The Waterfront from the Steel Valley
I read Brian O’Neill’s column on the plan for Hazelwood with great interest (Sept. 13, “A Game Plan to Help Hazelwood Rebound”). Progress for long-neglected Hazelwood is wonderful news, and I hope it proves to be more beneficial to neighborhood residents than The Waterfront is to the Steel Valley.
I am prompted to write by the statement, “While no one ... can dispute The Waterfront’s considerable pull almost two decades after its opening, its purposeful disconnect from Homestead’s traditional business corridor on Eighth Avenue is just as striking.” Only someone entering The Waterfront from Homestead can fully appreciate the breadth of the divide. Bridge traffic is nothing compared to our difficulty getting in from our homes, offices and schools through one of two entrances: the railroad crossing at Amity Street in Homestead or the railroad overpass in Munhall. We share the railroad crossing with the same heavy traffic coming across the bridge or wait through the same traffic on Route 837 to enter from Munhall.
Traffic flow at Homesteadend bridge ramps was reconfigured in 2006-2007 favoring Pittsburgh and preventing access on the bridge from Homestead. Consider that during a weeklong CSX railroad crossing closure at Amity Street this summer, Homestead traffic could only enter via the Munhall overpass. It took 45 minutes to get to Lowe’s from the Carnegie Library of Homestead since traffic was backed up all the way into town. That’s astounding when you realize that Lowe’s is clearly visible from the library — a short walk as the crow flies if not for two sets of busy railroad tracks!
The Waterfront’s early success was largely due to tax-increment financing approved by Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall as well as the Steel Valley School District. Only after 10 years was there any benefit to the community and only now is Eighth Avenue starting to see real development. Continuing success owes in great part to those coming across the bridge, but safe and easy access for cars, bicycles and pedestrians should be available to everyone. This is especially true in the Steel/Mon Valley area where too often others always seem to benefit while those who live here are left out. BRIAN HART
West Mifflin