Doyle Statement on $100 Million Bus Rapid Transit Grant

Press Release

U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) issued the following statement after President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project nearly $100 million to connect Downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.

"I've been working hard with the Port Authority of Allegheny County to improve public transit in Pittsburgh. We need more reliable, convenient transit service to ensure all of our communities thrive. This project will be transformative for our city, connecting downtown Pittsburgh with fast-growing areas like Oakland and the East End.

"I have worked in support of the Port Authority's federal funding request - and I'm very pleased that the Federal Transit Administration has recognized the merit of this initiative and its importance to our region. This project will connect some of the fastest-growing parts of our city and provide a fast, efficient way for workers to commute.

"I will continue working in Congress to provide affordable transit alternatives for our city so that it can continue to grow."

Allegheny County Port Authority announced its proposed Bus Rapid Transit system to connect the major hubs of Downtown and Oakland with electric buses in dedicated lanes in 2017. It requested $99.5 million in federal funding to support the project last year.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are made of separated lanes and dedicated stations exclusively for buses. BRT's provide a faster and more efficient service than regular buses as they do not get stuck in traffic or have to pull over for stops. They can be much faster than driving, especially on busy days, and they are cheaper and faster to build than a light rail or subway system.

Source