How to Leverage Public Transit While Navigating the Parkway East Closure
Choosing transit instead of driving throughout the closure can help reduce traffic congestion on detour routes and neighborhood streets.
The Pittsburgh region is preparing for one of its most significant traffic disruptions in decades as PennDOT closes a section of the Parkway East (I-376) for approximately 25 days beginning July 10. The closure will affect the stretch between the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange while crews replace the aging Commercial Street Bridge.
More than 100,000 vehicles travel the Parkway East each day, making the closure a major concern for commuters, businesses, universities, healthcare facilities, and nearby neighborhoods. During the shutdown, traffic will be rerouted through a combination of interstate detours, local roadways, and alternate regional routes. While the project is expected to create short-term challenges, the accelerated construction approach is designed to minimize years of ongoing lane restrictions and deliver long-term infrastructure improvements more quickly.
As drivers adjust to new travel patterns, PRT is encouraging commuters to plan ahead and consider public transportation as an alternative to sitting in traffic. PennDOT also expects significant congestion throughout the closure and is encouraging commuters to utilize transit whenever possible. The closure is expected to place additional pressure on Oakland, Downtown, and other key corridors where transit already provides frequent service, creating an opportunity for more commuters to consider alternatives to driving.
PRT and PennDOT are coordinating transportation demand management efforts throughout the closure, including promoting transit options and park-and-ride facilities that can help reduce the number of vehicles on already congested detour routes. The Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway in particular, offers a reliable connection between eastern communities and Downtown Pittsburgh while bypassing much of the closure on its dedicated bus-only roadway.
"This summer's Parkway East closure will challenge everyone's commute, but public transit offers commuters an opportunity to avoid some of the worst congestion," said Katharine Kelleman, PRT CEO. "Once our buses reach the East Busway, they're traveling in their own dedicated corridor instead of sitting in traffic. If you've never tried PRT for your daily commute, this is a great time to give it a try."
PRT recommends that commuters ride from the stop closest to home whenever possible instead of driving farther west before boarding. Commuters without convenient local bus service are encouraged to utilize one of PRT's East Busway Park and Ride locations, where they can connect to frequent service into Downtown, Oakland, Shadyside and East Liberty while avoiding many of the region's busiest roadways.
Motorists and PRT riders should expect significant traffic congestion and delays in and around Squirrel Hill, Edgewood, Swissvale and surrounding communities. Bus routes traveling from eastern Allegheny County may also experience delays due to increased traffic on detour routes.
In advance of the closure, PRT will continue sharing service information, trip-planning tools, park-and-ride locations and detour updates to help riders prepare and identify the transit options that work best for their commute. Riders can find additional information, including park-and-ride locations, detour information and trip-planning resources, at ridePRT.org/commercialstbridge.Riders with questions are encouraged to contact Customer Service by calling 412-442-2000, through X (@PghTransitCare), or via live chat at ridePRT.org
