Blue Line (Pittsburgh)
The Blue Line is a Pittsburgh Light Rail line that runs between Downtown Pittsburgh via the Overbrook neighborhood to Library (formerly the 47L Library via Overbrook route) and South Hills Village (formerly 47S South Hills Village via Overbrook).
History
The line from South Hills Junction to Castle Shannon (now called the Overbrook Line) was first constructed by the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad (P&CSRR) between 1872 and 1874.[1] In 1905 Pittsburgh Railways leased the route and between 1909 and 1910 converted it from narrow gauge to dual gauge and installed overhead power for trolleys.
Mid-20th century PCC streetcars continued to operate on the Overbrook Line until 1993, when concerns about the safety of the line led PAT to suspend service there pending reconstruction. This former Pittsburgh Railways trolley line had never been updated to current light rail system requirements. After receiving federal funding for Stage Two of the light rail system development, the Overbrook line was reconstructed as a fully rebuilt double-tracked line served by modern light rail vehicles, making this line a considerably faster commute.
The line was reopened on June 2, 2004 following major work which included doubling of the track and elimination of 22 traditional street level trolley stops in favor of eight new LRV style stations with platforms.[2]
Route
The line starts at Allegheny station on the North Shore, makes an additional stop at North Side, then proceeds under the Allegheny River and continues underground to Gateway Center, Wood Street and Steel Plaza. The line then surfaces at First Avenue. Leaving downtown, it crosses the Monongahela River on the Panhandle Bridge, stopping at Station Square before running through the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel. At South Hills Junction the Library branch rejoins the Beechview line and the former Brown Line, which ran over Mount Washington through the Allentown neighborhood. The Blue Line continues south through Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Brookline, and Overbrook. At Bethel Park a transfer is provided to the Red Line, which reaches the same location via Beechview. Beyond Washington Junction the line splits.
Library Branch
The Library Branch runs south through Willow and ends at Library in South Park.
The Port Authority closed five stations along the Library branch on June 25, 2012: Martin Villa, Mine 3, Lindermer, Center and Latimer.[3] Other former Library branch stops include Latimer, Logan, Leonard, Hicks and Pleasant Street.
South Hills Village Branch
| South Hills Village branch | |
|---|---|
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1987, reopened 2004 |
| Closed | 1993 to 2004 |
The South Hills Village branch was created in 1987 to complement the Red Line, which runs through Beechview before reaching the same terminus. This line was originally operated using PCCs, most notably the 4000 series, because the new light rail cars were incompatible with the Overbrook line due to its age and condition. Service was suspended when the Overbrook Line closed in 1993, but was reinstated after that line was rebuilt and reopened in 2004.
On June 25, 2012, the Port Authority closed two stations on the South Hills Village Branch as part of a system-wide consolidation: Santa Barbara and Martin Villa.[4]
Station list
| Station Name | Station Type | Services | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny | high level | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| North Side | underground | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Gateway Center | underground | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Wood Street | underground | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Steel Plaza | underground | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| First Avenue | high level | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Station Square | high level | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| South Hills Junction | high level | Red Line, Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Boggs | high level | Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Bon Air | high level | Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Denise | high level | Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| South Bank | high level | Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| McNeilly | high level | Blue Line | Pittsburgh |
| Killarney | high level | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
| Memorial Hall | high level | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
| Willow | high level | Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
| St. Anne's | street level | Red Line, Blue Line | Castle Shannon |
| Smith Road | street level | Red Line | Castle Shannon |
| Washington Junction | high level | Red Line, Blue Line | Bethel Park |
| Former stops: Morse Steps, McKinley Park, Edgebrook, Ansonia, Central, Inglewood, Overbrook, Glenbury, Paris, Spinning Wheels, Cooley, Linden Grove, Poplar, Park | |||
| Library Branch | |||
| Hillcrest | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Lytle | high level | Bethel Park | |
| Mesta | street level | Bethel Park | |
| South Park | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Munroe | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Sarah | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Logan | street level | Bethel Park | |
| King's School | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Beagle | street level | Bethel Park | |
| Sandy Creek | street level | Bethel Park | |
| West Library | high level | South Park | |
| Library | high level | South Park | |
| Former stops: Martin Villa, Mine 3, Lindermer, Center, Latimer, Leonard, Hicks, Pleasant | |||
| South Hills Village Branch | |||
| Casswell | street level | Red Line | Bethel Park |
| Highland | street level | Red Line | Bethel Park |
| Bethel Village | street level | Red Line | Bethel Park |
| Dorchester | street level | Red Line | Bethel Park |
| South Hills Village | high level | Red Line | Upper St. Clair |
| Former stops: Martin Villa, Santa Barbara | |||
See also
References
- ↑ "Historic American Engineering Record - Pittsburgh & Castle Shannon Railroad, Reflectorville Viaduct, Overbrook Trolley Line, crossing near Edgebrook Av, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA". Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ↑ JW, RAH (July 1, 2004). "Five cities dedicate light rail lines". Railway Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Eleven T Stops Close June 25". Port Authority of Allegheny County. June 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Eleven T Stops Close June 25". Port Authority of Allegheny County. June 22, 2012.
External links
Route map:
- South Hills Village branch via Overbrook schedule effective April 4, 2010
- South Hills Village branch via Overbrook Route Map
| Light rail (List of stations) | .svg.png) | |
|---|---|---|
| Inclines (Historical list) | ||
| Buses and busways (List of routes) | ||
| Former lines | ||
| Other | ||