Evaluation Strategy
Sample Evaluation Matrix Alternative Travel Time Reductions Changes to Existing Choices Connectivity to other Transp. Services Connectivity to Key Destinations Capital Costs (2006 $) O&M Costs (2006 $) Ridership Use of Existing Facilities support/ complement TOD Public Support Alternative Description of accessibility of this alternative Description of institutional issues related to this alternative etc. Rating Alternative 2 Rating Alternative Rating Alternative 4 Rating For each alternative (rows) there is text describing its performance in each evaluation category (columns). In addition there is a circle below it that shows a highmedium or low rating for each alternative in each category. High = full (dark) circle, medium = half circle, low = empty (white) circle. The final selection of the Locally Preferred Alternatives will depend on which characteristics are felt to be the most important and how each alternative helps to address the most pressing needs of the region. Public support will play a large role in the selection of Locally Preferred Alternatives.
Transit Travel Time Savings vs. Existing Transit (in minutes) 0 to 5 New Kensington No direct service / 4 nonbusway / busway routes Monroeville 7 minutes Monroeville 7 / 0 Wilkinsburg / Homestead / 9 / 0 minutes Pittsburgh / Wilkinsburg / Homestead Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension 6 Greensburg 6 / 4 Etna / McKeesport No direct service 2 minutes McKeesport 5% (time varies by route) Between Pittsburgh and Downtown BRT
Transit Travel Time Savings vs. Driving (in minutes, projected for year 2025) to 8 New Kensington 6 Monroeville 4 Wilkinsburg and Homestead No direct service 2 minutes Monroeville / 8 / 6 minutes Pittsburgh / Wilkinsburg / Homestead Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension () (to Pittsburgh) 0 Greensburg No direct service to 4 / Etna / McKeesport 2 Minutes McKeesport Not determined vs. driving Downtown BRT
Changes to Existing Transit Choices Supplements existing bus service Extends the reach of exclusive busway Replaces most Pittsburgh bus services Added transfer to Golden Triangle Supplements Wilkinsburg / Homestead bus services Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension Replaces WCTA commuter bus service Added transfer to Supplements existing bus service Improves speed and reliability of existing bus routes. Downtown BRT
Connections to Other Transportation Services WCTA Routes Local / Regional Bus Routes (walking transfer in Downtown Pittsburgh) East Busway Routes Amtrak (at Penn Station) Greyhound (at Penn Station) Local / Regional Bus Routes (at Penn Station) North Shore Light Rail (direct service) South Hills T East Busway Routes (in Wilkinsburg) Local / Regional Bus Routes Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension WCTA Routes East Busway Routes Amtrak (at Penn Station) Greyhound (at Penn Station) Local / Regional Bus Routes (at Penn Station) North Shore Light Rail South Hills T Local / Regional Bus Routes Local / Regional Bus Routes Downtown BRT
Exclusive Guideway Service to Key Destinations Strip District, Allegheny Valley Communities No service to on local streets Downtown Pittsburgh Braddock, East Pittsburgh, Monroeville, East Busway Communities Transfers Pittsburgh s Penn Station and Wilkinsburg several stops North Shore, Downtown Pittsburgh, Hill District, Wilkinsburg and Squirrel Hill or Homestead and Hazelwood Transfers at Steel Plaza, Downtown Pittsburgh & Wilkinsburg Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension to Other Destinations to Other Destinations to Other Destinations Greensburg, Jeannette, Irwin, Trafford, East Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg and Downtown Pittsburgh Transfers at Pittsburgh Penn Station & Wilkinsburg No service to Other Destinations two stops (east end) Mon Valley Communities, Downtown Pittsburgh, Strip District, Millvale, Etna Transfers at Steel Plaza and Downtown Pittsburgh to Other Destinations Downtown Pittsburgh and many stops in each Transfers at Steel Plaza and Downtown Pittsburgh Downtown BRT to Other Destinations
Projected Daily Boardings (year 2025),900 4,500 On entire Busway 9,400 Wilkinsburg Option 5,700 Homestead Option Enhanced Alternative: 6,700 (regular alternative) Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension (enhanced alternative) 4,400 Enhanced Alternative: 8,800 4,700 Etna Branch: 4,900 McKeesport Branch: 9,800 5,900 Above current ridership levels Downtown BRT
Capital Costs (2006 Dollars) $40 70 m Enhanced Alternative: $270 0 m Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail To Monroeville: $90 480 m To East Pittsburgh: $240 00 m (To Monroeville) East Busway Extension (To East Pittsburgh) $2.7.2 b Wilkinsburg Option $2.0 2.4 b Homestead Option To Only: $.5.9 b underground $650 800 m atgrade (Tunnel Options) (To AtGrade) $90 20 m $.2.4 b Etna Branch: $400 490 m Costs not evaluated Enhanced Alternative: $250 00 m McKeesport Branch: $90,00 m Downtown BRT
Operation and Maintenance Costs (Annual 2006 Dollars) $6.4 m Enhanced Alternative: $0.9 m $4. m $4.5 m Wilkinsburg Option $27.9 m Homestead Option Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension $5.8 m $24.4 m Etna Branch: $4.7 m Costs not evaluated Enhanced Alternative: $20.0 m McKeesport Branch: $9.5 m Downtown BRT
Potential for TOD near Stations Excellent Good Fair/Good Fair Poor Total: 4 2 9 Excellent Good Fair/Good Fair Poor Total: Excellent Good Fair/Good Fair Poor Total: Wilkins burg 4 Trunk 5 5 Home stead 2 2 5 Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension to Wilkinsburg to Homestead Etna Trunk McKees port Excellent Good Fair/Good Fair Poor Total: 2 2 7 Excellent Good Fair/Good Fair Poor Total: 2 9 Downtown Pittsburgh and are both already transitoriented communities. Downtown BRT
Allegheny Valley Commuter Rail East Busway Extension Norfolk Southern Commuter Rail Mon Valley Light Rail BRT Evaluation Summary Evaluation Summary (Regular) (Enhanced) (Monroeville) (E. Pitt.) (to Oakl.) (Tunnel) (to Pittsb.) (AtGrade) (Wilkinsburg) (Homestead) vs. Transit Travel Times vs. Highway Travel Times Transit Changes Connections To To Other Destinations Daily Boardings Capital Cost O&M Cost Existing Facilities TOD Potential Public Support