With the goal of providing safer transit and bicycle/pedestrian options for students and the surrounding community, GAI worked with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Pittsburgh to study, design, and deliver a redesign project for the intersection of Highland Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard adjacent to Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Obama Academy of International Studies.

GAI staff conducted traffic studies, field surveys, and utility investigations. Project design components included roadway plans, ADA compliance and sidewalks, traffic signals, and flashing school zone signage. The redesign also reduced the number of conflict points to improve safety, reclaimed green space, and updated bicycle lanes including Pittsburgh’s first implementation of two-stage left turn boxes for bicycles—ultimately improving the flow of all transportation modes at the intersection.

This project was awarded the 2017 Sustainability Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Pittsburgh section. The ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Award honors regional projects that sustainably improve environmental, economic, and social conditions.