| West Busway | |
| Type: | Bus rapid transit |
| System: | Pittsburgh Regional Transit |
| Locale: | Pittsburgh |
| Start: | Sheraden |
| End: | Carnegie |
| Stations: | 6 |
| Open: | September 2000 |
| Linelength: | 5.1miles |
| Speed: | 50mph (top) |
The West Busway is a two-lane bus-only highway serving the western portions of the city of Pittsburgh and several western suburbs. The busway runs for 5.1miles from the southern shore of the Ohio River near Downtown Pittsburgh to Carnegie,[1] following former railroad right-of-way on the Panhandle Route. It broke ground on October 27, 1994 and is owned and maintained by Pittsburgh Regional Transit, the public transit provider for Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh region. The transit thoroughfare was opened in September 2000.[2] Following the naming convention of each busway being designated by a color, bus routes that use the West Busway begin with a "G" for green.
In addition to running along the abandoned railroad right of way, the West Busway also reuses the historic Cork Run Tunnel, also known as the Berry Street Tunnel, which was heavily refurbished for the busway
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), under its BRT Standard, has classified the West Busway as a "Basic BRT" corridor.[3]
Four Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus routes currently serve the West Busway.
One route, G2 West Busway All Stops travels the length of the busway and also serves Downtown Pittsburgh, connecting with the East Busway, via West Carson Street (PA 51) and the Fort Pitt Bridge. Buses operate every 30 minutes.[4]
Another important route is the 28X Airport Flyer which uses the West Busway as far south as Bell Station where dedicated ramps connect the Busway to Interstate 376. The Airport Flyer has a stop restriction with buses outbound to the Airport only stopping to pick up passengers, with drop-offs along the busway prohibited. Buses operate every 30 minutes.[5]
Following the naming convention of each busway being designated by a color, most bus routes that use the West Busway begin with a "G" for green.
| Airport Flyer | Pittsburgh International Airport | Daily, stop restrictions | ||
| West Busway-All Stops | Carnegie | Daily | ||
| Moon Flyer | Moon | Weekday peak periods | ||
| Bridgeville Flyer | Bridgeville | Weekday peak periods |
| Station Name | Neighborhood/Borough | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraden | Sheraden | Park and ride 177 spaces | |
| Ingram | Ingram | ||
| Crafton | Crafton | Park and ride: 106 spaces | |
| Idlewood | Park and ride: 33 spaces | ||
| Bell | Carnegie | Park and ride: 34 spaces | |
| Carnegie | Park and ride: 163 spaces stops nearby off-busway |