City Of Pittsburgh: South Side Signals Project

The traffic signals along the 18th Street/Brownsville Road in the City of Pittsburgh and Mount Oliver Borough were outdated, having been installed decades ago on old trolley poles. These signals had fixed timings and no pedestrian signals despite the heavy pedestrian use. Limited on-street parking often led to illegal parking, blocking crosswalks and making it even more difficult for pedestrians to cross. 

ms consultants provided preliminary and final design and construction consultation for six signals in the City’s South Side area. The project included: 

• Replacing four signals at intersections along 18th Street. 

• Replacing one signal at Brownsville Road with Bausman Street/Amanda Street/Hays Avenue. 

• Adding a new signal at the 18th Street/Josephine Street intersection. 

Key project elements included:  

• Curb Extensions – Added curb extensions at various intersections to provide more sidewalk space, reduce pavement width, and shorten pedestrian crossings, improving safety and defining parking spaces. 

• Drainage Improvements – Connected new drainage inlets to the existing stormwater system. Removed or converted unnecessary inlets to manholes. 

• Traffic Control – Developed traffic control plans to maintain vehicle and pedestrian flow through the work zone, including pedestrian detours and temporary signals. 

• Left-turn Lane Signal Upgrades – Replaced green arrow indicators with flashing yellow signals at the Brownsville Road/Bausman intersection to reduce left-turn crashes by nearly 20% and improve traffic flow. 

• Bus Loading Pad – Added a bus loading pad to streamline public transportation and ease traffic flow.  

The project required seamless collaboration with utility companies, PWSA, Mount Oliver Borough, and the Pittsburgh Regional Transit to meet deadlines. 

Public engagement was vital, with meetings held during the design phases to explain traffic detours and gain consensus, ensuring stakeholders were well-informed and reducing construction disruptions. 

The successful completion of the South Side Signals Project has significantly improved pedestrian safety, reduced traffic congestion, and increased community mobility.