• December 18th, 2025
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Beginning as early as January 4, 2026, Pittsbsurgh Regional Transit will permanently "retire" the contraflow bus lane on Fifth Avenue in Oakland. The change impacts nine bus routes including the 54, 61D, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 75, 93, and P3 which currently use the contraflow bus lane on Fifth Avenue when heading outbound/eastbound through Oakland. These routes will continue to use the Fifth Avenue bus-only lane until January 4, 2026, at which point all routes will be modified to begin using the rightmost (south) lane on Forbes Avenue where they will travel with the direction of traffic and share the road with all motorists – operating in mixed traffic until a new bus-only lane is established on Forbes in Oakland as part of the ongoing PRTX University Line bus rapid transit project.

Once transitioned to Forbes Avenue, these nine routes will then serve the existing bus stops on Forbes Avenue. For example, riders will begin using stops located at Forbes & Craft, Forbes & Halket, Forbes & Meyran, Forbes & Oakland, Forbes & Bouquet, Forbes & Bigelow/Schlenley Dr, and Bellefield at Fifth Ave.

According to a recent press release from Pittsburgh Regional Transit on December 8, 2025, the change will allow contractors to build a new protected bi-directional bike lane on Fifth Avenue where the existing contraflow bus-only lane has stood for more than 45 years. The work is part of PRT's University Line bus rapid transit project which is expected to be completed in 2027. The routing changes will be incorporated into PRT's regularly scheduled service changes in February 2026.

When the University Line work is completed in 2027, riders will benefit from a modernized transit corridor with buses traveling in dedicated lanes – outbound Forbes Avenue and inbound on Fifth Avenue – which is expected to improve reliability and travel times; and the addition of a new protected bike lane on Fifth Avenue will enhance the safety of cyclists in the corridor, as well.

These changes support Phase Two of the University Line project which aims to improve connections between Downtown Pittsburgh, Uptown, and Oakland while improving reliability and enhancing the overall travel experience for riders. Additional safety and accessibility upgrades include new sidewalks and curbs, ADA-compliant ramps, traffic signals, and enhanced pedestrian safety systems. Additional information regarding routing and stop changes will be announced by Pittsburgh Regional Transit soon.

Questions can be directed to Melissa Rubin, Media Contact at Pittsburgh Regional Transit by email or calling 412-523-5834.