Penn Circle is set to be converted from a confusing one-way ring of traffic into a pedestrian-scale area that opens up East Liberty's business district.
In 2002, part of Penn Circle South was reconfigured, at the request of Whole Foods, during the construction of the EastSide development. The City of Pittsburgh is now working with East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) to convert the next major section of the road into two-way traffic, from Highland Avenue to Penn Circle North. The bus loop and parts of Penn Avenue, and Broad Street near Penn Circle will also be reconstructed.
Construction on the yearlong, $7 million project will start in spring 2010, and is expected to finish by summer 2011 for the opening of the two-story Target. This "private market push" was instrumental in getting done what community groups have been advocating for decades, says Nate Wildfire with ELDI.
"This is fixing a giant flaw that occurred in the neighborhood redevelopment in the '60s and '70s," says Wildfire. "The whole goal back then was to divert traffic around the business district, but as we found out, that was a horrible idea. It created this four to five-lane moat of high-speed traffic around our business district and took energy and vitality away from our core. Who wants to cross five lanes of chaos? I can't think of a better way to dissuade residents from shopping in their own commercial district."
The new Penn Circle plans will not only add two-way traffic, but also make the area more environmentally, pedestrian and bike-friendly by adding bus shelters with green roofs, bike racks, street trees and energy-efficient lighting.
The $15 million to $20 million conversion of the rest of Penn Circle is planned to start design work in 2012.
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Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Nathan Wildfire and Katherine Camp, East Liberty Development, Inc.
Image courtesy of East Liberty Development, Inc.