Pittsburgh begins traffic calming projects near Homewood school

Pittsburgh crews started work Wednesday on two traffic calming projects in Homewood.

The projects are expected to slow traffic, improve sidewalks and enhance intersections on Murtland Street and Hamilton Avenue, especially for students who attend Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy on Murtland.

The work on Murtland will involve installing two speed humps and painting no-parking bump-outs near intersections so vehicles don’t park there and interfere with sight lines for drivers. Crosswalks at intersections also will be improved with big, brighter markers to help make drivers aware there may be pedestrians in the area.

On Hamilton, crews will install one speed table near Rosedale Street and a crosswalk will be improved at Multi Way. Speed tables are longer flatter raises in the road surface to gradually slow traffic while speed humps are shorter and cause traffic to slow more abruptly.

Additionally, sidewalks will be replaced on Mulford Street, Muti Way and Rosedale Street to improve walking conditions in the area, especially around Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus stops. The curb lines also will be reshaped at all intersections.

The city chose this area because from 2020-22 there were seven crashes on North Murtland Street between Frankstown Avenue and Hermitage Street.

In a news release, Mayor Ed Gainey said the improvements are part of the city’s Vision Zero program to eliminate all traffic deaths.

“Every student, every family, and every neighbor should feel safe when they’re walking down their own street — whether they’re heading to school, to the store or to the bus stop,” the mayor said. “These improvements on Murtland and Hamilton aren’t just about slowing down drivers — they’re about protecting lives, strengthening community, and making sure our streets put people first.”