Brown Line (Pittsburgh)

Last updated

Pittsburgh Light Rail (logo).svg Brown Line
19940529 02 PAT LRT Arlington Ave. (5247864834).jpg
Arlington Avenue.
Overview
Owner Port Authority of Allegheny County
Locale Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Service
Type Light rail
Operator(s)Port Authority of Allegheny County
Technical
Track gauge 5 ft 2+12 in (1,588 mm)
Electrification 750 Volts DC, Overhead lines
Maximum incline approx. 10 percent [1]
Route map
Brown Line (Pittsburgh) Brown Line highlighted in brown
BSicon tKACCa black.svg
Wood Street
BSicon tSTR black.svg
BSicon uextSTR+l.svg
BSicon PORTALr.svg
BSicon uexKINTACCeq.svg
Penn Station
occasional use
BSicon BUS3.svg BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg
BSicon tACC black.svg
Steel Plaza
BSicon htSTRe black.svg
BSicon hACC black.svg
First Avenue BSicon PARKING.svg
BSicon hSKRZ-G4 black.svg
I-376.svgUS 22.svgUS 30.svg I-376  / US 22  / US 30
(Penn Lincoln Parkway)
BSicon hbKRZW black.svg
BSicon exKRWl brown.svg
BSicon STR black.svg
BSicon lhKRWgl.svg
BSicon exhKRW+r brown.svg
BSicon hSKRZ-G2e black.svg
BSicon exhSKRZ-G2e brown.svg
PA-837.svg
PA 837
West Carson Street
BSicon tINTACCa@f black.svg
BSicon exSTR brown.svg
Station Square
BSicon FUNI.svg BSicon BUS3.svg
BSicon MFADEf.svg
BSicon POINTERf@gq.svg
BSicon tSTR black.svg
BSicon exSTR brown.svg
BSicon RP4+r.svg
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
William
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Newton
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Roanoke
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4ensRP4.svg
New Arlington
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Allen
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Beltzhoover
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Curtin
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4.svg
Estella
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
BSicon RP4l.svg
Haberman
BSicon MFADEg.svg
BSicon tSTR black.svg
BSicon exBHF brown.svg
Harwood Steps
BSicon SHI2l black.svg
BSicon PORTALg.svg
BSicon exBS2c2 brown.svg
BSicon BS2c3 black.svg
BSicon exBS2r brown.svg
BSicon ACC black.svg
South Hills Junction
BSicon BUS3.svg
BSicon CONTf black.svg
Key
BSicon exBHFq brown.svg
Non-accessible station
BSicon exACCq brown.svg
Accessible station
BSicon exINTACCq brown.svg
Interchange station

The Brown Line (formerly route 52) was a branch of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system that ran from South Hills Junction over Mount Washington and across the Monongahela River to downtown Pittsburgh, terminating at Wood Street. It included the steepest grade of any section of the Pittsburgh light rail system, of approximately 10 percent. [1]

Contents

History

The 52 Allentown route was created in 1984 by renaming what was then the 49 Arlington-Warrington, itself created in 1971 by combining portions of the 48 Arlington and 49 Beltzhoover lines. [2] In April 2010 the 52 Allentown was rebranded the "Brown Line" by the Port Authority. [3]

Prior to being discontinued, Brown Line service was severely reduced, operating only during Monday to Friday rush hours, with bus route 44 substitute providing service at other times. The Port Authority considered ending all Brown Line service, but this would have provided only limited savings unless the tracks and overhead wires were also decommissioned. More importantly, however, the Brown Line's tracks provided an alternate route when the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel was closed (either due to planned maintenance or a stalled vehicle), allowing Red Line or Blue Line services to continue operating, albeit behind schedule since the Allentown routing took five to eight minutes longer [4] than via the tunnel.

On March 27, 2011, the Brown Line service was withdrawn due to a system-wide 15% service cut. [5]

The line is still used occasionally by Blue, Red, and Silver trains when the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel is closed. [6]

As of February 2021, The Port Authority's newly released 25-year plan includes the possibility of reviving service on the Allentown line due to continuing growth of the neighborhood. [7]

Route

The Brown Line was much shorter and ran less frequently than the Red and Blue Lines. It provided service to the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where dense housing and the hilly terrain make automobile transportation difficult—some area streets cannot be used at all during the winter. The route began at South Hills Junction, climbing upwards to Haberman and East Warrington Avenue. It continued along Warrington in an easterly direction until turning left onto Arlington Avenue, where it followed the sharply curving street northwards, over the shoulder of Mount Washington. At the intersection of McArdle Roadway, it swung onto private right-of-way to reach the Panhandle Bridge (also used by the Red and Blue Lines) to cross the Monongahela River and gain entry to downtown, stopping at First Avenue, Steel Plaza, and Wood Street. The entire line operated within the city of Pittsburgh.

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References

  1. 1 2 Schmitz, Jon (November 26, 2010). "North Shore Connector said to be on schedule and under budget". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  2. "Pittsburgh Railways Online - Trolleys: Back from the Brink". February 18, 2002. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  3. Schmitz, Jon (February 12, 2010). "Port Authority website previews route changes". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. County, Port Authority of Allegheny. "March 27 Service Changes". www.portauthority.org. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  6. Liz Navratil (August 17, 2012). "Bus, light rail detours for Station Square next week". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  7. "Port Authority unveils plan that includes light-rail, busway extensions".
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