Steel Plaza station is a station on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit's light rail network, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[3] It serves the city's Downtown district and is located at the intersection of Grant Street and Oliver Avenue. The station consists of an outbound (southbound) side platform and an inbound island platform, with one track for trains to Wood Street and the other for a disused branch line to Union Station. The station has rights to 4.25 acres[4] underground Mellon Green and is accessible by means of a tunnel that connects BNY Mellon Center and the US Steel Tower. It is also the closest station to PPG Paints Arena and the primary station used for the Pittsburgh Penguins' home games.

Steel Plaza
Pittsburgh Light Rail station
Station platform
General information
LocationSixth Avenue and Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°26′28″N 79°59′48″W / 40.4411°N 79.9966°W / 40.4411; -79.9966
Owned byPittsburgh Regional Transit
Line(s)Downtown subway
Platforms2 side platforms, 1 island platform
Tracks4
Connectionsmost downtown bus routes
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 3, 1985[1]
Passengers
20204,674[2] (weekday boardings)
Services
Preceding station Pittsburgh Regional Transit Following station
Wood Street
toward Allegheny
Blue Line First Avenue
Red Line
Silver Line First Avenue
toward Library
Penn Station
Terminus
Shuttle
(special events only)
Terminus
Former services
Preceding station Port Authority of Allegheny County Following station
Wood Street
toward Gateway
Brown Line First Avenue
Penn Station
Rush hour service
Terminus
42 South Hills Village
via Beechview
First Avenue
Wood Street
toward Gateway
47D Drake
1984–1993
Station Square
toward Drake
Location
Map

The busiest station in the system[citation needed], in addition to being directly connected to BNY Mellon Center and the Steel Tower, it provides access to eastern and central portions of downtown. Major office buildings including the Gulf Tower, 525 William Penn Place, and the Koppers Building are also only a block away, along with the many early 20th-century skyscrapers that make up downtown's inner core. The city's Uptown (commonly known as The Bluff) neighborhood and Duquesne University is also within a short walk.

History

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The station is located in what was originally the Pittsburgh & Steubenville Extension Railroad Tunnel, which was opened in 1865.[5]

In 1984, Jane Haskell's work "Rivers of Light" was installed.

The station also features low-level platforms, which were used by modernized PCC cars from 1985 until 1993. These trolleys were used for the 47 Shannon and 47D Drake routes, and were cut off from the downtown light rail tunnels in 1993 when the original Overbrook line was closed for rehabilitation. The low-level platforms exist to this day but are gated off.

Fare collection

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There is no fare collection in the Steel Plaza Station. Passengers embarking at Steel Plaza may travel free to any of the other stations in the free fare zone–First Avenue, Wood Street, Gateway Center, North Side, and Allegheny. Outbound passengers pay fares when disembarking.

References

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  1. ^ "Pittsburgh's Graffiti Resistant Subway to Open on July 3". The Indiana Gazette. July 2, 1985. p. 25. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "System Map Fall 2020". Port Authority.
  3. ^ Official Port Authority information page
  4. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  5. ^ "Welcome".
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