Pittsburgh Announces Progress In Penn Circle Two-Way Conversion

PITTSBURGH, PA (December 15, 2021) Mayor William Peduto and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) today announced progress is being made on the Penn Circle Two-Way Conversion Project.

The project will convert Station and Euclid Streets in the East Liberty neighborhood from one-way traffic in to two-way, multi-modal neighborhood-scale streets. Improvements to the roadways include new signals, bike lanes, curb bump-outs and other traffic calming measures to increase pedestrian and bike safety.

“Undoing the wrongs of urban renewal efforts of the 1950’s and 1960’s is an essential task,” said Mayor William Peduto. “The community deserves a connected street grid that is safe for all users. Restoring Penn Circle to a two-way neighborhood scale street and recent affordable housing investments in East Liberty helps to develop a city for all.” 

In November, the URA selected Michael Baker International for construction management and inspection services. Michael Baker recently completed a similar two-way conversion project in Allegheny Center in the Northside.

“We can never fully repair the damage done and legacy created by Urban Renewal projects of the past, but we do have a responsibility to remediate where we can,” said URA Executive Director Greg Flisram. “The final phase of converting this ring road back to a traditional urban street grid will reconnect the neighborhood for the people who live there, not just those that traverse it.”

The URA, in partnership with Mackin Engineering and Michael Baker, will be issuing the bid release for construction services in mid-January. Only PennDOT pre-qualified contractors will be eligible to bid on the project. Bids will remain open for 4-5 weeks. Once a construction firm has been selected, work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022.