Infrastructure Updates in City Council District 8: January 2023

(NOTE: on Jan. 1, the new Council districts map took effect. Changes to District 8’s boundaries are noted above. If you’re near the edge and can’t tell which district you fall in, type your address into the search function on the Pittsburgh City Council Districts GIS page.)

This is our office’s third update on District 8 infrastructure projects that are currently funded in the city budget. (You can find the first two here.) There are many more projects that we hope to secure resources for in future budgets, and we welcome your feedback on where those initiatives should be focused.

Traffic Calming Requests Paused to Implement New & Improved System

Due to the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program's demand and success, DOMI's current system for managing applications and requests needs to be updated in order to streamline the process for all. The Department is working with Innovation & Performance's GIS and Cartegraph teams to create a map-based system that will illustrate eligible locations, provide a portal to submit applications, and show the status of traffic calming applications.

In order to create a new system, DOMI has had to stop processing new applications. This temporary pause began December 31, 2022 and the tentative plan is to re-open the application portal with a new system starting May 1, 2023. During this interim period, residents may still submit a 311 under 'Traffic Calming”; however, DOMI will not be able to respond to these requests for traffic calming until Spring 2023 at the earliest. The form is in the beta testing phase now and is on track to come online in the spring. Thank you for your patience as DOMI works to better serve City residents.

Send In Your Paving Requests ASAP!

Each year, DOMI consults with Council members, community groups, residents, and the 311 system in order to assemble its list of paving projects. DOMI's staff and engineers create a yearly list based on the following criteria:

Street Overall Condition Index (OCI) - Every street in Pittsburgh has an OCI score based upon its physical condition. Once the condition of the street deteriorates past a certain threshold it is given additional priority on the yearly paving list.
Street Use - Streets are broken into three categories: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. Primary roads receive the most use, which results in their OCI score dropping more quickly than Secondary or Tertiary.
Equity - We apply this metric to the paving list to ensure that tax dollars are applied in a fair and impartial way so that streets in neighborhoods with a higher need receive an increase in their OCI score.

If your street is in need of repaving, please email us (district8@pittsburghpa.gov) and submit a 311 detailing the need for improvements in order to maximize the chances of selection. Our office’s recommendation is only one factor in the above framework, but we will advocate firmly for the D8 streets that need to be revamped.

S Dallas Ave, Forbes Ave, and Beechwood Blvd Safe Connections Phase 1 Implemented

DOMI has implemented Phase 1 of the Forbes Ave, S Dallas Ave & Beechwood Blvd Safe Connections project in Squirrel Hill South. While the major construction work could not be completed in the winter, operational changes were implemented in late-2022 concurrent with the reopening of the Fern Hollow Bridge:

S Dallas Ave between Beechwood Blvd and Forbes Ave is now one-way southbound

a stop sign has been added on Beechwood Blvd at S Dallas Ave, and

the cut-through ramp between Beechwood Blvd and Forbes has been closed.

The full project is due to be completed in Spring 2023. You can see a diagram below and read more about the entire process at the EngagePGH page.

(Still) New & (Definitely) Helpful DOMI Resources

Paving5Yrs: This GIS tool allows citizens to track City paving projects over the previous five years (the database currently contains 2017-21 information). You can break the historical data down by program, contractor, type of paving, road classification, street type, neighborhood, or even Council District. Check it out if you’re curious about where paving has (and hasn’t) taken place.

Obstructions Map (Beta Version): Another GIS feature provides a citywide view of road closures, delays, or obstructions that may result from street projects. It is still in beta testing and should not be relied upon as real-time information, but it does allow you to find out why certain blocks are experiencing slowdowns.

Crash Data Dashboard: Here, you can examine all recorded crashes within the city from 2017-21 and filter by location, severity, crash type, weather condition, and lighting. Below is a snapshot of all D8 incidents in the five-year database.

Thanks again for reading!