Time the Lights up PLEASE!

Didn’t take the folks timing the lights at the 31st St. Bridge more than the blink of an eye to eliminate the light at the bottom of Rialto Street for all the Route 28 commuters.  But what about all the folks who now have to use Troy Hill Road as the alternate?  Yesterday at 9:30 AM I had do sit through three red lights just to make it up to the intersection at Chesnut Street.  Of course I used that idle time and called Council President Darlene Harris’ office to suggest that they re-examine the timing of the lights at the intersection.  They are looking into it.

The “additional 1o minutes” it supposedly will take me to go this new route is creeping up to almost 20 minutes….

Can’t Get There From Here

Goodbye 579. I miss you.

One of the greatest benefits of Rialto Street is the easy access to go North on Rt 28, South on Rt 28 or across the 31st St. Bridge.  Ok, so now we have to drive down Troy Hill Road to go in all three of those directions, not so bad you might say….

But closing Rialto Street denies access to the 579 Bypass.  It means that to access it, you must first drive north on 279, exit and head south on 279 to access 579.  Or you have to drive through downtown to access either the Liberty Bridge and Tunnels or 376 East.  And when traffic is snarled for morning and evening rush hour or because of flooding or some other reason, it is more vehicles snarling downtown when they could bypass all of it.

Letters to the Editor

Two comments from the Post Gazette published on Tuesday January 26, 2010:

Re: Rialto closing

Closing Rialto at times is important, and an issue that will always exist, but to do so in such a severe manner with two days’ notice is extremely shortsighted (“City to Block Off Section of Rialto Street in Troy Hill,” Jan. 21). The majority of the time in winter months the road is just fine. The city of Pittsburgh does an excellent job of maintaining it during the winter months.

The city and Councilwoman Darlene Harris should have delayed the closing for at least two weeks to examine other options for secure road closure instead of concrete barriers. Metal gates that can be securely locked would be a much better solution for closing the road when the weather makes it dangerous to use. They should have asked for community input.

It is a shame that a few people who have used poor judgment and put their lives and property at risk have made it impossible for hundreds of motorists to use this roadway on a daily basis.

JAN LONEY
Troy Hill

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Burdening most

Regarding the “temporary” closing of Rialto Street (Pig Hill) by Council President Darlene Harris because of winter conditions (“City to Block Off Section of Rialto Street in Troy Hill,” Jan. 21), I feel it necessary to comment. I’ve used this street for more than 40 years and the only danger I have encountered is driver inexperience, the four-wheel drive mentality (I can go anywhere) and the lack of common sense.

I have seen the wooden horse barriers and the snow covering the street and have used the alternate routes, as have 99 percent of the people who use this hill daily.

Children taking down the barricade as a prank happens quite frequently, and then there’s the occasional “idiot” who thinks he or she can make it and moves the barrier, but again conditions and experience are the rule for using this street. When there is no snow or ice, there is no need to close the street.

The inconvenience of the closure is a pain, for the only other accesses to get off the hill lead to the same intersection of Chestnut and East Ohio streets, which on a good day adds 10 to 15 minutes to your commute. The time and wasted fuel alone sitting in traffic because somebody who lacks “common sense” used the hill when he shouldn’t have is putting a burden on the rest of us, especially the residents of Troy Hill who use this route daily.

Another solution needs to be found — and quickly — for the more than 500 vehicles that use this hill daily.

GEORGE GAVRAN
Troy Hill
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10026/1031017-110.stm#ixzz0dhAciEoW

CLOSED FOR WINTER

Rialto Street. Closed for the winter.

As of Friday, January 22, Rialto Street, from Rt 28 at the bottom to the Ley Street intersection, has been closed with concrete barriers until the end of winter, i.e. safely sometime end of March. Why? Because a couple of weeks ago some knucklehead, ignoring a system that’s been in place for years, went around a DPW placed saw-horse barricade on an obviously wintry, icy day and ended up on his roof.

Allegedly Councilwoman Darlene Harris authorized this with the City on behalf of Troy Hill, because “we wanted it” as her office said when called. By “we” they mean an unpublicized meeting with three members of the neighborhood.

If you think this is just about adding fifteen minutes to your route, you’re wrong.

It’s about lack of respect for a process with community involvement.

It’s a short-sighted and bull-headed solution, to yes, a very real problem. (For more thoughtful problem solving check out the Don’t close Rialto Street blog.)

It’s about further isolating this neighborhood.

Besides which, the majority of the time in winter months the road is perfectly fine. The City of Pittsburgh does an excellent job of maintaining it during these months.

It may be too late this season, but without reaction it’s bound to set a precedent, not just now, but with any other decision that affects the citizens of this neighborhood without public discourse. If you’re not happy then please call the Mayor’s office at 412-255-2626 and/or Councilwoman Harris’ office at 412-255-2135.

412-255-2626

Call the Mayor’s Office and tell them to keep Rialto Street open until we can find a better solution.  Heck, we found a better solution (see below).  Now we just need to install it.  Go Public Works Go!

Precedent?

So they close Rialto Street.  Doesn’t really affect me you might say… well what if they closed Crane Avenue in Beechview?  Herron Avenue in Polish Hill?  Sycamore Street in Mt. Washington?  Closing Rialto Street sets a precedent for other streets, maybe in your neighborhood next.

Public hearing?

I would hope that there  would be some requirement of a scheduled public hearing and opportunity for the public to be heard.  How long has Rialto St been there (forever), and has it ever been been closed permanently before?

There should not be a rush to judgment in the decision to close this street.  I would think that the affected residents should have an opportunity to be heard on this issue.

Call the Mayor’s Office (412)255-2626

A Better Solution

These gates can be securely locked when needed in poor weather

A short-sighted solution

Closing Rialto Street is at times is important, and an issue that will always exist, but to do so in such a severe manner with two days notice is extremely short-sighted. The majority of the time in winter months the road is just fine.  The City of Pittsburgh does an excellent job of maintaining it during the winter months.  I would demand that the City of Pittsburgh and Councilwoman Darlene Harris delay the closing for at least two weeks in order to examine other options for secure road closure instead of concrete barriers.  Metal gates that can be securely locked would be a much better solution for closing the road when the weather makes it dangerous to use.  It is a shame that a few people who have used poor judgement and put their lives and property at risk have made it impossible for hundreds of motorists to use this roadway on a daily basis.

Post Gazette Article

The city of Pittsburgh will close the section of Rialto Street in Troy Hill that intersects with Route 28, starting Friday and running through a March date that will be dependent on the weather.

Council President Darlene Harris said yesterday the steep street is hazardous during the winter, and previous attempts to temporarily shut it during snowy periods using wooden barriers weren’t effective. The city will use concrete barriers to block both ends of the southernmost block of Rialto Friday.

“It’s very unfortunate, but we just can’t take a chance” on someone moving wooden barriers and sliding into an accident, said Ms. Harris.