The T (Pittsburgh's Light Rail) (Allentown, Mount Lebanon: home, live, mall)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

I still think it may be a bit misguided, since a lot of Oakland - Downtown PAT traffic is people making transfers. It's treating the symptom rather than the cause. I hope something good comes of it, though.

I don't see why it makes a difference if it's people making transfers. The important part is the volume of people needing to get there whatever their business is -- for work, to shop, even to transfer to other destinations. If a lot of people need to get downtown for any of these reasons, then it makes sense to get them there with a few stops as possible.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Drover

I don't see why it makes a difference if it's people making transfers. The important part is the volume of people needing to get there whatever their business is -- for work, to shop, even to transfer to other destinations. If a lot of people need to get downtown for any of these reasons, then it makes sense to get them there with a few stops as possible.

It makes more sense to get people straight to their destination when possible. If a large portion of the PAT traffic between downtown and Oakland could be eliminated by just sending those people directly to their neighborhood or suburb, then a rapid bus system would be less useful. (not to mention that doing it that way is likely better for ridership, rider satisfaction, and congestion)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

It makes more sense to get people straight to their destination when possible. If a large portion of the PAT traffic between downtown and Oakland could be eliminated by just sending those people directly to their neighborhood or suburb, then a rapid bus system would be less useful. (not to mention that doing it that way is likely better for ridership, rider satisfaction, and congestion)

Since it's not possible to directly connect every start point to every end point, transfer points are a necessary feature for any mass transit system. Downtown is the major transfer hub for plainly obvious reasons. That being the case, there's no reason not to provide a direct connection between the region's premier transfer hub and its second-largest employment node.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by Drover

Since it's not possible to directly connect every start point to every end point, transfer points are a necessary feature for any mass transit system. Downtown is the major transfer hub for plainly obvious reasons. That being the case, there's no reason not to provide a direct connection between the region's premier transfer hub and its second-largest employment node.

It should be based on demand. How many people work and study in Oakland each day? Right now there are only TWO bus routes that go to Oakland without going downtown, the 54 and 93. And even both of those are East End centric. There's no reason that you shouldn't be able to get directly to Oakland from the southern, northern, and western neighborhoods and some of the burbs. Even the 71s and 61s could probably be cut short into new routes that run less frequently, but don't follow through to downtown, similar to how some busway routes don't run the entire busway.

Hubs can be good, and downtown should remain a hub, but we should have multiple smaller hubs in addition.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

It should be based on demand. How many people work and study in Oakland each day? Right now there are only TWO bus routes that go to Oakland without going downtown, the 54 and 93. And even both of those are East End centric. There's no reason that you shouldn't be able to get directly to Oakland from the southern, northern, and western neighborhoods and some of the burbs. Even the 71s and 61s could probably be cut short into new routes that run less frequently, but don't follow through to downtown, similar to how some busway routes don't run the entire busway.

Hubs can be good, and downtown should remain a hub, but we should have multiple smaller hubs in addition.

And there should still be express service between downtown and Oakland.

[trotter_rej]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

Right now there are only TWO bus routes that go to Oakland without going downtown, the 54 and 93.

Also the 75 and the P3, but I agree with your overall point.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by trotter_rej

Also the 75 and the P3, but I agree with your overall point.

Good catch. If only we had a system map.

[Geeo]

There used to be the "U Bus" system, with routes directly to Oakland from many points. These buses went directly to Oakland from, say Mt. Lebanon, without going through downtown. Unfortunately, these routes were eliminated in a downsizing several years ago.

[JLeigh2182]

I take the T everyday and I really enjoy it for what it is. It has a ton of faults but it gets me back and forth to work and it's cheaper than what it would cost me to drive into town (it's an even better deal when you figure in gas and vehicle wear-and-tear). It's definitely far from perfect but living where I live I'd be silly not to utilize it.

That being said, I love the New York subway system and would love to have a more complex system in Pittsburgh, but I doubt that will ever happen.

[andyt4579]

Unless I missed someone else posting it, the train traveling to South Hills Village doesn't (or at least, rarely) goes through Beechview anymore. Its now routed through Overbrook....much quicker when its in action during rush hour.

And, yes, they need to cut about half the stops. The country is getting obese as is....make them walk a little more.