The fate of the Charles Anderson Bridge in Oakland was shaping up to be another embarrassment for the struggling Gainey administration — but Mr. Gainey’s apparent deal with state and federal agencies to accelerate a full rehabilitation of the span, if it is seen through, may turn out to be a welcome example of effective leadership from Grant Street. The bridge carries the Boulevard of the Allies over Panther Hollow.

PennDOT rebuilt the Fern Hollow Bridge in under a year due to the city’s emergency declaration, which allowed design and construction to proceed in parallel. Because the Charles Anderson has been on the decrepit list for so long, much of the preparatory work is already complete. By moving funding up the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s priority list, at least a year may be cut off the construction schedule. This means the city is canceling its remedial repairs and will keep the bridge closed for the duration of the full rehab.

McKeesport was recently approved to receive $500,000 in preliminary engineering funds for repairs to the Versailles Avenue bridge. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission awarded the funds through its Transportation Improvement Program. The initiative will utilize over $5.6 billion in state, federal and local funds to improve transportation systems over the next four years.

Read the full article at monvalleyindependent.com

Built in 1939, the Charles Anderson Bridge has been slated for an overhaul for years. The city’s 2016 capital budget allocated $750,000 for preliminary engineering work. In the years that followed, projected allocations and timelines for the project changed repeatedly. Money for the project was earmarked in capital budgets over the next three years, with an allocation that grew to $3.3 million by 2019, but that wasn’t spent down.

The city convened public meetings in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic slowed the work. Even so, in January 2022 the city was able to offer a proposed design for the bridge’s rehabilitation. The $48 million overhaul would preserve the bridge’s historic nature, allow for better passage of large Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses and school buses,while providing wider sidewalks for pedestrians and a separate cycle track for people on bikes.

Rob Brandegee picked up and moved to Pittsburgh’s Strip District to enjoy its convenience and bustling city living atmosphere.

For the growing population of Strip District residents like him, it’s not uncommon to take a walk and run into friends and acquaintances.

“It’s very sociable, and it really has a neighborhood vibe,” said Brandegee.

Brandegee relocated from Highland Park to the Strip in 2021. Part of the appeal was how easy it is to reach South Side-based Little Earth Productions, the company he co-founded that manufactures licensed apparel and accessories, like the Terrible Towel, for professional and college teams. He loves the mix of Strip District residents ranging from young professionals to middle-aged and older.

The Airport Area Chamber of Commerce recently recognized the leadership of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald during an annual State of the County address. Fitzgerald was awarded the “Rich Fitzgerald Distinguished Public Service award. The Chamber recognized Fitzgerald’s pre-pandemic progress revitalizing the airport as a regional economic anchor as well as his stewardship throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The 2023 Public Comment Period for the update of the PennDOT 12-Year Program (TYP) is underway and all Pennsylvanians are encouraged to get involved in this important transportation planning effort!

To provide Pennsylvanians with every possible opportunity to get involved and make their voices heard, a Transportation Survey is open for public input.

PennDOT TYP Update Survey

Click here and make your voice heard!

In addition to the Survey, PennDOT will also host an Online Public Forum on Wednesday, April 12, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM, featuring a presentation from PennDOT leadership and members of the STC, followed by a Q&A session.

Online Public Forum

Click here to learn more and receive updates!

Important Dates

• Transportation Survey: Open March 1 – April 30, 2023
• Online Public Forum: Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

Public participation and support ensures a diverse range of comments from across PA and facilitates valuable data for all Transportation Improvement Programs.

Email comments to RA-PennDOTSTC@pa.gov, or call 717-783-2262 to request a printed copy or to complete the survey by telephone.

Visit TalkPATransportation.com to learn more!

Feedback is essential to helping the Authority plan for the distribution of federal monies to expand broadband in unserved/underserved areas of PA.

Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) Executive Director Brandon Carson is asking Pennsylvanians to provide input on the stakeholder engagement process for developing two plans: the State Digital Equity Plan and the Commonwealth’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan.

Mayor Ed Gainey met with students on Feb. 23 in an open town hall hosted by CMU Senate and Graduate Student Assembly. Organizers took questions for Mayor Gainey from the students gathered, expressing their comments and concerns for the city.

Your Downtown bus route may be changing!

PRT has prepared two scenarios that reconsider bus routes within Downtown Pittsburgh and we want to know what you think! Join an upcoming online meeting, visit us at our pop-up storefront downtown, or give feedback online.

“The lack of access to high-speed broadband is a genuine problem in many communities throughout our region,” Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Vice Chairman and Armstrong County Commissioner Pat Fabian during a Regional Broadband & Connectivity Summit Thursday in Butler County.

SPC is a municipal planning organization representing Pittsburgh and the 10 counties surrounding the city, which seeks to work as one on the goals of transportation, planning and development, and information systems in the southwestern corner of the state.