Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus and light-rail vehicles have resumed regular operations through the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel for the first time since a $14.1 million electrical system upgrade project began more than two years ago.
The 3,500-foot tunnel has been closed nearly every night since the project began in July 2020. Bus routes 39, 40, 41, 44, Y46, Y47 and Y49, have been detouring through the city’s Allentown neighborhood after 8 p.m.
Some of the improvements include:
Replacement of 324 lighting fixtures
Replacement of all conduits, junction boxes and power cables
Replacement of the 1,600-amp redundant power supply
Replacement of the emergency phone system, including conduits, phone cables and emergency blue light markers
Replacement of the fiber optic communication lines
A new ventilation fan power and communication conduits, junction boxes and power connections for 11 ventilation fans
New lighting control cabinets
New emergency strobe lights at each end of the tunnel
The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel was originally built in 1904. It runs under Mt. Washington and Beltzhoover. It is the only tunnel in the United States shared by bus and rail service.
