Building on the East Busway; PRT Infill Station Study

Building on the East Busway; PRT Infill Station Study

Building on the East Busway; PRT Infill Station Study

PRT's Building on the East Busway (BOTEB) initiative asked a simple question: what would it take to unlock more of its potential?

EHI was contracted under HDR, Inc. to lead public engagement and outreach for BOTEB — PRT’s comprehensive effort to plan transit-oriented development and multimodal improvements along the busway corridor and study the potential for up to three new infill stations. EHI also developed the project’s visual identity, creating a cohesive logo and branding guidelines along with all materials and collateral for meetings and online engagement.

The engagement plan was built around a clear principle: center the people who depend on transit most. EHI’s tailored methods included in-person and online meetings, pop-up input events, attendance at existing community gatherings and organization meetings, static information tables and boards located at stations, mailers and survey cards, and online and mailed surveys — meeting riders where they already are rather than expecting them to come to us.

That approach powered the development of completed Station Area Plans for Wilkinsburg and Brushton. EHI hosted three series of meetings for the plans, each combining Stakeholder Advisory Committee sessions, public meetings, community pop-ups, and mobile table events. In total, the team hosted two online and three in-person meetings and seven pop-ups, gathering more than 480 comments — while keeping the project website continuously updated with next steps, informational materials, “what we heard” summaries, surveys, and interactive maps.

EHI also supported the analytical side of the study, assisting in the creation of a rubric integrating demographic, ridership, and community context data to evaluate and prioritize potential infill station sites.

EHI helped PRT plan a busway corridor designed to grow with the communities along it — and for them.

CLIENT:
Pittsburgh Regional Transit

LOCATION:
City of Pittsburgh, PA

SERVICES:
Community Engagement
• Public Engagement
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Strategic Communications
GeoAnalytics
• GIS

Visit the project website: 
https://www.rideprt.org/BOTEB

Project Photos

Dave Broniecki
Manager of Data Operations and GeoAnalytics

Dave is a NASSCO certified Mechanical Engineer. Specializing in retrieving and analyzing data from various sources to support condition assessment and capital improvement planning activities. Utilizing data to coordinate and track progress on key organizational performance indicators, he assists stakeholders in making decisions related to strategic planning. He has been integral in establishing data management programs essential for planning the future repair and management of large-scale sewer networks.  David works with clients to develop training programs and SOPs that address current maintenance needs and future Capital Improvement Planning.

Contact: dave.broniecki@eholdingsinc.com

Christine Barton, PE, PLS
Project Engineer

Christine Barton is a registered civil engineer and land surveyor with expert experience in site design, land development, water resources design for civil/site projects including layouts, utility plans, and permitting, and coordination/management of field survey work.  She has successfully held positions as project manager, project designer, and office manager to serve the needs of the clients within the residential, commercial, military, industrial, and healthcare industries. Core proficiencies include coordination with local land development planning agencies, county conservation districts, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the  Pennsylvania Department of Environment.

Contact: christine.barton@eholdingsinc.com

Irvin Williams, President

As the President and founder of E. Holdings, Irvin is currently focused on the company’s succession, strategic growth, and development. He has both a professional and personal interest in Pittsburgh’s success.  A Pittsburgh native and founder of several development companies, he has an extensive understanding of finance and business, which are vital to the success of this company. He has served in numerous management positions including financial advisor, senior vice president, project manager, general contractor, developer, and construction manager. Active in the local community, he made the decision to dedicate his expertise to rebuilding economically sustainable communities with the approval of their existing residents. In 1996, he and his wife became the first African Americans in Western Pennsylvania to develop and own a commercial office building, Williams Square. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an AAS in Mathematics.

Contact: irvin.williams@eholdingsinc.com | 412-434-6290

Amy Wiles, AICP
Manager of Planning & Design

Amy’s professional experience crosses a variety of disciplines, ranging from county and multi-municipal comprehensive plans and land use ordinances (zoning and subdivision and land development) to specialized planning studies, such as wayfinding master plans and parks, recreation, trails and greenways plans. She has been employed by E. Holdings for two years and has 20 years of professional experience.

Contact: amy.wiles@eholdingsinc.com | 724-448-0286

Alexis Meier, MPP
Senior Director of Communications, Engagement & Planning

Alexis is the Director of Communications at E. Holdings. There she has worked as the Municipal Coordinator for an in-depth municipal assessment project for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN). She oversees all of E. Holding’s public relations and public outreach efforts. She also brings experience as a Government Affairs Manager for Duane Morris Government Strategies. She worked on community development projects and developing and executing government relations strategies as well as fundraising efforts. She has also spent time navigating our political system in Washington D.C. as the Legislative Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. Her understanding of legislation and politics gives her a unique viewpoint when collaborating on civic projects. 

Contact: alexis.meier@eholdingsinc.com | 412-656-8850

Janai Williams Smith, MCP
Managing Director and EVP

Janai Smith is the Managing Director and Principal of E. Holdings, Inc. Janai is a versatile, goal-oriented Program Manager with 20+ years of experience supporting the strategic direction of large-scale programs, setting budgets and managing risks while achieving overall company goals and exceeding customer expectations. As a planner and economist, Janai has been involved in a diverse array of projects, among them master plans, urban revitalization plan, visioning studies, brownfield and infill redevelopment projects, strategic planning and infrastructure improvement programs.

Janai’s interest in urban planning, design and infrastructure programs is rooted in a passion for the creation of sustainable communities that deliver equity in planning and implementation by making connections with people and their built environment. Her affinity for complex problem-solving can be seen in the diverse array of projects in which she’s been engaged from revitalization plans for depressed urban neighborhoods to brand new communities and programs. Leading a process-oriented, multidisciplinary team, Janai’s dedication to achieving consensus in her client’s goals and stakeholders’ vision has made a significant contribution to the successful development of numerous projects. 

Contact: janai.smith@eholdingsinc.com | 412-728-5726