Pittsburgh Public Transit

How Good is Public Transit in Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh’s compact downtown area and well-integrated transportation system make the city easy to navigate by public transit. From traditional options like buses and trains, to light rail and Zipcars, you can get where you need to go if you plan ahead.

Pittsburgh: Size and Geography

Pittsburgh is a city of about 312,000 people, and has a metro area population of 2.3 million. Known for its many bridges and tunnels, Pittsburgh sits at the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers flow together to form the Ohio River.
 
Public transit connects people living outside the city with a downtown area that covers 50 acres. About 230,000 people use public transportation services every week day, according to the Port Authority of Allegheny County, the area’s main public transportation provider. In fact, almost half of the people who work or shop in downtown Pittsburgh use public transit to reach their destinations.
 
Navigating the city is easiest if you mentally divide it into sections: the North and South sides, the East and West ends, and downtown in the center. The North and South sides have neighborhoods called North Shore and South Shore that are closest to the water. The terrain quickly sprawls steeply upward and leads into neighborhoods with names such as Mount Washington and Duquesne Heights that reflect the city’s terrain. With its rivers and hills, Pittsburgh offers some postcard-worthy views.

Getting Around Pittsburgh

Parking in Pittsburgh is expensive and can be difficult to find during the work week or big events, so the city’s extensive public transportation system fills an important need. Port Authority services link the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods through the use of various public transit options, including more than 875 buses, 80 light rail vehicles and two inclines.
 
The downtown area of Pittsburgh is bordered by Penn Avenue to the north, Grant Street to the east, and Boulevard of the Allies to the south. Pittsburgh’s downtown is pleasant to travel on foot with parks and public spaces located between office towers and retail stores.

How Much Does Pittsburgh Public Transit Cost?

Fares for transportation services managed by Port Authority are based on trip length from downtown Pittsburgh, also known as the Central Business District or the Golden Triangle.
 
In general, fares range from free to $3.25 for adults traveling to neighborhoods in outlying transit zones. Fares are half price for children ages 6-11 and people with disabilities. And senior citizens travel free in all zones.

Pittsburgh's Fare Free Zone

The Free Fare Zone is a great service for getting around downtown Pittsburgh. For more information about the zones and a trip planner, go to PortAuthority.org. You may also be interested in this small interactive map showing transportation routes.
 
Bicyclists take note – two-wheeled, non-motorized bicycles are allowed on 12 Port Authority bus routes, the “T” and the Monongahela incline for no additional fee.

Pittsburgh Public Transit Options

Traveling By “T”

The “T” is the gem of Pittsburgh’s public transit system - its light rail and subway system, which travels both above and below ground. Built in 1984, it is considered clean and safe. It covers 25 miles and provides service to downtown Pittsburgh and several communities to the south of the city. The “T” travels in a loop below ground through the downtown area. Underground stations are located at Steel Plaza at Grant Street; Wood Street; and Gateway Center Plaza at Liberty Avenue. Three above-ground stations are located at Station Square at the Smithfield Street Bridge at Carson Street; First Avenue and Ross Street; and Penn Park.
 
One perk of waiting for the subway in Pittsburgh is the soothing sounds of classical music pumped through the stations. Selections feature the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and other Pittsburgh music makers.
 
Light rail service extends to Pittsburgh’s south suburbs through four light rail lines that take passengers to neighboring South Hills. A 1.2 mile extension of light rail service, the North Shore Connector, is expected to be completed by 2011. It will connect the city’s North Shore community to downtown and include a tunnel for the “T” to travel under the Allegheny River.

Traveling By Bus

Port Authority of Alleghany County maintains three bus routes, which it calls “busways.” The busways’ names provide a good idea of what parts of the area they travel.
 
The Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway provides rapid transit service from Penn Station in downtown Pittsburgh to the Swissvale station in eastern Allegheny County. The West busway travels between western Alleghany County, downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland, which is home to the Carnegie Museum of History and Art and other cultural attractions. There’s also the South busway, which is the oldest operating busway facility in the United States, according to Port Authority. It provides frequent service between downtown Pittsburgh, Station Square and neighborhoods to the south of Pittsburgh.

Traveling By Incline

Pittsburgh offers a fairly unusual mode of public transportation – the incline. Although they are popular tourist attractions, the Monongahela and Duquesne inclines aren’t just novelties. In service since the 1870s, the inclines provide basic transportation for commuters and expansive views of the city below. In 2008, MSN.com ranked the Duquesne Incline as one of the top 10 romantic spots in the United States.
 
Pittsburgh’s inclines, for those who are unfamiliar, are cable cars that run up the face of Mount Washington. The Monongahela incline, or “the Mon,” travels a length of 635 feet, while the Duquesne Inline has a length of 400 feet.
 
The inclines provide service to Mount Washington and the Duquesne Heights sections of Pittsburgh.
 
Adult fares for both inclines are $2 cash each way, or $2.50 for a roundtrip on the Mon with a transfer valid for three hours. Rides for children ages 6-11 or people with disabilities are $1 each way. Both inclines run from 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on Mondays through Saturdays. Hours of operation on Sundays are from 8:45 a.m. to midnight for the Mon and from 7 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on the Duquesne.

For Senior Citizens and Disabled: The Benefits of ACCESS

ACCESS provides services for senior citizens and people with disabilities who need door-to-door transportation within Port Authority’s service area. There are no restrictions on the purpose of trips taken, but users must share rides with others traveling in the same direction and at the same time.

Other Modes of Transportation: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Pittsburgh International Airport is a world-class facility that opened in 1992. More than 14 million people use the airport each year. It is a “focus city” and former hub for US Airways. Throughout the airport are nationally known retailers that provide plenty of opportunities for shopping while you wait for a connecting flight. For more information about the airport, go to www.pitairport.com.
 
Passenger train service to and from Pittsburgh is available on two Amtrak routes: the Capitol Limited, which travels between Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and Chicago; and the Pennsylvanian, which travels between New York City and Pittsburgh.
 
Visitors and residents of Pittsburgh can use Zipcar to “check out” one of 50 cars in the city and then return it to a designated parking spot. An hourly rate includes the charge for gas, insurance and 180 miles. Cars are located primarily in the downtown area and Oakland, which includes Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. For more information, go to ZipCar.com.
 
Greyhound and regional bus services are also good public transit options for getting to Pittsburgh from outlying areas. Greyhound provides bus service to the city as well as to and from the airport. In addition, many counties throughout southeastern Pennsylvania provide commuter bus services that connect to Port Authority buses. You might be interested in this brochure with contact information on available regional services.