Port Authority Holds Test Ride In Preparation For Red Line Reopening
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- There is good news for riders of the Port Authority's T service.
For the first time in six months, a Port Authority T train made it's way through the heart of Beechview Friday afternoon.
It was a sample run ahead of Sunday's return of Red Line service and the end of a summer of business challenges.
"If you have a business up here, it hurt everybody, I mean even my next door neighbor over here he had a hotdog shop he never made it through he had to close it up," said Chuck Fascetti, who owwns Chuck's Barber Shop.
This was a massive project to dig up the crumbling concrete around the rails and replace the rails and concrete. A project that was supposed to take two years, crammed into one summer of work.
"You're like gliding along now, you were bumping along before," said T Driver Scott Pearson.
About 12,000 riders a day use the Red Line. It's return will mean no longer having to get off the T at Fallowfield and transfering to the shuttle bus to Patomic and then back to the T.
The line opens up a new era of redevelopment with such a close connection to the city.
"It's going in the right direction, there's a interest in property people are purchasing property and buying house and the market value of the houses has gone up considerably in this area," said Larry Stanley.
Those on board the inaugural ride said there is no way to overstate how important reestablihing this connection is to the area.
"This means we're back open for business and we're ready for revitalization," said councilwoman Natalia Rudiak said.
Red Line T service will officially resume on Sunday.
The Port Authority says both the Red Line and Blue Line will see significant schedule adjustments. For more information from the Port Authority, visit their website here.
