Enhancing Architectural Design: Integrating Negley Station into Pittsburgh’s Urban Fabric

The Negley Station enhancement project is a prime example of one trend our experts are seeing in transit development. As cities invest in quality transit infra­struc­ture, many are finding that upgrading stations improves access quickly and more cost-effectively compared to other transit improve­ments. Negley Station’s archi­tec­tural improve­ments encourage a safe and accessible interface between pedestrians, bikes, buses and cars with connections to each mode of trans­porta­tion surrounding a central plaza.

The improved Negley Station features:

• Station acces­si­bil­ity through accessible pedestrian connections, bike parking, bike share and designated passenger pickup and drop off spots
• Improved user experience with welcoming station amenities, public gathering benches with canopy cover, and green infra­struc­ture
• Safety improve­ments via LED lighting to improve visibility and widened crosswalks with physical barriers

Enhanced pedestrian paths, lighting, and landscaping improve station area aesthetics and visibility, not only increasing safety but also the sociability of the public space. Travelers frequenting the public plaza can now enjoy canopy-covered seating at a comfortable space that can bring people together. This pedestrian-focused place enhances connections with the community, contribut­ing to PRT’s goals of increased ridership while encouraging more equitable transit-oriented development.

Our design team has seen this enhanced station trend in a few places recently: IndyGo, the first all-electric BRT in the U.S., and PSTA’s SunRunner, the region’s first BRT corridor. These transit corridor and station improvement projects are not only about connecting the transit line, but enhancing connec­tiv­ity as a whole: integrating the stations into their community’s urban fabric, promoting universal acces­si­bil­ity to enhance ADA standards, and boosting the sociability of pedestrian spaces. Our design team’s efforts supported PRT's vision to unite the community it serves with modern infra­struc­ture. While the overarching objective of the station improve­ments was to ensure compliance with building standards, the greater achievement was to create an additional space for community engagement and sociability.