PIttsburgh too isolated? (Indiana, Denver, Houston: live, bus, statistics)

[Garvdog]

There's been a lot of talk on this forum about Pittsburgh rising again as a successful city. I think one of the things it has to overcome that gives it a natural obstacle is it's geographic isolation. If you look at a map it's actually kind of depressing- what other major cities are within a 3-hour drive of Pittsburgh? Cleveland. That's it. And Cleveland is hurting.

If you look at other mid-size cities in the U.S., they all have relatively close neighbors. Even Cincinatti is fairly close to Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. I think this also explains why Pitt can be a bit provincial and "old-fashioned" at times- there just isn't as much outside influence and as much inward migration. It's almost like an island.

Thoughts?

[BrianTH]

Expand that from 3 hours to 5 hours, and suddenly a lot more is nearby. And in fact migration statistics suggest that it isn't really too far from, say, the Northeast Coast to have a lot of migration exchange.

So I'd say the lack of net in-migration in the recent past has been less about geography, and more about relative macroeconomic conditions. And accordingly, now that relative macroeconomic conditions are more favorable here, we are also getting net in-migration.

[gg]

I think we are in a pretty good location. Sort of the gateway to the midwest. Not that far from DC. Too bad we don't have a high speed train to and from DC. I think that would make us feel a lot closer.

[Garvdog]

I get it, it's not like you absolutely have to hop on a plane to go somewhere, but seriously, name another city that is a 5-hour drive from any other major metro.

I guess Chicago could come close if you don't count Milwaukee...

[Blackbeauty212]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Expand that from 3 hours to 5 hours, and suddenly a lot more is nearby. And in fact migration statistics suggest that it isn't really too far from, say, the Northeast Coast to have a lot of migration exchange.

So I'd say the lack of net in-migration in the recent past has been less about geography, and more about relative macroeconomic conditions. And accordingly, now that relative macroeconomic conditions are more favorable here, we are also getting net in-migration.

But I agree with the OP, Pittsburgh does need to be connected better - beside a car how convenient is the Burgh to other places. Pittsburgh needs to get serious about Transportation....You can't get there from here definitely applies to Pittsburgh

Limited Rail, Air and Bus Transportation...coupled with the local Transportation woes, Pittsburgh has a serious Transportation problem. It needs to recognize that if it's ever to play in the Big Leagues.

[Caladium]

Sometimes a little bit of isolation can be a good thing, IMO.

Re: distance to DC metro area--considering how many of us regularly visit and/or have lived in both cities, I consider Pittsburgh relatively "nearby." I may not hop over for a day trip, but I come up for Super Bowl parties and stay the night.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

I get it, it's not like you absolutely have to hop on a plane to go somewhere, but seriously, name another city that is a 5-hour drive from any other major metro.

I guess Chicago could come close if you don't count Milwaukee...

4 hours to DC, not 5. Is Cleveland not considered a city any longer? Um, Cincinnati is also about 4 hours, so I think your are exaggerating quite a bit. Oh, Buffalo is about 4 hours.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

but seriously, name another city that is a 5-hour drive from any other major metro.

Cleveland does count.

But anyway--Minneapolis, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco (I'd say Sacramento is at best a wash with Cleveland), Atlanta (Charlotte is about as far away as DC from Pittsburgh), Miami (same deal with St Pete or Orlando) and there are probably more.

[cheezit34141988]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

I get it, it's not like you absolutely have to hop on a plane to go somewhere, but seriously, name another city that is a 5-hour drive from any other major metro.

Detroit. Phoenix.

And based on 2010 Census Data, Pgh is #59 in terms of population in the country...there are plenty of other cities that are bigger than us that have just as bad if not worse transportation issues. And if you're talking about city to city transportation, then thats a completely seperate issue, and just about every city faces that.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by Garvdog

I get it, it's not like you absolutely have to hop on a plane to go somewhere, but seriously, name another city that is a 5-hour drive from any other major metro.

I guess Chicago could come close if you don't count Milwaukee...

Miami is 4 hours to Orlando (according to google, I've never done the drive).

New Orleans is 5.5 hours to Houston

St Louis is 5 hours from Chicago, 4 from Kansas City and 4.5 from Louisville

Denver is pretty isolated.


Is this really even a valid point you're trying to make?