east liberty station: realizing the potential - City of Pittsburgh

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elTRID commenced in February 2011
as the consultant team initiated review
of numerous past planning studies
covering the study area. Early work
also focused on benchmarking of
national TOD efforts drawing on the
Center for Transit Oriented
Development (CTOD), a recognized
research leader and TOD advocate
group. A major component of this
portion of the study was examination of
the CTOD station typologies which
provide guidance on TOD
opportunities in relation to station
location, function and performance.
The consultant team analyzed existing
conditions within the study area
including demographics, land use,
zoning, major recent redevelopment
initiatives, local real estate market and
physical characteristics of the built
environment.
A major goal throughout the planning
process was incorporation of the vision
of all local stakeholders, including all
aspects of the community’s asset
base. These participants in the
planning process formed the elTRID
Steering Committee where elements of
the study methodology, analysis and
strategy were reviewed. Over the
course of elTRID, three separate
committee meetings were held in
addition to other sessions with
individual parties active in community
development, transit and real estate in
the study area. In August 2011, the
consultant team held a TRID
Community Planning Session in
conjunction with DCP and ELDI.
The event sought to ensure that the
local residential and business community
were educated about the TRID
process and involved in reviewing
preliminary options for the preferred
TOD scenarios. During this meeting,
the team convened a planning
workshop to gather public input on
what kinds of public improvements
should be considered to improve
mobility in East Liberty and to
encourage TOD around the busway
stop. Working in small groups
participants and the consultant team
discuss a series of questions about the
future of the station and movement in
general in the study area.
East Liberty TOD workshop
As the planning process continued,
public comments from the session and
feedback from the Steering Committee
meetings were incorporated into the
proposed TOD scenarios and
recommended infrastructure
improvements. The recommended
TRID boundary and value capture area
phases were developed in
consideration of development potential
and necessary infrastructure. Building
upon physical site characteristics,
market analysis and community needs
assessment, the comprehensive TRID
value capture strategy was devised to
provide the blueprint for revitalizing the
study area through TOD. The final draft
report was presented to DCP and the
Steering Committee for comment in
December 2011 and subsequently
updated.