Presenter
Presented by Mr. O'Connor
Title
Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Engineering and Construction in conjunction with City Planning to undertake a comprehensive traffic study of Regent Square, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park, Greenfield, Hazelwood, Hays and Oakland in order to document the issues presented by vehicular traffic on the Parkway East (Interstate 276).
Body
WHEREAS, within the Southeastern sector of the city has had a long standing traffic management problem which adversely effects the quality of life in city residential neighborhoods and business districts; and,
WHEREAS, with the development of the Waterfront, a large retail, commercial and residential development in Homestead, traffic impacts have worsened the traffic conditions in the Beechwood Boulevard/Brownshill corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Parkway East (Interstate 276) has significant traffic volumes causing backups (averaging six miles) at the Squirrel Hill tunnel during the morning rush hour. Conversely, in the evening rush hour traffic is lined up to the downtown. Due to the inability of the Parkway East to handle traffic volumes, commuter traffic is increasingly opting to use city streets to by-pass the congestion at the tunnels. As a result of this commuter traffic in the city's neighborhoods of Regent Square, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park, Greenfield, and Hazelwood, Hays and Oakland, as well as Schenley Park, there has been a continuous and ever increasing denigration in the quality of life in these areas and increased risk of injury to both pedestrians and vehicle operators; and,
WHEREAS, these impacts effect safety of city residents due to commuter overflow into neighborhood streets, public health due to poor air quality, ability to maintain business district viability and availability of parking in residential and business districts. To date, there has been no overall strategy on the part of the city, county and the sta...
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