the Mt. Lebanon Tunnel, the reconstruction of Belasco Station in Beechview, upgrades to Station Square and Dormont Junction light-rail stations, and the rehabilitation of the Panhandle Bridge, which carries light rail over the Monongahela River, are the future improvements.
