NEXTransit Downtown; PRT Downtown Bus Rerouting Plan

Project Overview

NEXTransit Downtown is one of the first implementation projects to come out of NEXTransit, the Long Range Transportation Plan adopted by Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in 2021. The goal is to reconfigure PRT’s downtown bus routing to accommodate upcoming changes due to the upcoming Downtown-Oakland Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, as well as generally making downtown transit routing more efficient, effective, safer, and more user-friendly.

 

Core Services Performed:

  • Public Input Collection & Management
  • Stakeholder Coordination & Engagement
  • Graphic Design
  • Strategic Communications

Client: Pittsburgh Regional Transit

Prime:  Michael Baker International

Timeline:  January 2022 – July 2023

Community Engagement

E. Holdings, Inc. (EHI) is serving as the community engagement lead, as a sub-consultant to Michael Baker International. In this capacity, EHI is facilitating monthly project steering committee meetings, managing a large stakeholder advisory group comprised of over 100 local and regional organizations, and implementing extensive public outreach to ensure that all transit riders have an equal and equitable opportunity to participate. Overall goals for engagement include:

  • Inform and educate the public
  • Make and build connections 
  • Encourage continued participation
  • Use input to shape planning efforts
  • Identify opportunities for PRT to leverage and build public acceptance 

During the first round of engagement, the project team talked to over 400 people through a combination of online public meetings, in-person pop-up events at bus stops and farmers markets, a project website featuring an interactive mapping and comment form, and a street team collecting public survey information. 

For the second round of engagement, a Downtown storefront was used to create an open house pop-up, which invited the public in for a closer look at the proposed scenarios and discuss transit values and preferences. Elements of this pop-up were replicated both in a series of virtual public meetings and on the project website, with interactive maps, surveys, and comment sections.

The final round of public engagement included a presentation of the final plan to the public via two public meetings and the project website. There were opportunities for the public to leave final comments on the plan before implementation begins.

You can learn about this project at nextransit.network/downtown

Image Gallery

Dave Broniecki
Data Engineer, Associate Project Manager

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
Director of Communications

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