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mckills t1_iy3zddo wrote

This is huge. I can’t wait to never bike over the highland park bridge again. My least favorite bridge to cross by bike.

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funkyb t1_iy5krt4 wrote

I can't wait to never see a bike on the highland park bridge again. Makes so me goddamn nervous just being careful around them but then I also worry that someone who hates bikers is going to run them over while I have to watch.

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_MobyHick t1_iy5zmaw wrote

I've seen a guy cross the Highland Park Bridge on foot on the northbound side with no sidewalk. I'm assuming he did not die because it wasn't on the news, but I have no idea how.

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emp-sup-bry t1_iy3qrmv wrote

Important to note for those that may be on the fence about voting:

How will this money be raised?

The Biden Administration’s recent legislation to support the creation of infrastructure that will reduce climate change, increase equity and redress previous infrastructure gaps in disadvantaged communities, presents an unprecedented opportunity to secure funding for this critical property. We are grateful to Susan Crookston for leading this effort on behalf of the Park and the many municipalities, legislators, the City of Pittsburgh and other organizations that have reached out to offer their support.

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sebileis t1_iy3uk54 wrote

I don’t see how ripping out rail infrastructure and forcing more freight traffic to trucks on our already overwhelmed road network is going to help with climate change. I also don’t appreciate (as outlined in the article) pandemic relief money being used on a vanity trail project instead of to businesses and families in need or helping keep existing infrastructure and public transit operations afloat.

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mmphoto412 t1_iy3vlse wrote

Do some research.

AVRR was willing to sell it, as that stretch of rail no longer has any rail customers. The last customer, a scrap yard, closed in 2015.

If it wasn’t for this repurposing, it would have just rotted away

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[deleted] t1_iy3vz2y wrote

[deleted]

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mmphoto412 t1_iy3xhfn wrote

I’m aware of those studies. Guess what there is no existing passenger rail for it to connect to. So that’s not realistic.

Regardless you’re making bad faith statements. Your comments indicate that the Brilliant line is an actively used freight rail line, and Riverlife somehow how forced a sale. The result is that rail traffic (which doesn’t exist) is moved to trucks. Like I said this hasn’t been used since 2015.

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[deleted] t1_iy3xq4z wrote

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mmphoto412 t1_iy3ybza wrote

Cute, name calling 🙄

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[deleted] t1_iy3ypdn wrote

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy40pqy wrote

My car doesn't use gas. I haven't been to a gas station in years, thanks.

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[deleted] t1_iy40v0e wrote

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy41wvt wrote

I dunno how it feels, because I don't have a Tesla.

Take another swing, champ. You almost got a piece of that one!

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threwthelookinggrass t1_iy3vjm0 wrote

It’s unused rail infrastructure. There are no longer rail customers along the brilliant branch. The last one (AZCON scrap) closed 7 years ago. Since then, AVR hasn’t used it except for twice as a bypass when they were repairing whatever usual route they take to the Pittsburgh line. AVR is willing to sell it after all, it’s not like it’s being taken from them.

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[deleted] t1_iy3vvy2 wrote

[deleted]

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threwthelookinggrass t1_iy3zixn wrote

I’m all for trains, but this decision literally is adding 0 more trucks to roads as it has been unused for 7 years.

For this to be viable for passenger service it’d be a massive undertaking involving buying land from an additional railway (NS?) and then changing the gauge of the rail to whatever PRT uses. Unless the plan is to create some other form of passenger rail or just extend Amtrak service up there which is way more wishful thinking.

I don’t get how AVR is shooting themselves in the foot by offloading something that generates no revenue and hasn’t for 7 years.

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy3xq6g wrote

So we're all idiots because we're not willing to continue waiting for passenger trains to come back after 40 years?

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[deleted] t1_iy3xudf wrote

[deleted]

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy3yubi wrote

I don't think either of those things, actually. But I do think that infra that hasn't seen regular use should definitely be re-purposed, yes. It's odd that you think this makes me an idiot.

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[deleted] t1_iy3z03c wrote

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy3zvmf wrote

A valuable connection that hasn't had a customer for 8 years, but I'm the one who's shit in your Wheaties, apparently, because I don't share your love of PRT buses.

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newcitynewme724 t1_iy3l8ss wrote

Was this the piece needed to continue the GAP north of Millvale up through Sharpsburg and Aspinwall?

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SidFarkus47 t1_iy3n4rw wrote

It doesn't seem like this has to do with the "gaps" in between Millvale and Sharpsburg. This is them buying the old railroad bridge that will take you straight from Aspinwall to Homestead Homewood.

I'm personally more interested in them extending the Millvale Trail up to connect to this, Sharpsburg, Fleming Bridge, etc. Also I hope we get a bike lane on Butler above 57th someday soon (10 year bike plan shows both of these, but not much movement yet).

https://aspinwallriverfrontpark.org/faqs-about-the-brilliant-line/

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newcitynewme724 t1_iy3nwxl wrote

Yeah I thought that was the case. The article does say 4 miles long so there has to be more to that purchase than just a bridge.That extension is what I was most excited about in that 10 year plan.

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hineybush t1_iy7qa3u wrote

they've started work on the sharpsburg riverfront development which will work to connect the trails. https://triblive.com/local/fox-chapel/sharpsburg-seeks-a-near-25-federal-grant-to-help-a-private-developer/

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SidFarkus47 t1_iy8evsw wrote

Good to hear. I've kind of gotten lost and walked from the end of the Millvale Trail all the way to Sharpsburg and it seemed to be a perfectly flat walk, just was all huge, chunky rocks along the railroad.

I say that because.. I'd just really like if they could actually connect them before I'm much older.. Feels like they've been in planning phase for years.

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hineybush t1_iy9yeba wrote

I think the toughest part is how narrow the throughway gets between Millvale and Etna. it'll be nice once things start to connect though, because the new little Etna riverfront park is cute but there really isn't much to do there lol

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internetmaniac t1_iy3n9v3 wrote

Homestead is on a different river

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SidFarkus47 t1_iy3negh wrote

Homewood*

edit: I'm being downvoted, but look at the map. This bridge goes all the way to Homewood. Yes Homewood is not on the river.

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internetmaniac t1_iy3pjwj wrote

Homewood isn’t on a river at all. I think some folks might call that Lincoln-Lemington.

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SidFarkus47 t1_iy3uwm2 wrote

The bridge doesn’t end at the river. I’m pretty sure this is the bridge you can see above you while on Washington Blvd and it goes over a lot of land and ends in Homewood. There’s a map on the link I posted.

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burritoace t1_iy4vnrt wrote

It is multiple bridges but the ROW extends as you describe

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Boring-Rhubarb t1_iy3llf0 wrote

I hope so! Would be awesome if that’s the case, super cool news for those who use the three rivers heritage trail.

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sebileis t1_iy43pkr wrote

Oh yeah, the 3 or 4 people that use it will be very happy!

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Jolly-Sun-Bro t1_iy452xe wrote

These trails are packed with people, what are you talking about?

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iamnotyrmotheriswear t1_iy4epgi wrote

Dude is in Bethel Park, probably doesn't get out of his South Hills bubble much

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kevin0carl t1_iy5w5it wrote

Even so, the South Hills section of the Montour trail is even busier than the GAP most times. They just hate bikes for no reason.

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GettingWreckedAllDay t1_iy4jm1y wrote

"advocate for better public transit" my ass. Jfc

Edit: imagine being the type of person that needs to reply to a month old post and then block the person.

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OcelotWolf t1_iy4et6l wrote

You could make it 4 or 5 if you ever decided to touch grass

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mr_pgh t1_iy47vru wrote

This specifically does not, but it would tie in on both sides of the rivers.

There is a trail in the works through Sharpsburg as part of the Allegheny Shores development (formerly known as Riverfront 47). ARP is hopeful they'll have a 1.5 mile temporary trail through Sharpsburg next year.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue is Etna; they have to get land/rights from the railroad to continue the trail.

If you want to see this become a reality, please donate!

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mamallamam t1_iy4a8mf wrote

Etna got ours...the incomplete section belongs to shaler.

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mr_pgh t1_iy4zznb wrote

I thought Etna's park has three stages and only the first completed.

There is about a mile between the etna park and Shaler.

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mamallamam t1_iy52kxb wrote

You could be right. I said below I wasn't certain. But some of it is Shaler and they're just sitting on it

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mr_pgh t1_iy541en wrote

Here is the google map with Etna's boundary in red. That short tiny squiggle at the 62nd street bridge is the current park. It has to head west on railroad property.

The remaining 1.5 miles is in Shaler; likely due to railroad as well.

Double checked boundaries against the etna boro

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mamallamam t1_iy54vcr wrote

Thanks (again) I'll be the first to admit that math and distance is not my steong point!

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mamallamam t1_iy4a1o6 wrote

No (at least I'm 99% sure) the section that is missing from millvale to etna is in shaler technically and they haven't done what ever it is to connect to etna.

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mr_pgh t1_iy54n1p wrote

It's half Etna and half Shaler; see here.

Working with a railroad is notoriously difficult.

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Low-Lingonberry2760 t1_iy44tvq wrote

Portland, Oregon has Tillamook Crossing that is only bus, bike, and walking and it got me to walk to work.

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hacktanna t1_iy5fc7n wrote

I lived there when it opened! It blew my mind that a city cared enough to add non-car infrastructure. Such a quality of life change.

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leadfoot9 t1_iy4l7ix wrote

While downcycling old rail bridges IS very efficient and environmentally friendly, I wish there were a way to get new non-car infrastructure that didn't involve cannibalizing former railroad right-of-way.

EDIT: were

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Plastic-Net6945 t1_iy5iqk0 wrote

They seem to be fine closing so many ROW that easily could be converted to commuter rails. It is so much harder to reclaim ROW once it has been redeveloped and access has been shut down... and Pittsburgh is in dire need of rail infrastructure.

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dcraider t1_iy3rmaw wrote

With the short bike/ped spur being built now from Bakery Square to the gateway into Homewood through N. Point Breeze, East Enders will have a nice entry into the proposed trail all the way across the river and eventually connect into Millvale and beyond.

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joughy1 t1_iy5ipy1 wrote

The organizers of Aspinwall Riverfront Park, which is now called Allegheny RiverTrail Park, have been working their butts off for a decade, at least.

This is a private park funded by a foundation with lots of love, donation from the business community, grants, and sweat of voulenteers.

Cheers to all the organizers and follow Allegheny RiverTrail Park on Facebook for updates.

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lddmo t1_iy4pf5f wrote

Love this! Hopefully this (and connecting Millvale to Etna along the riverfront trail) can be completed as more grant money comes in from the federal infrastructure bill

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markwo t1_iy4rvmq wrote

Woohoo! I've been wondering if there was going to be an update on this acquisition. I was hoping it hadn't fallen through.

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Askarus t1_iy4u0xb wrote

This is so awesome

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sebileis t1_iy3tzkz wrote

Yaay, ripping up more valuable infrastructure so some yuppies can have another place to ride their bikes. The American trend of plowing through neighborhoods for highways and tearing out valuable freight/passenger rail corridors for bike trails has got to stop if we truly want to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact.

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the_victorian640 t1_iy4f9tn wrote

Lol What? You're anti highway/car(good) but also anti bike? And *we're* the unserious ones? Biking and public transit are the only ways out of this issue. Biking is not for yuppies, it is transportation.

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kevin0carl t1_iy5y3vt wrote

Bike infrastructure is still valuable infrastructure. Ultimately, if the rail company needed the infrastructure they wouldn’t have sold it. A person on a bike, much like a person in a bus or train is still one less car on the road. I’m also frustrated by our lack of public transportation options, but there’s no need to criticize projects that are generally headed in the right direction. Bike oriented communities usually also have great public transit because they work together to fill the gaps of a car-free lifestyle. #ExpandTheT

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sebileis t1_iy3wfyq wrote

Glad to see r/pittsburgh revealing their true colors once again. You can claim you care about the environment and reducing car dependency all you want, but the downvotes my comments receive and the opposition to expanding rail and improving public transit that plagues this sub shows that when push comes to shove, you all don’t really care about the environment that you claim to at a time when we are entering a climate emergency. Enjoy your precious little bike route, I hope killing off another potential corridor for freight/passenger rail and the added traffic this line’s abandonment will add to local roads is worth it to you. Once this stuff is abandoned it’ll be very hard to get back if and when the need arises.

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hydrateandchill OP t1_iy3y6v1 wrote

I mean I think the big thing you're overlooking is that by providing more pedestrian/bike access you are reducing overall car dependency particularly by providing a new connection point over the rivers. Use of this trail doesn't have to be strictly to recreation / leisure. The neighborhoods adjacent, I would anticipate, will benefit in increased mobility and a reduction in car dependency.

Can you link to the study you mentioned? Ultimately, in my opinion, this rail route would not really be viable or useful for commuter or freight corridors, and that is demonstrated in the fact that they had dwindling traffic to the point of only servicing a freight yard and were willing to sell.

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PigDog4 t1_iy40cpt wrote

>Can you link to the study you mentioned?

I'm going to guess they either cannot, will not, or it's a "study" from someone who looked at it and said "it's a rail and trains run on rails so therefore it's passenger viable," despite being an unused, almost abandoned freight rail line with no passenger connections and no plan to ever build passenger connections.

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[deleted] t1_iy3yn9j wrote

[deleted]

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hydrateandchill OP t1_iy3zr32 wrote

It's not hard to find anecdotal evidence of people using the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, or other bike routes, to ride into town from the neighborhoods connected and adjacent, which would of course be a reduction in car dependency. The cool thing about trails is that they still exist and can be used in bad weather and there will of course be people that do use them, just like they do now.

And market forces are an indication of viability. As to whether the market forces should be the end all determination is a different discussion all together.

And do you have a link to the study you were talking about? Because it sounds like that should have a lot of input on the viability

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[deleted] t1_iy41ctk wrote

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mmphoto412 t1_iy41p5w wrote

It hasn’t been used in 7 years. AVRR clearly has no plans for it, since they are selling it.

Since your so passionate about it, perhaps you can buy it and start your own lil’ railroad. That would be pretty cute.

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sebileis t1_iy41smq wrote

It would be a better use of the space than your “cute” little bike trail to nowhere.

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hydrateandchill OP t1_iy42hgw wrote

Rail runs on tight schedules and run from single point to single point, which leaves it un-utilized for long stretches between the train schedule. Trail is open full time for people looking to use it.

It's the same issue with the light rail over dedicated bus lanes or Bus Rapid Transit systems. Light rail is great until something disrupts the path from point to point. The buses allow for flexibility caused by disruptions.

I'm not sure why you're so dead caught on rail. It's pretty great for a lot of things, but there are plenty of other options and solutions that provide more flexibility and are less costly to achieve the ends. For a small spur like this I'd argue that it makes a lot more sense for it to be a pedestrian right-of-way rather than a rail.

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy40ki8 wrote

It sure seems like you're angry at everyone.

The rail companies, for "doing anything to save money and cut costs" - which is, ironically, what companies are supposed to do.

People who drive cars, for not instead riding buses that don't service them or trains that don't exist.

Bikes, because you're too fat to ride one, I guess, or maybe one kicked your puppy when you were a kid.

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sebileis t1_iy412in wrote

The very people who are pushing for these glorified vanity bike trails are the reason those trains don’t exist. But you’re too busy fat-shaming people to actually use your brain. Keep it up, your parents must be really proud.

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GargantuanWitch t1_iy424c6 wrote

So the reason that trains stopped running on most rail lines by the late 80s is because people wanted bike trails in 2022?

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sebileis t1_iy42f7c wrote

People wanted bike trails back then too. Look at what happened to most of the routes abandoned in the 80’s. Deregulation of railroads, blatantly oil/automobile-oriented politics and legislation, and short sightedness has also played a part.

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Piplup_parade t1_iy4g1k0 wrote

Passenger rail? That bridge was never going to be used for passenger rail lines. It doesn’t even make sense to use it for that purpose

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