A Moment of Gratitude
- During its Standing Committees meeting, Council thanked Public Works, first responders, and Duquesne Light for their immediate and continued response to Tuesday night’s severe storm.
This Week’s Top Agenda Items
- Council asks State for a $117 million budget increase for Pittsburgh Regional Transit
- “Tiny lots” approved after spirited debate
- Riverlife barge venue to dock at Allegheny Landing Park
Council asks State for a $117 Million Budget Increase for Pittsburgh Regional Transit
- Council approved a Will of Council urging the State General Assembly and Governor to help “prevent a catastrophic loss of transit service.”
- The shortfall comes from increasing costs due to inflation & rising healthcare costs, decreased ridership from COVID, and the end of COVID-era Federal Funding
- Without additional funding, PRT will cut up to 35% of fixed-route services and increase fares by 9%.
- Forty-one bus routes would be fully eliminated, 34 would have major reductions, and 20 would have slight reductions; service would end after 11 pm.
- Paratransit services for disabled riders would be cut by 62% and face a 20% fare increase.
- Councilmembers Warwick and Mosley noted that robust public transit is vital for housing and economic growth initiatives and that the $117 million request should be just the start.
- PRT has 120,000 daily riders, contributes $1 billion to the state economy, and keeps 39,000 cars off the road.
- One in four Pittsburgh households does not have access to a car.
“Tiny Lots” Approved After Spirited Debate
- The amendment to the residential zoning ordinance reduces minimum lot sizes for all density levels and removes the minimum unit-size requirement for apartments and condos.
- All other zoning rules remain unchanged.
- While Council generally supported the text, some members raised concerns about:
- Timing the vote right after this week’s severe storm
- Whether zoning changes should be made individually or all at once
- If minimum lot sizes were the most critical amendment among many under consideration
- The bill received an affirmative recommendation, passing 5–1 with two abstentions. Councilperson Gross voted against with Councilpersons Lavelle and Warwick abstaining. Councilperson Mosley was absent.
| Zoning District | Current Min Lot Size | Proposed Min Lot Size |
|---|---|---|
| Very Low Density (VL) | 8,000 sq ft | 6,000 sq ft |
| Low Density (L) | 5,000 sq ft | 3,000 sq ft |
| Moderate Density (M) | 3,200 sq ft | 2,400 sq ft |
| High Density (H) | 1,800 sq ft | 1,200 sq ft |
| Very High Density (VH) | 1,200 sq ft | None |
Riverlife Barge Venue to Dock at Allegheny Landing Park
- Council recommended Riverlife’s request to dock a sectional spud barge at Allegheny Landing Park (North Shore, just East of PNC Park).
- A spud barge is a semi-permanent floating platform that can be assembled from multple sctions joined together
- The barge will be open to the public via the City-owned dock and will:
- “ celebrate Pittsburgh’s rivers through primarily free, accessible, and sustainable activities and events.”
- Riverlife is selecting a vendor for a concession stand.
- The barge is expected to open in June.
- Let us know in the survey what events and food you'd like to see in this new public space.
