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Pittsburgh’s controversial North Shore Connector project has passed the 80% completion mark. The project is on time and the $528 million dollar budget is on track!
When the project is completed, Port Authority Transit (PAT) will be able to reach the three sports stadiums, museums, a casino and other North Side businesses through two twin tunnels that were bored 22 feet below the Allegheny River.
The “T”, Pittsburgh’s light-rail system and subway, will leave the Golden Triangle, go under the river and come up on the North Shore. This means that all those sports fans, concert goers, museum goers, gamblers, shoppers and diners can park their cars and use mass transit to glide through Pittsburgh to their destination.
Being from Pittsburgh and having used mass transit there extensively, including the “T”, I think this will make life so much easier. Sitting on 376, stuck in the Squirrel Hill Tunnel waiting for traffic to move ain’t pretty. I have sat inside the Squirrel Hill tunnel many times going downtown for a game, shopping, or just trying to cross Pittsburgh during rush hour. Thank goodness I am not claustrophobic.
Tunnels are a way of life in Pittsburgh! The Liberty Tubes and the Fort Pitt Tunnel are also pretty unavoidable and back up as well. For example, it would be nice to ride from the South Hills all the way to PNC Park on PAT. No parking worries and not being stuck in traffic!
While this project has its detractors and has been labeled a gigantic waste of money, hopefully once Pittsburgers are able to use this extension and reap the benefits from it, time will show it was a good thing. I would most definitely use it!
To read more and watch a cool video shot inside the Connector, click here:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_712911.html
Roy's Rants - For Your Information 
The same result could and similar benefits could have been acheived at 25% the cost or less by building a bus/ trolley only bridge and in much less time.