[PRCo] Re: Streetcars in the Strip District?

[Paul Steven]

I haven't posted since April, but I have been here before. I live in England, 
but have an interest in trams and trolleys and have contributed to the 
Wikipedia article on Pittsburgh Railways, after visiting the city in 2004. I 
don't often have anything to say, but stumbled on the article below when 
trying to identify a bridge closed at weekends in downtown.

On Monday 29 Aug 2011 00:23:47 Fred Schneider wrote:
> Please introduce yourself to those of us who have been on the list for
> years.   I never saw the name Paul Steven before.
> 
> Fred Schneider
> Lancaster, PA
> (Ex patriot Pittsburgher ... ex in 1949)
> 
> On Aug 28, 2011, at 6:42 AM, Paul Steven wrote:
> > So you guys are thinking of putting streetcars back in the Strip?
> > 
> > "Consultants wanted for streetcar plan
> > 
> > By Bill Vidonic
> > PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
> > Friday, August 26, 2011
> > 
> > Pittsburgh is looking for consultants to help plan a streetcar system and
> > other transportation improvements within the Strip District, which could
> > include an incline connecting the Strip with the Hill District.
> > 
> > "I'm hoping this will be realistic as possible," said Becky Rodgers,
> > executive director of Neighbors in The Strip. "Will everything that's in
> > this study come out? You don't know, but it's a great starting point."
> > 
> > The city hopes to hire consultants by November. They will spend six
> > months devising transportation plans and how to pay for them. City
> > officials have said a streetcar system could cost at least $25 million.
> > 
> > Consultants will be paid up to $345,000 by the city and PennDOT through
> > the Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative.
> > 
> > That planning work likely would tie into the bigger Allegheny Riverfront
> > Vision plan. The city in February announced that project, which aims to
> > reconnect the Strip District, Lawrenceville, Morningside and Highland
> > Park to 6.5 miles of redeveloped riverfront.
> > 
> > "We've seen a lot of positive movement recently in the Strip District,"
> > Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said in a prepared statement. "New transportation
> > improvements will build on this momentum by providing residents with
> > better transit options and more bike/pedestrian-friendly ways to get in
> > and around the neighborhood."
> > 
> > The initiative is focusing on the Strip District between 11th and 40th
> > streets, and possible improvements include the streetcar system, the
> > incline, bikeway work along Penn Avenue and a new transit station for
> > development along the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway at 21st Street.
> > 
> > The deadline for consultants to submit qualifications to the city's
> > Planning Department is noon Sept. 23. The detailed qualification request
> > is available at www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/cp."