Transportation funding from the state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority was approved last week and two of the more than 100 projects will impact Pitt campuses.
The City of Pittsburgh received $500,000 for the Bigelow Boulevard streetscape project between Fifth and Forbes avenues, which was included in Pitt’s campus master plan. The project would involve re-landscaping the street to support sustainability and to prevent jaywalking, and a mid-block crosswalk would be added. Other planned improvements include new sidewalks; bike lanes; a new shuttle stop; and improvements to parking and ramps for the disabled. There is no date yet for when the work will start.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this week that the city hopes to begin the project this fall.
Karina Ricks, the city Department of Mobility and Infrastructure’s director, told the Post-Gazette, that although funding for the project is about $1 million short of the $4.5 million goal, the city will review what work can be done as soon as possible.
“Maybe it’s not everything we envision, but maybe there’s a way we can get started and do some things now and other things when we can,” Ricks said.
Also getting funding — $190,453 — was the second phase of the Richland Sidewalk/Bike path project, also known as REACHland connect, near Pitt–Johnstown. The project will involve the installation of sidewalks along Theatre Drive and Eisenhower Boulevard, according to WJAC.