PIT to OAK direct!

No I am not talking about establishing non-stop airline service between Pittsburgh and Oakland, CA, although some in the Allegheny County Airport Authority would like to see that happen.  I am talking about connecting Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood with Pittsburgh International Airport, via downtown, in one continuous “spine line” light rail extension.

Hey, it’s time to dream bigger these days.  Pittsburgh is finally coming into its fully realized renaissance self.  And the rest of the world is taking notice – taking notice with their moving feet and investments, more importantly.  If Pittsburgh is to grow and keep up with other economic centers in the US, even more so with world economic capitals, it needs a better transportation grid.  While highways are realities that will be part of any overall plan, I focus on a public transport extension here.  That piece of the solution will probably require a larger tax-payer commitment as well as the political leadership to create the momentum to build it.  So here’s my call-out to political leaders like Mayor Peduto or Allegheny County Executive Fitzgerald and all other mayors and State Legislators in southwestern PA locales: start to get serious about building a world class transportation structure for a region that has not had one; at least not since river transport for humans passed.

Popular will is building for funding a better transportation infrastructure.  This past week, the “Pittsburgh Business Times” featured comments from 82 regional business leaders giving their top priority for the region leading up to the year 2020.  Out of 82 comments, 33 noted “transportation” as their top priority and out of those, 10 specifically mentioned public transport between downtown and Oakland and/or the airport.  Transport was the single issue most often mentioned and the overall percentage was 40%.

And Pittsburgh is not alone.  A reading of business publications both national and regional show transportation infrastructure is an issue of greatest concern among economic leaders, along with job creation and educational opportunities.  Economic growth is usually a positive for most citizens, raising living standards and creating opportunities for self enrichment.  But growth comes with costs and responsibilities.  Cities in Texas, of which I have personal experience, are strangling themselves in traffic problems.  Traffic is consistently listed locally as the chief complaint by ordinary voters in this economic boom State.  Pittsburgh is growing again and even though it’s current traffic issues pale in comparison with say, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta or Washington, D.C., from what I read in Pittsburgh media, traffic is considered a major problem.  But let’s go beyond relieving traffic congestion.  Emerging world capitals from Shanghai to Lagos to Rio are building clean, efficient, fast transport modes between their airports – the gateways to the rest of the globe – and their city centers.  Pittsburgh needs to do the same between its doorway to the world and its downtown economic hub and then on to its creative hub in the Oakland neighborhood.