Does any one know if the Strip District Trail by Convention Center is open? I rode past there a week ago and it was closed.
weezie
2015-06-19 11:03:37
as far as i am aware, nothing has changed, and the FotR site hasn't been updated, since
March.
there are
at least four prior threads, though the message board's search function isn't great at weeding out things like the irrelevant posts about the Oakland-Strip trail proposal.
epanastrophe
2015-06-19 11:17:03
The Buncher company, which is developing that site, is apparently waiting for approvals from the city to do the final stage of work that will allow the trail to reopen. Supposed to be done by late summer or early fall. Basically two full years late.
willb
2015-06-21 10:41:48
It seems like, depending on who you're talking to, Buncher have said they're either getting the runaround from Alcosan and PWSA over water & sewer line work, or from City Planning over roadwork they want to install, and it'll be somewhere between a couple months and another year before they'll be done.
epanastrophe
2015-06-22 15:44:42
From the LBPC: (WOOT!!)
Strip District Trail Updates
Nearly two years after it was closed for four months of ‘underground utility construction’ in October, 2013, we’re told the Strip District Trail (the segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail running from 11th to 21st Street in the Strip) will reopen in August—we even have the word of Kevin Acklin, Mayor Peduto’s Chief of Staff, on it:
https://twitter.com/kevinacklin/status/614597586289344512
This trail is critical for many commuters and others who ride from Lawrenceville to and through Downtown, and its loss has been deeply felt by many riders who don’t feel comfortable jockeying with unpredictable cars moving in strange ways, pulling in and out of parking spaces, and stopping suddenly along Penn and Smallman or simply speeding down Liberty.
We thank our many members and friends who have been calling, tweeting, and writing Deb Gross, Bill Peduto, and other city offices to ask about the status of this project, and we encourage everyone to keep asking for the firm date Acklin promises, and to hold Buncher, Friends of the Riverfront, and the City to it.
rustyred
2015-07-22 16:51:40
BEST NEWS!!!!!!!!
emma
2015-07-22 21:34:03
I'll be commuting through the Strip starting in August, so this is will be a nice alternative when I don't feel like riding down Penn.
rustyred
2015-07-22 21:52:29
While this is great news, it'll surely have an impact on the usage of the Penn Ave cycle track. Sure, it's a bit of a hassle to get to and from the trail, but I'm sure more than a few will trade a more direct route (Penn) for a car-free one (trail). I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens
chrishent
2015-07-23 07:00:48
This is a good point, and I'm probably one of those riders. As much as I like using the Penn Ave lane, it's pretty hard to beat riding to work along the river with no cars. Hopefully, the City will actually connect the bike lane to the Point soon, which should help increase ridership.
Also, let's not celebrate too soon. I'll believe the trail is opening in August when I see it. So write to the mayor and your council member to remind them how important this is.
willb
2015-07-23 08:10:02
Yep, I can already see it: take a Healthy Ride bike at 21st and Smallman and ride it on the trail all the way to the station on 7th and Ft Duquesne Blvd or the one on Isabella and Federal for a Pirates game. Save for a short distance on 21st, no cars. Awesome.
chrishent
2015-07-23 09:20:29
So, we havn't had the bikeway and the strip district trail open at the same time. What is the best way to connect to the bikeway from the Strip District trail to access downtown?
I'm betting via the convention center ramp at the moment.
benzo
2015-07-23 14:14:29
Yep, that's definitely the best way, and probably always will be. We need some signage to let people know that.
willb
2015-07-23 14:36:43
"I’m betting via the convention center ramp at the moment."
Oh, I can finally use that green bike box at Penn and 10th.
rustyred
2015-07-24 09:09:33
@rustyred you mean the green box that drivers constantly stop on and block?
chrishent
2015-07-24 09:42:28
Hopefully they will clean it up a bit before re-opening. I have glanced down at the trail from the 16th street bridge recently and it is covered with debris, and overgrown with weeds.
Others have mentioned how nice it will be to ride with no cars for that stretch again... This almost goes without saying, but it will also be nice to ride for a while with no STOPLIGHTS again. As nice as the Penn cycle track is, I would take a parallel trail with no stoplights any day, particularly if I am just trying to get to work quickly.
Railroad St. is currently being extended from 21st Street down to the convention center, along with extensions of some of the numbered streets toward the river (seems like at least 12th and 15th so far), so once that is done, there will hopefully be several ways to easily get between Penn Ave and the trail.
alleghenian
2015-07-24 21:44:51
My complaint with the Penn bike lane is all the low manhole covers. Particularly at night. It will be nice to have an alternative.
stuinmccandless
2015-07-25 11:52:24
4 days left in August and still closed. :-(
hubster
2015-08-28 08:50:10
I never ever tweet but have been tweeting about this at Deb Gross, Peduto, BikePed Coordinator. I'm very over this public good being kept from cyclists but anyone really who wants to access some carless time next to the river. Total bullshit. I think I'll start calling, too, and wonder if people shouldn't have some sort of protest on the trail.
sparkles
2015-09-01 08:23:01
From Deb Gross this a.m.
Deb Gross (@DebGrosspgh) tweeted at 8:34am - 1 Sep 15:
I know DPW met w Buncher Co last week, but I haven't gotten details yet. @BikePGH @BikePedPGH @billpeduto
Snooze.
BikePed person tweeted "1b". Is that Twitter code?? What does that mean??
sparkles
2015-09-01 08:33:47
I tweeted them, as well. Can't hurt to follow up and continue to squeeky wheel it to try to keep them accountable. I mean, honestly, how long are they going to keep it closed?
ka_jun
2015-09-01 09:02:50
It's pretty clear by now that what was initially claimed as 'utility work' is actually preliminary groundwork for Buncher's development of the former parking district behind the Terminal Building. Which makes me wonder when that development was signed off on--I remember a bunch of uninspiring plans that were roundly panned, and then nothing.
Wishing I had time to go Downtown and look for permits for this work....
epanastrophe
2015-09-01 09:08:16
I've resorted to jumping the barriers and riding on the newly paved Railroad St. extension and have seen quite a few others do the same.
hubster
2015-09-03 11:44:35
I've also seen people jump the barriers and ride the trail itself--including one while I was in the middle of taking a picture of said barrier....
epanastrophe
2015-09-03 12:07:12
Hmm, so there are no barriers to the trail being open other than the physical barriers on either side?
hubster
2015-09-03 12:34:26
Well, it's pretty wildly overgrown. The gate was open at one end recently, and I couldn't ride very far before it was basically impassable.
willb
2015-09-03 13:01:23
Overgrown can easily be remedied. Work crew anyone?
helen-s
2015-09-03 19:06:22
I'd be down for a work crew outing, but the concrete barriers and chain-link fence need to be removed too.
hubster
2015-09-04 11:16:26
Not just chain-link, either. I don't recall it being there initially, but the barrier at the 11th Street end is topped with barbed wire, too.
https://twitter.com/infinitebuffalo/status/638565552714326016
(and yes, for those who haven't seen it already, someone has slapped a 'condos suck' sticker in the middle of the sign...)
epanastrophe
2015-09-04 11:18:02
benzo
2015-09-08 10:23:57
realsoonnow
jason-pgh
2015-09-08 11:14:12
"no later than October 31st 2015"
That's hilarious.
#notholdingmybreath
rustyred
2015-09-08 11:44:40
I was told I would have a jetpack by now.
edmonds59
2015-09-08 11:55:34
chrishent
2015-09-23 08:15:33
Y.A.Y.
sparkles
2015-09-23 08:30:58
Still, not holding my breath. If this deadline passes again, maybe we should organize a ride on the trail. Kind of stick it to Buncher for lying to us.
jason-pgh
2015-09-23 08:51:21
#AreWeThereYet?
ka_jun
2015-09-23 09:10:38
This is great! The trail will be open just in time for winter, when it will become totally unrideable again!
willb
2015-09-23 09:16:08
Bets on whether the trail will be open AND two+ years of undergrowth has been cleared?
reddan
2015-09-23 11:38:19
"AND two+ years of undergrowth has been cleared?"
Nope. I'm bringing my machete.
rustyred
2015-09-23 11:51:23
I say we stage a machete giveaway, similar to that light giveaway BikePGH does every year. We should invite Mr. Trejo:
chrishent
2015-09-23 12:04:34
Just went by the trail - there is a machine clearing out the brush!
There is a lot of litter along the trail and along the rest of the riverfront trail between the convention center and the point. Any idea if the city would clean that up? I'd be interested in petitioning my company to get a group of volunteers together if not. Our offices are directly along the strip district trail..
bree33
2015-10-14 07:42:03
The fencing is down on the 11th St side and a city worker was there with equipment this morning.
rustyred
2015-10-14 08:18:11
Here's what the trail looks like (nadir to horizon view from 16th St Bridge). Should we organize a volunteer trail-clearing party?
paulheckbert
2015-10-14 08:34:27
I think they're going to continue clearing out the brush - the machine was on the trail this morning as well.
bree33
2015-10-14 08:52:56
Hell Yeah, Progress!
benzo
2015-10-14 10:33:37
Looking at that picture, what I see is an erosion problem. Figure out how to have that hill not wash down onto the trail. Otherwise, you're going to have a mud bath after every strong rain or melt.
stuinmccandless
2015-10-14 16:22:09
Wait, is this the trail that disappears into a big hole leading to the river at the 16th st. bridge?
erink
2015-10-15 21:33:33
Wow, that used to be a nice trail. I guess that is good enough. Geez!
gg
2015-10-15 23:30:40
Looking promising!
erok
2015-10-16 15:15:37
@erok I can't see a photo in your post?
erink
2015-10-17 11:19:11
Tried to ride through (coming from Downtown) yesterday evening, jersey barriers still up under the 16th St bridge.
rustyred
2015-10-20 09:06:45
Rode it yesterday and it was "1/2" open-ish.
ka_jun
2015-10-20 09:56:09
Still closed right before going under the 16th St Bridge. I have been picking my bike up and walking up to Railroad St.
alexlarrimer
2015-10-22 12:52:01
"I have been picking my bike up and walking up to Railroad St." My lunch ride group did the same, today.
ka_jun
2015-10-22 13:20:46
Anyone have any updates on the status of the strip trail this week?
benzo
2015-10-26 10:39:56
I rode it Saturday afternoon, it's in pretty decent shape from 21st to 16th, but there is still a barricade across it under the bridge, and as I recall there was a construction vehicle in the middle of it.
Didn't try the downstream half.
epanastrophe
2015-10-26 10:49:41
So the gate at 21st is open now?
willb
2015-10-26 12:49:50
The concrete barriers are still there along the end of 21st, but they're pretty avoidable, and the fence across the trail itself was open as of Saturday afternoon.
epanastrophe
2015-10-26 12:51:02
I didn't get through there today, but walkers were getting through. It was a mess to say the least. Then I tired to enter past the huge parking mess that we all live with and that was closed because there were trucks all over the sidewalks. I ended up going on the Penn Ave bike lane and it ran all the way through now, which was nice. My ride today was not the greatest. In Sharpsburg they had the tracks blocked because a train was parked on it at the 62nd St Bridge. That happens now and again, so I couldn't ride the tracks. I ended up at Junction Hollow Trail and then Schenley Park. That part was nice since no one was there at the RR Tracks. Of course it was so safe to cross those hardly used tracks it was very relaxing.
Enjoy
gg
2015-10-27 00:36:12
There is a section of gravel right past the 16th street bridge (going outbound) that you'll have to walk through but its only 10 feet or so. The path is certainly cleaned up but not finished. The transition to 21st street isn't great.
Also, railroad st was closed between 27th and 26th st this morning due to construction. I jumped on Spruce Way.
alexlarrimer
2015-10-27 11:24:33
epanastrophe
2015-10-27 14:50:02
Yale and I biked on it today - it's nice to have this trail back! The Department of Public Works (DPW) people cut back the knotweed and other growth along the sides of the trail a lot. There are some jersey barriers upstream of 21st St that we had to weave around, but those should be removed soon, I heard. If you bike this trail and see litter, please help out by picking up a few items.
There was new asphalt (still warm) under the 16th St Bridge.
paulheckbert
2015-10-27 22:43:59
I couldn't get through on Monday. I tried since a damn train was blocking my Sharpsburg to Millvale ride. Anyway, glad it is open. Looked like crap when I was there and it was a complete mess to try and get to the river. I ended up riding Penn and the bike lane goes all the way through! That was nice! Point State Park was busy with tourists from other countries. What a nice change for Pittsburgh. Thanks Obama.
gg
2015-10-27 23:34:10
I rode it yesterday and rolled video. I will try to process and post that today.
stuinmccandless
2015-10-28 06:29:31
They removed the two jersey barriers by the produce building this morning. There is still one at the end of 23rd street. I don't think they could get to it with the cars and dock pieces in the way.
feelsgoodman.jpg
hubster
2015-10-28 10:27:09
Good.
ka_jun
2015-10-28 10:27:19
gimppac
2015-10-28 11:00:03
Video is up!
Starts at the Convention Center, ends at the 40th Street Bridge. Filmed Tuesday around 6 p.m. About 12 minutes.
stuinmccandless
2015-10-28 14:34:45
I rode the Strip District trail Thursday afternoon. There's a Jersey barrier across the eastern end, at around 23rd street. Is this new, or was it there before the grand closure? I sure don't remember it, but I'd like to get my facts aligned before I squawk about a barrier on the "opened" trail.
thanks!
vannever
2015-10-29 18:30:41
Stu, I take that route, except I now don't ride on Smithfield at all. I go along the RR tracks instead and it isn't bad. I just like avoiding cars these days. I sense a different vibe out there and I am trying to deal with it as little as possible. Thanks for the vid.
gg
2015-10-29 20:23:26
*Smallman, I think you mean.
I've taken the gravel path along the tracks in the past, but didn't feel like dealing with it that day.
I know we discussed what's involved in making that little slip more amenable to bikes at all, and for regular road tires, at some point in the distant past, but maybe now would be a good time to revisit that.
The idea that you can be in Millvale in 15 minutes from the heart of downtown, without dealing with traffic, pretty much entirely, is a major step forward.
stuinmccandless
2015-10-30 07:48:18
From what I understand is that part of the three crossings development is going to extend the trail through to the 31st street bridge eventually. This would be a welcome extension of the river trails.
http://3crossingspgh.com/strip-district-riverfront-park/
benzo
2015-10-30 08:39:35
I thought the trail only extended to 21st St.? I've been eyeing it since I started working near there but it doesn't seem like a win for me (it would be if it went out to 31st).
erink
2015-10-30 09:53:52
It's supposed to go at least to the near end of the Cork Factory development, so 23rd?, though it used to be ridable to the far end, which would be I think 25th. I've even taken it further, before the 3-Crossings construction, though it descends pretty rapidly into brush and rail remnants somewhere around the Easter Seals building.
epanastrophe
2015-10-30 10:12:56
RE: where it starts... I took it from 24th I think, there's a bit of patio/concrete in the back of the cork factory, a little loose gravel then a tiny bump up to get there from the street. There is that concrete barrier at 23rd in front of the marina, but you can get by it with a foot down. The access there is also loose gravel from what I could tell. The most obvious and open entrance is currently from 21st street as Bike Pittsburgh posted. I have never checked beyond 24th via bike.
gimppac
2015-10-30 10:51:48
I'm not even sure where I came out. I just remember seeing a lot of fencing there was no way I was going to get past, so came out to Railroad St. Probably somewhere near 24th or 25th.
stuinmccandless
2015-10-30 11:25:47
The Jersey barrier at the end of 23rd has been removed. I rode through there Monday evening.
hubster
2015-11-11 10:57:14
