Note: 10/18/2011 - The project
start date has been pushed back to the Spring of 2013 from the Summer of 2012.
The completion date remains the same, Fall of 2013.
* Last Modified - December 2012 *
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With the exception of changes in the storefronts
and the occassional repaving of the street surface, the look of Brookline Boulevard has
remained essentially the same since 1966, when the trolley tracks that dissected the
roadway were removed. After over fifty years, things will soon be changing as the
Boulevard is scheduled for a major reconstruction project that will dramatically alter
the look of our main thoroughfare.
The date for the project's beginning has been up
in the air for several years, but the latest information indicates that the project will
begin sometime in the Spring of 2013. The multi-million dollar transformation that will
feature many modern amenities, yet preserve much of the current convenience of the heavily
traveled roadway.
Sketches of the Pioneer Avenue/Brookline Boulevard
intersection both before (left) and after reconstruction.
For the better part of a decade, the reconstruction
project sat in political limbo. Design plans were introduced back in the spring of 2000.
Funding was obtained by Representative Michael Diven in 2001. Since then, priorities shifted
one way, then the other, while the Boulevard project took a back seat.
In late-2008, the South Pittsburgh Development
Corporation, the Brookline Chamber of Commerce and the Brookline Area Community Council,
came forward in a joint effort to resurrect the project, with help from State Senator Wayne
Fontana, State Representative Chelsa Wagner, and Pat Hassett of the City of
Pittsburgh.
An open meeting was held on May 5, 2009, where the
residents and business owners of Brookline, had the opportunity to express their thoughts
on the new Brookline Boulevard design plans. Subsequent meetings with the City of
Pittsburgh, Maguire Group, and Baker Corporation got the project back on track.
Sketches of the view from Stebbins Avenue, looking
towards Flatbush, both before (left) and after reconstruction.
The project consists of improvements to a 1/2 mile
section of Brookline Boulevard from Pioneer Avenue to Starkamp Street. The proposed
improvements include the following:
- Geometric improvements to the intersection of Brookline Boulevard and Pioneer Avenue.
- New curbs and sidewalks on both the residential and business side.
- Intersection improvements including bumpouts, new curb ramps, and new traffic signals.
- Mill and overlay of existing roadway pavement.
- New signing and pavement markings.
- New street lighting, parking meters and drainage inlets.
- New landscaping and streetscape.
- Conversion of parking on Chelton Avenue from angled to parallel.
The $5 million funding is in place and will be
available by the Fall of 2011. The final plans will be submitted in the Spring of 2012.
Groundbreaking should be no later than the Spring of 2013. Construction should last one
construction season and be completed no later than the Fall of 2013.
Baker Corporation has been selected for the project.
Environmental studies have been completed. As a requirement of their contract, Baker
Engineers will assign a project coordinator who will be contacting every business owner
affected by the reconstruction, detailing their hours of operation, and coordinating issues
and problems, while maintaining accessibility to their stores during the construction
period.
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Excerpt From Councilwoman Rudiak's
October 2011 Newsletter
There have been a lot of rumors flying around
in the last month or so about the Brookline Boulevard reconstruction, so let me take
a minute to help explain what is happening with the project. First, the reconstruction
is still happening and is still slated for a Summer of 2013 finish, just as it has been
for the last few years. Second, the budget has not changed for the project and there
have been no changes to the recent plans that have been showed to the community over
the last year or so.
The start date for the reconstruction has,
however, been pushed back to early Spring of 2013 instead of mid-to-late Summer of
2012 as had previously been planned. This happened because PennDOT took an extended
period of time to issue a decision related to the planned right-of-way changes for
the Boulevard. They have since made their decision on this critical part of the
project, however the extra time that they took forced the City to push the start
date back.
But there is a silver lining to this change.
While before the reconstruction would have spread into two construction seasons Summer
of 2012 and Spring/Summer of 2013 now it will only effect one construction season
Summer of 2013 thus disrupting businesses on the boulevard for a much shorter
period of time. This should make the project a much easier burden to bear for our
great neighborhood businesses and for the community as a whole.
At this point there are only a few approvals
needed before the project gets the final OK from the state. First, the City must
approve the traffic signalization plans. Second, PennDOT will have to approve some
changes being made to the Brookline Boulevard/Pioneer Avenue intersection. Third,
and finally, the final design plan will have to get one last sign off from PennDOT.
Once these three items are approved, the reconstruction will officially
begin!
If you have any questions about this or any
other issue, please dont hesitate to contact our office at (412) 255-2131.
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December 2012 - Update from
Councilwoman Rudiak's Office
In March 2012, the final public
meeting was held regarding the design plans. And now, after over a decade
of waiting, the time has finally come for the Brookline Boulevard Reconstruction
Project!
On November 26, 2012, the Department of
Public Works issued a bid advertisement, calling for construction bids for the
project. Construction costs are now expected to total approximately $6,600,000.
Contractors are slated to break ground this coming spring.
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Photos and Information Related to the
Reconstruction Project
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