David.Black@A.CS.CMU.EDU (01/10/86)
Here's capsule updates of the two projects in this region. Buffalo: Open except for the last two stations at the outer end of the subway. Downtown stations and transit mall still under construction (temporary platforms in use). Extension to SUNY campus proposed, but I don't think there's any funding yet. Apparently quite popular; on the day after Thanksgiving, they were running 3 car trains to handle the loads. Pittsburgh: Downtown subway open except for Penn Park station (at Amtrak/East Busway station) where track and station still need to be built. Downtown subway is immensely popular; on some event weekends they've needed a dozen cars for local service between the 4 open stations. New shops at South Hills Village and connecting track finished and in service along with rebuilt track as far inbound as Castle Shannon. (This track is used by old PCC's with pantographs, which use the old Overbrook route). Aside from limited use on downtown subway locals, the new DuWag cars will not be placed into service until the remainder of the line [Castle Shannon-Mt. Lebanon-Beechview-South Hills Junction] opens this fall. Arlington/Warrington route (over Mt. Washington, bypasses transit tunnel) rechristened as route 52 Allentown and is operating. About half its trackage (Warrington Ave.) has been rebuilt, the remainder will be rebuilt and double-tracked when the city gets around to rebuilding Arlington Ave. Drake line closed for grade separation project; will reopen sometime this spring or early summer. --Dave