The closure of the Washington Place ramp to Interstate 579-Crosstown Boulevard has caused some traffic snarls and questions by drivers as to why PennDOT doesn't open the Bedford Avenue on-ramp to the Parkway North HOV to all drivers, waiving the two-passenger rule.

Spokesman Jim Struzzi explains: "Anytime we open the HOV to unrestricted traffic all we find is that it transfers the problem to the HOV." The HOV on-ramp and its exits get congested and that defeats the purpose of the HOV, which is to provide a faster trip to car poolers. Also, construction has squeezed a portion of the HOV to one lane, which means even worse congestion if PennDOT throws it open to all comers.

Of course, we know that lots of people cheat and use the HOV without a second passenger, as described in this Post-Gazette story. And every now and then, state police set up shop to nab HOV cheaters.

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Here are some pretty stunning numbers and a striking image from the Pittsburgh Urban Blog of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Social and Urban Research regarding the September service cuts looming for the Port Authority. The center has estimated that 227,000 Allegheny County residents will lose "reasonable access" to transit -- which it defines as being within 2,000 feet of a transit line -- and nearly 89,000 jobs will no longer have "reasonable access."

Here is a map showing the incredible shrinking transit system.

If you drive on the parkways or Route 28 with any regularity, especially during peak times, think of what the addition of extra vehicles will do to an already barely tolerable situation. It's been said before: If the cuts go through, the impact will be felt by riders and nonriders alike.

UPDATE: As of 10:15 a.m. today, the Parkway West was still backed over the top of Green Tree Hill. Think all the pink in the western and southern suburbs is going to make that any better?

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The weather forecast for the weekend is beautiful and you won't want to spend it sitting in traffic, will you? PennDOT is planning major restrictions in and around Downtown.

The westbound side of the Parkway East will be closed from Grant Street to the Fort Pitt Bridge approach from 10 p.m. Friday to about 5 a.m. Monday. Traffic will be herded into a single lane and pushed off the highway at Grant Street, using Fort Pitt Boulevard to detour toward the Stanwix Street on-ramp or the ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge. These ramps also will close during the same time period: the Grant Street on-ramp to the westbound Parkway East; the eastbound Parkway East off-ramp to Grant Street; the Boulevard of the Allies on-ramp to the westbound Parkway East in Uptown; the ramp from the Smithfield Street Bridge to Grant Street: the ramp from Fort Duquesne Boulevard and the 10th Street Bypass to the Fort Pitt Bridge; the ramp from Fort Duquesne Boulevard and the 10th Street Bypass to Commonwealth Place.

The work is part of a season-long $8.7 million project to improve about 26 ramps and road segments connecting Downtown to interstate highways.

And more stuff Downtown: Traffic will be reduced to one lane shifted around a work area on the ramp from the inbound Veterans Bridge to Sixth and Seventh avenues from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Southbound traffic on Interstate 79 in Washington County will be detoured at the Laboratory exit from 8 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday as work continues on the new Route 40 overpass. Traffic will use the off- and on-ramps to get around the construction.

Inspection of the bridge that carries Mount Royal Boulevard over railroad tracks between Duncan and Toner avenues in Hampton will cause alternating one-way traffic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

PennDOT has postponed plans to close the bridge that carries Route 51 aka Coraopolis Road over Montour Run between Lewis Avenue and Ewing Street in Moon and Robinson this weekend.

Coming Monday: A $1.9 million project begins on Route 885-Clairton Road in West Mifflin. It will reduce traffic to one lane in both directions from Community College Drive to Lebanon Church Road starting at 7 a.m. and continuing through November. A contractor will resurface the road and do drainage, sign and signal improvements on 1.2 miles of the road.

Also this weekend, traffic on the ramp from the inbound Veterans Bridge to Sixth and Seventh avenues in Downtown Pittsburgh will be restricted to one lane, shifted around a work zone, from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday during expansion dam replacement.

The Port Authority has announced detours on the Light Rail Transit system on Saturday.

On the Blue Line, from the start of service until 1 p.m., Library stops south of Washington Junction will be served by shuttle buses during bridge inspections. The stops will be close to rail stations, and buses will take riders to and from Washington Junction, where they may transfer to Blue Line service originating from South Hills Village.

Riders transferring to the inbound T at Washington Junction during this time must board from the outbound platform for service to Downtown because of power wire replacement happening nearby.

Part of the Red Line in Beechview will be closed for rail replacement from approximately 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the work, service to Red Line stops will be provided by a combination of detoured Red Line service, bus shuttles and local rail shuttles.

Red Line service will detour in both directions over the Overbrook line (where Blue Line T service operates), serving its normal stops Downtown, at Station Square and at South Hills Junction, then serving Boggs through Willow stations before continuing on its regular routing to South Hills Village. At Willow, riders can transfer to a local light rail shuttle that will operate in both directions between Overbrook Junction and Potomac.

Bus shuttles will offer inbound and outbound service to riders who use Red Line stops between Station Square and Potomac, with shuttle stops located close to T stops. At Station Square, riders may transfer to buses or the T to continue into Downtown. At Potomac, riders may transfer to the local light rail shuttle for service to stops between Kelton and Overbrook Junction.

***

Quote of the day, from U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., talking about passing a long-term transportation funding bill:

"Given what's available for funding, I don't know that we could go much longer than a year and a half. ...We hope that the next election brings sane people who believe in investing in America, putting people back to work and competing with the rest of the world. If we elect more flat-earthers, we're screwed."

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PennDOT has just released some new information about closures in the Downtown ramps project, starting tonight:

The westbound Parkway East off-ramp to Stanwix Street will close from 10 p.m. today (Wednesday) to 5 a.m. Thursday. The on-ramp from Grant Street to the westbound parkway will close from 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.

The end is in sight for the eternal Thompson Run Road bridge project in Ross. Starting today through May 24, there will be alternating one-way traffic on Thompson Run from McIntyre Road to just south of Amity Road, with police directing traffic, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The project is now scheduled for completion by the end of the month.

PennDOT has closed the ramp from southbound Beaver Avenue to southbound California Avenue through June 30 as part of the Marshall Avenue interchange project.

Route 28 inbound will have single-lane traffic from the Millvale interchange to the area of the former Millvale Industrial Park south of the 40th Street Bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (Wednesday) and Thursday. In addition, traffic may be stopped up to 15 minutes at a time on the northbound side at the same location from 8 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) to 5 a.m. Thursday.

PennDOT also advises that installation of pavement markings will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through May 21 at these locations:

Route 65 between the McKees Rocks and Sewickley bridges; Washington Boulevard from Frankstown Avenue to Negley Run Boulevard; Route 22 from the Washington County line to Interstate 376 in Findlay and North Fayette; the Parkway East from Business Route 22 to the Westmoreland County line; and Route 837 from the Washington County line to Route 51. This work could cause slow-moving lane restrictions.

Inspection of the bridge carrying Bakerstown Road over railroad tracks between Valencia Road and Grubbs Road in Richland may cause alternating one-way traffic today until 3 p.m.

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U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., one of the more reasoned voices in an increasingly dysfunctional Congress, makes the case that not only is America's transportation infrastructure crumbling due to inadequate spending, the nation is squandering an opportunity to revive its economy with job-generating construction projects.

Writing at Politico.com, Mr. DeFazio states:

Today, we are in a race to the bottom, spending a lower percentage of our gross domestic product on crumbling 1950s era infrastructure than many Third World countries, while our economic competitors are investing in state-of-the-art transportation systems.

You can read the entire article here.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, normally restrained when it comes to taxation, also supports increased investment. Janet Kavinoky, executive director of transportation and infrastructure, also at Politico.com:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is leading the charge to modernize and expand the nation’s transportation network because we believe that failing to properly invest in our infrastructure puts our potential for job growth and global competitiveness at risk. The longer we delay in addressing these issues, the more rapidly our transportation and infrastructure system deteriorates.

The full piece is here.

Congress has been unable to pass a long-term transportation funding authorization bill since the previous one expired in 2009.

Sticking with the theme that we're evidently too broke, too cheap or too greedy to spend on vital transportation projects, the Post-Gazette's Len Boselovic reports that funding for repairs to aging locks and dams on the Allegheny River is almost gone. A lock failure could hobble industry, put more heavy trucks on already congested roads and drive up electricity rates. Read it here.

USA Today reports that wireless phone providers and the federal government will launch a text-based warning system for severe weather and other emergencies this month. If you are in harm's way, the system would deliver a text warning you. The service is free and consumers won't have to enroll. It will deliver weather warnings but not less-serious watches or advisories. Read more here. (Photo: tornado-facts.com)

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You thought dodging the weekend construction was fun? There's more in store.

Resurfacing of the deck on the northbound Veterans Bridge and work on two ramps will cause some major headaches starting on Tuesday, weather permitting. At 6 a.m., the northbound side will be reduced to two 11-foot lanes. It will be further pinched to one lane between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. daily thru May 31. The northbound bridge ramp to Route 28 will be closed from 6 a.m. Tuesday through May 31. Traffic will be detoured to the Parkway North's Hazlett Street off-ramp, East Street and East Ohio Street to access Route 28. Police will direct traffic during peak times.

There's more.

The ramp from Washington Place to northbound Interstate 579-Crosstown Boulevard will be closed from 6 a.m. Tuesday through May 31. Police will assist with traffic control during peak periods. PennDOT is suggesting that drivers find alternate routes. The detour from Washington Place turns right on Bedford Avenue; right on Crawford Avenue just past the old Civic Arena site; right on Centre Avenue; cross over I-579 (wistfully); right on Sixth Avenue; right on Grant Street; right on Liberty Avenue; left on 16th Street and cross bridge; continue on Chestnut Street; left on East Ohio Street (or right to enter Route 28); right on Madison Avenue to ramp for Parkway North.

In addition, short-term lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday on the Bedford Avenue Bridge over I-579. Crews will be unloading materials from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.

And more.

A long-term lane shift will occur Monday on the ramp from southbound I-579 to the Liberty Bridge. One 11-foot lane will be open at all times. This is all part of the $17 million second phase of the Veterans Bridge-Crosstown Boulevard rehabilitation project, which continues to fall 2013.

Late Monday, PennDOT, whose network has been down today, announced that work on the westbound lanes of the Parkway East in Downtown Pittsburgh will continue this week. The highway will be restricted to one westbound lane between Grant Street and the Fort Pitt Bridge approach at 10 p.m. daily through Friday, with work ending by 5 a.m.

The final phase of the rehabilitation of the short-term parking garage at Pittsburgh International Airport will begin on Monday, the Allegheny County Airport Authority announced. The garage will remain open but some spaces will be unavailable. Estimated completion in July 2013.

Bridge inspections will occur on several overpasses on the Parkway North near Tripoli Street and North Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, which will cause short-term lane closures in both directions.

The exit ramps from Interstate 70 at Claysville will be paved Tuesday, weather permitting, and that will bring short-term closures from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with motorists directed to continue to the next exit and turn around.

Castle Shannon is hanging additional "Shannon's Heroes" banners to honor its hometown men and women who have served in the military. The work may cause restrictions on Route 88 between Sixth Street and Connor Road this week.

Lane closures are possible on Old Frankstown Road between Center Road and Lindsey Lane in Monroeville from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Friday.

On the 40th Street Bridge, traffic may be restricted to a single lane in both directions at the approach to Route 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Saturday. All ramps and turns are open. Pedestrians must use the south sidewalk; the north side is closed. Crews are working on sidewalks and barriers.

Brief stoppages are possible on outbound Route 28 in Millvale from 8 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting, for barrier installation.

Inspection of the ramp from the inbound Parkway North to Route 65 may cause lane closures and traffic shifts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Cleaning of the Fort Pitt Tunnels will cause nightly restrictions this week. The work starts at 10 p.m. and wraps by 5 a.m. It will close a lane in the inbound tunnel Monday and Tuesday nights and on the outbound side Wednesday and Thursday.

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