twolfe0 t1_iu8lqbq wrote on October 29, 2022 at 12:14 PM

I think they should connect it to 579 and make it one route with the interstate designation. You can do it without expanding the footprint of the big interchange too. I assume there will be some significant changes to the highways given the large amount of money PA is eligible for(15b) in the infrastructure bill.

ThorThe12th t1_iubtx9t wrote on October 30, 2022 at 3:13 AM

They should honestly tear down 579 and change 279 into a surface level BLVD right after the McKnight rd exit. Then redesign everything else into a surface level Blvd with a maybe a tram lane for the T and bus lane down the middle out to McKnight. Yes it would absolutely increase traffic and travel time to some degree and remove the barely used HOV lane(which the only good argument against doing this would be to preserve that lane for bus travel) but it would also remove the open wound on the north side and between the hill and downtown. Not to mention the new bridge they’d have to build could actually be designed like an additional sister bridge(maybe named after mr. Rodgers) that would look way better than the concrete crap we have now.

It would be expensive but I can assure you that whenever that highway needs redone in a decade, it will be the cheaper option.

sebileis t1_iucampi wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:17 AM

I was hoping back in 2019 or so when they overhauled the stretch of I-279 from Ross to the North Shore that the HOV lanes would be modified to permanently be for transit use. Preserving them for the 1 or 2 personal automobiles that use them each day (especially during COVID) instead of for buses was such a wasted opportunity. Having the buses that utilize those lanes run all day long instead of just a few rush hour trips would do a lot to improve transit access to parts of the North Hills without a substantial investment in new infrastructure - that can come later.

ThorThe12th t1_iucapkl wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:18 AM

True. Not to mention basically no one uses the HOV lane because almost everyone who drives to downtown from the North hills does so alone

sebileis t1_iucaukv wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:20 AM

Or in my case the times I’m up that way and have more occupants in the vehicle it’s outside of the HOV’s hours running in that direction anyways. Even during the height of rush hour I-279 just doesn’t get backed up enough to warrant the existence of an HOV lane.

ThorThe12th t1_iucdk8l wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:56 AM

Last year my wife and I were living by PPG and I can probably count on one hand the amount of times the HOV lane was up and running the way we wanted it to be when trying to go somewhere on 279. Like you said though it never matters as the highway never gets backed up.

sebileis t1_iucdoio wrote on October 30, 2022 at 6:58 AM

And even if the highway did get backed up, the answer is to expand transit options that don’t have to sit in traffic and take more cars off the roads, not dedicate more infrastructure (e.g. HOV lanes) exclusively to automobiles.

ThorThe12th t1_iuceb0l wrote on October 30, 2022 at 7:07 AM

You took the words right out of my mouth. The T for example does more to alleviate traffic on 51 and throughout the south hills than any additional lanes or highways to nowhere would.

twolfe0 t1_iudapmr wrote on October 30, 2022 at 1:44 PM

We're getting 15 billion for transit too .. separate from the 15b for roads and bridges. Pretty much everything will be improved or expanded,: roads, busways, rail lines, etc. From a carbon reduction perspective it's actually better to expand all forms of transit inward, including roads, because it also encourages economic growth to be inward as well. In this case the "induced demand" that some like to mention is used to the city proper's advantage as opposed to pushing the flow to the suburbs and outlying areas. When more roads, train lines, etc are built outward, the opposite happens and urban sprawl is encouraged resulting in large amounts of deforestation which has a worse impact on carbon reduction due to the increased fuel efficiency of cars and their ongoing transition to electric. In regards to regional rail, it's awesome that there are a lot of available rail rights of way already so hopefully the airport line and a couple other lines get built...with the type of money we seem to be getting it appears that may happen.