Public input sought for South Hills Junction transit fixes
Port Authority is developing plans to revamp South Hills Junction and will provide three opportunities this week for public input on the project.
The junction is a station for light rail and South Busway users just outside the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel where Mount Washington, Allentown and Beltzhoover come together. Right now, it has six access points to separate boarding platforms for light rail and bus riders, but one of the renovation options includes combining the platforms at one facility.
The access points — from Lelia and Jasper streets, Secane, East Warrington and West Warrington (Montooth stairs and Boggstown ramp) avenues — all need improvements in lighting, stairs, ramps and sidewalks to make it easier for riders to get to the station. The neighborhoods also need better signs to direct riders to the station and improved access for people with disabilities.
Moira Egler, the authority’s project manager for transit-oriented communities, said the agency also is proposing changes to its operations at the station to create potential development sites there. One option would combine stations and relocate a salt shed and a rail storage area, as well as remove an unused rail loop to create three parcels for development — 75,000 and 80,000 square feet along Warrington and 40,000 square feet along Haberman Avenue.
The other option would maintain separate boarding areas and the salt shed and create an 80,000-square-foot parcel on the Secane side of Warrington.
Ms. Egler said the agency wants public input on potential development at the site, but she expects it will be a combination of residential and commercial. The authority expects to finish planning by November, when it should have a cost estimate and time frame for completing the work.
For similar projects, it often takes several years for construction to begin after plans are finished.
Hearings will be held online at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (register at https:// www.portauthority.org/insidePort-Authority/projects-andprograms/ south- hills- junction- virtualpublic-workshop-registration/) and in person at 4 p.m. Thursday at Warrington Recreation Center, 329 E. Warrington Ave., no registration required.