Pittsburgh Regional Transit got a big boost Wednesday for its plans to upgrade its Dormont transit station as a precursor to adding commercial buildings to the site.
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, announced the agency has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant to help pay for station renovations, part of $15.5 million grants he touted for communities in the 17th District. The agency and borough have had plans since 2019 to change the access points to the station and build on excess land but haven’t had the funding to move forward.
Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said he couldn’t say whether the grant would be enough for the agency to proceed with the station renovations.
Plans call for changing the entrance of the station to the center of the site to make it more accessible from West Liberty and Biltmore avenues and covering the inbound and outbound waiting areas with a roof. Long-term plans call for developing as many as four buildings on three acres of land owned by the authority or the borough at the site, with commercial activity on the first floors and apartments or offices above.
The Dormont plans are part of proposed system-wide station improvements by PRT. It has completed a project for the Negley Avenue station and is waiting for funding for similar projects at Station Square and South Hills Junction.
Other than Station Square, which has little extra space, the authority hopes to include transit-oriented development on extra land around the stations to increase ridership and promote economic growth.
“This funding is not just about refurbishing a station along the Red Line, it’s a testament to our commitment to fostering a safer, more accessible, and welcoming transit experience,” CEO Katharine Eagan Kelleman said in a news release. “ And with the potential to create equitable transit-oriented development next door, this project holds the promise of transforming the physical landscape and igniting economic vitality and community cohesion.”
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.