Library station (Pittsburgh Regional Transit)

Library station is a station on Pittsburgh Regional Transit's light rail network, located in the Library neighborhood of South Park, Pennsylvania.[2] It is the southern terminus of the Silver Line (formerly the Library branch of the Blue Line). A 430 space park and ride lot is located on the premises, drawing travelers from both South Park and Pittsburgh's suburbs in Washington County, located just to the south. The station is named for the Library neighborhood in which it resides; despite the name, no lending library is near the station.

Library
Pittsburgh Light Rail station
General information
LocationBrownsville Road and Pleasant Street
South Park, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°17′14″N 80°01′15″W / 40.2871°N 80.0208°W / 40.2871; -80.0208
Owned byPittsburgh Regional Transit
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus transport MMVTA: A
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking430 spaces
AccessibleYes
History
Opened1953
Rebuilt2004
Passengers
2018527[1] (weekday boardings)
Services
Preceding station Pittsburgh Regional Transit Following station
West Library
toward Allegheny
Silver Line Terminus
Former services
Preceding station Port Authority of Allegheny County Following station
Pleasant
toward Gateway
47L Library
via Overbrook
Terminus
Location
Map

History

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The Pittsburgh Railways interurban line from Charleroi to Pittsburgh was opened through South Park on September 12, 1903, with passengers changing at Castle Shannon to continue their journey to Downtown via the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad.[3] At this time, the Simmons stop was established to serve Library. In 1953, the interurban line was abandoned and cut back to Library, with a turnaround loop built at Simmons for the single-ended PCC's that operated on the line. In the late 1980s, new light rail vehicles began to use the line. These new cars had larger, articulated bodies, and were thus unable to negotiate the loop. Moreover, these cars were double-ended, eliminating the need for such turn-around facilities. In 2004, the loop was removed and a new, larger station was built to better accommodate the light rail cars.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "System Map Winter 2018". Port Authority.
  2. ^ Official Port Authority information page
  3. ^ John Baxter (July 1952). Electric Railroads, Number Twenty. Lackawanna Terminal, Hoboken, New Jersey: Electric Railroaders Association, Inc. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  4. ^ Roger T. DuPuis II (18 February 2002). "Pittsburgh Railways Online - PCC and Light Rail History: 1936-1999". Retrieved 12 August 2009.
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