Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $150 Million Grant for Bus Rapid Transit in Pittsburgh

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes historic investments to support better, more reliable transit service

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a $149.9 million construction grant award to Pittsburgh Regional Transit for the new Downtown-Uptown-Oakland bus rapid transit (BRT) line. Funded by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT project will provide fast, convenient transit for residents and commuters along a heavily congested corridor from Downtown Pittsburgh to Oakland. 

“Americans rely on public transit every day to get to work, go to school, and connect with loved ones,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The Biden Administration’s investment in the new Downtown-Uptown-Oakland bus rapid transit line will help commuters in Pittsburgh get where they’re going quickly and safely—while reducing congestion and pollution.”  

The BRT project will improve the travel experience for riders with dedicated bus-only lanes, traffic lights that will automatically turn green, and faster, more friendly boarding. It also will create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly environment with new bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure. With a bus arriving every five minutes during peak periods, 22 hours a day, it will provide new options to get to the Hill district, Oakland, and the Central Downtown area. More than 40,000 riders per day used the current bus options in the communities served by the expected BRT.

“The Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT line will improve transit speed and reliability on one of the highest transit ridership corridors in Pittsburgh,” said FTA Deputy Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, who joined PRT at an event today to announce the grant award. “We are pleased to support this project that will better connect communities to jobs and education.”

FTA is providing $149.9 million to the 7.1-mile Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT, which is estimated to cost $291 million. The funding comes from FTA’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, which helps communities carry out transformational transit projects.

Downtown Pittsburgh and the uptown neighborhood represent Pennsylvania’s second and third largest job centers. The Downtown-Uptown-Oakland BRT will provide access to approximately 232,000 jobs, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, and several hospitals, arenas, and cultural venues. Further development is planned through a local Eco-Innovation District plan for the Uptown-Oakland neighborhoods, which was partially funded using an FTA Transit Oriented Development planning grant.

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