PRT Eases Congestion with Red Bus-Only Lanes

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), PA, is installing red bus-only lanes along the University Line BRT route on Forbes and Fifth avenues in Oakland.

The marked lanes are designed to help buses move more reliably through one of the region’s busiest travel corridors, improving travel times and reducing delays for the thousands of riders who travel through Oakland each day. The lanes are among the most recognizable features of the University Line project, which will connect Pittsburgh’s Downtown, Uptown, and Oakland neighborhoods.

“These red bus lanes are much more than a visual change, they’re a sign that the University Line is becoming a reality,” said PRT Chief Development Officer Amy Silbermann. “Dedicated transit lanes will make bus service more reliable for thousands of riders to ensure transit can move efficiently throughout the corridor.”

Although they resemble paint, the lanes are created using an epoxy coating embedded with tiny red glass beads—the same treatment recently installed on the Downtown bus lanes along Fifth and Sixth avenues.

Permanent pavement markings, including lane striping and crosswalks, will be installed after the red bus lanes are completed. Signage will be updated to ensure both bus drivers and motorists know how to use the corridor safely. Only public transit vehicles will be permitted to use the lanes; bicycles, parking, loading, and unloading will not be permitted.