Since 2017, GAI’s Community Solutions Group has been providing professional services to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT; formerly the Port Authority of Allegheny County) for the implementation of its Station Improvement Program (SIP). With the goal of increasing ridership and enhancing the overall experience of PRT users, SIP is focused on promoting transit-oriented development (TOD) as well as improving operations, aesthetics, multimodal connectivity, amenities, safety, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.

To advance this effort, GAI staff performed several studies that evaluated existing conditions and identified improvement opportunities at five key transit stations selected by PRT: South Hills Junction, Station Square Station, Negley Station, Dormont Station, and Carnegie Station. The information collected would help establish guidelines that could be adapted for future improvements throughout the PRT and create a more cohesive transit system. Working under the guidance of PRT staff, the studies were performed in four phases: review and analysis, public engagement, station area planning, and implementation strategy. These activities resulted in a series of Station Area Plan and Wayfinding Guidelines documents that provided PRT and its stakeholders—riders, residents, transit agencies, local governments, regional planners, community groups, developers, etc.—with a common understanding of existing conditions, opportunities for future growth, and milestones for successful SIP implementation.

The recommendations in the reports draw on a range of GAI’s professional disciplines including wayfinding, planning, and economics—with safety and accessibility for all transit users being a key consideration. Safety improvements identified in the study stations included upgraded crosswalks, pedestrian bridges, additional traffic barriers, dedicated pick-up/drop-off areas, separated bus lanes, lighting enhancements, surveillance systems, emergency call boxes, wheelchair ramps, tactile paving, audible announcements, and prominent wayfinding signage that offers clear direction to ADA exits.

SIP is currently at various stages of implementation at the transit stations included in the studies. However, construction for the Negley Station improvements was completed in mid-2023, with wayfinding and pedestrian elements incorporated in 2024. The station, located in a residential area of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, now features improvements facilitating transit connections via the East Busway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, along with ADA upgrades such as wider paths and slope adjustments to allow for better accessibility. Other enhancements include new LED lighting, a crosswalk with concrete barriers, a new passenger pick-up and drop-off area, new canopies, benches, waste receptacles, and bike racks, as well as landscaping, and green infrastructure elements.