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Brown Line (Pittsburgh)
Encyclopedia
The Brown Line was a service on the Pittsburgh Light Rail
system that runs from South Hills Junction
over Mount Washington and across the Monongahela River
to downtown Pittsburgh, terminating at Gateway Center
. It includes the steepest grade of any section of the Pittsburgh light rail system, around 10 percent.
This line was much smaller and ran less frequently than the Red Line or Blue Line - South Hills Village and Blue Line - Library, providing service to the Allentown
neighborhood of Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, where dense housing and the hilly terrain make automobile transportation very limited–some area streets cannot be used at all during the winter. Service began at South Hills Junction
, heading for Warrington Avenue. The Brown Line ran on Warrington in an easterly direction until turning left onto Arlington Avenue, where it followed the sharply bending street until running northwesterly. It used the same bridge
into the downtown as the Red Line and Blue Line services, stopping at First Avenue, Steel Plaza, Wood Street, and Gateway Center, but did not stop at Station Square
because it approached the bridge from the southeast, while Station Square is southwest of the bridge.
Prior to its discontinuance Brown Line service was severely reduced, running only during the weekday rush with substitute service provided by the 44 bus. The Port Authority
considered ending all Brown Line service, but this would have provided only limited savings unless the tracks and overhead wires were also decommissioned. Moreover, the Brown Line's tracks provided a backup route when a stalled vehicle or planned maintenance closed the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel
, allowing Red Line and Blue Line services to continue operating, albeit with delays since the Allentown route took five to eight minutes longer than the tunnel.
On March 27, 2011, the Brown Line service was terminated due to a 15% service cut systemwide.
Pittsburgh Light Rail
The Pittsburgh Light Rail is a light rail system in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it functions as a subway in Downtown Pittsburgh and largely as an at-grade light rail service in the suburbs. The system is owned and operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County...
system that runs from South Hills Junction
South Hills Junction (PAT station)
South Hills Junction is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. This station served as the original "merge point" of the inbound Beechview and Overbrook branches of the light rail system, just before the run under Mount Washington through the Mount Washington...
over Mount Washington and across the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
to downtown Pittsburgh, terminating at Gateway Center
Gateway Center (PAT station)
Gateway Center was a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Pittsburgh Light Rail network, and until October 30, 2009 it was the "T" system's westernmost extent within downtown Pittsburgh. The Port Authority closed Gateway Center as part of construction work on the North Shore...
. It includes the steepest grade of any section of the Pittsburgh light rail system, around 10 percent.
History
The 52 Allentown was created in 1984 by renaming what was then the 49 Arlington-Warrington, itself created in 1971 by combining portions of the 48 Arlington and 49 Beltzhoover lines. In April 2010 the 52 Allentown was rebranded the "Brown Line" by the Port Authority.This line was much smaller and ran less frequently than the Red Line or Blue Line - South Hills Village and Blue Line - Library, providing service to the Allentown
Allentown (Pittsburgh)
Allentown is a south neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The zip code used by residents is 15210, and has representation on the Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 3 .-History:...
neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, where dense housing and the hilly terrain make automobile transportation very limited–some area streets cannot be used at all during the winter. Service began at South Hills Junction
South Hills Junction (PAT station)
South Hills Junction is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. This station served as the original "merge point" of the inbound Beechview and Overbrook branches of the light rail system, just before the run under Mount Washington through the Mount Washington...
, heading for Warrington Avenue. The Brown Line ran on Warrington in an easterly direction until turning left onto Arlington Avenue, where it followed the sharply bending street until running northwesterly. It used the same bridge
Panhandle Bridge
The Panhandle Bridge carries two rail lines of the Port Authority "T" line across the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The name comes from Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St...
into the downtown as the Red Line and Blue Line services, stopping at First Avenue, Steel Plaza, Wood Street, and Gateway Center, but did not stop at Station Square
Station Square
Station Square is a indoor and outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex located in the South Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
because it approached the bridge from the southeast, while Station Square is southwest of the bridge.
Prior to its discontinuance Brown Line service was severely reduced, running only during the weekday rush with substitute service provided by the 44 bus. The Port Authority
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
considered ending all Brown Line service, but this would have provided only limited savings unless the tracks and overhead wires were also decommissioned. Moreover, the Brown Line's tracks provided a backup route when a stalled vehicle or planned maintenance closed the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel
Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel
Mount Washington Transit Tunnel is an important public transportation link in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The approximately Middleton, William D. . The Time of the Trolley, p. 195. Milwaukee, WI : Kalmbach Publishing Co. LCCN 67-20155...
, allowing Red Line and Blue Line services to continue operating, albeit with delays since the Allentown route took five to eight minutes longer than the tunnel.
On March 27, 2011, the Brown Line service was terminated due to a 15% service cut systemwide.
Station List
| Station Name | Station Type | Other Services | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hills Junction South Hills Junction (PAT station) South Hills Junction is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. This station served as the original "merge point" of the inbound Beechview and Overbrook branches of the light rail system, just before the run under Mount Washington through the Mount Washington... |
street level low platform - terminus high platform - continues via Red Line |
Red Line, Blue Line - Library, Blue Line - South Hills Village | Pittsbugh |
| Harwood Steps | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Haberman | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Estella | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Curtin | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Beltzhoover | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Allen | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| New Arlington | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Roanoke | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| Newton | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| William | street level | Pittsburgh | |
| First Avenue First Avenue (PAT station) First Avenue is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Pittsburgh Light Rail network. The station is part of the light rail's Downtown Pittsburgh free zone, and passengers embarking here may travel for free to any of the other stations within the zone .The station was a new addition... |
high level | Red Line, Blue Line - Library, Blue Line - South Hills Village | Pittsburgh |
| Steel Plaza Steel Plaza (PAT station) Steel Plaza is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. The station is located at Grant St and Oliver Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. The station consists of an outbound side platform and an inbound island platform, with one track for trains to Wood Street and the... |
underground | Red Line, Blue Line - Library, Blue Line - South Hills Village | Pittsburgh |
| Wood Street Wood Street (PAT station) Wood Street is a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail network. With the closure of Gateway Center, Wood Street is the northern terminus of the network. Passengers embarking at Wood Street may travel free to any of the other stations in the Downtown area– First Avenue... |
underground | Red Line, Blue Line - Library, Blue Line - South Hills Village | Pittsburgh |
| Gateway Center Gateway Center (PAT station) Gateway Center was a station on the Port Authority of Allegheny County's Pittsburgh Light Rail network, and until October 30, 2009 it was the "T" system's westernmost extent within downtown Pittsburgh. The Port Authority closed Gateway Center as part of construction work on the North Shore... |
underground | Red Line, Blue Line - Library, Blue Line - South Hills Village | Pittsburgh |