03/12 2015

Schedule Change On Birmingham Bridge Project – Start Delayed to Mon 3/16

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Birmingham Bridge Preservation begins New Phase Monday Morning in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the next phase of work on the Birmingham Bridge Complex Preservation Project in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, will begin Monday morning, March 16 weather permitting. (Originally the phase change was set to begin Friday night).
Beginning at 5 a.m. Monday morning, the northbound side of the Birmingham Bridge will close to traffic to begin preservation work.  All northbound traffic will be shifted into the southbound lanes.  The new configuration will consist of one 12 foot wide northbound lane, two 11 foot wide southbound lanes and a bicycle lane.  Additionally, all pedestrians will use the southbound sidewalk.
See previous post for more project info and links
03/11 2015

Spring 2015 Love Your Block Grant Recipients Announced

Mayor William Peduto announced the 15 organizations that will receive funding for the eighth round of the Love Your Block (LYB) grant program, a servePGH initiative. Through the block revitalization program, in partnership with The Home Depot, Peoples Gas and PNC, the City awards $1,000 to purchase supplies and tools to implement a block improvement project that mobilizes community volunteers to transform blighted lots into community assets. Additionally, a special $2,000 prize will be given to the organization that carries out the most successful block transformation, according to identified criteria. Spring project implementation will take place from April 25 to June 30, 2015.
If you have an idea for a Love Your Block Grant project for our community, let us know.
Click here to read the full article describing more about the program a funded projects
SPRING 2015 GRANT RECIPIENTS
  • Bloomfield Development Corporation
  • St Paul AME Church
  • Mt Washington Community Development Corporation
  • White Lily Baptist Church
  • Hill House Association
  • Polish Hill Civic Association
  • Hazelwood Initiative
  • South Side Community Council of Pittsburgh
  • Beechview Business District Revitalization Project
  • Penn State Extension Center
  • Monticello Street Hospitality House
  • Soldiers & Sailors Museum
  • Larimer Green Team
  • Spring Hill Civic League
  • Perry Hilltop Citizens Council
03/11 2015

Pgh Celebrates 3-1-1 Day 3/11

Mayor William Peduto today celebrated March 11 as ‘3-1-1 Day’ in the City of Pittsburgh in honor of the continued success and development of the 311 Response Center.
“The success of the 311 Response Center is a city-wide effort,” said Mayor Peduto.  “I am very proud of the commitment our employees continue to demonstrate to this invaluable service.”
The 311 Response Center is a part of the Department of Innovation & Performance. Since the creation of the Department in February 2014, several upgrades and improvements have been made to the 311 process, demonstrating the Peduto administration’s continued commitment to providing services in an efficient, effective and equitable manner.
“The goals of the 311 Response Center are to provide excellent customer service and easy access to government,” said 311 Manager Wendy Urbanic. “The 311 Response Center is proud to serve the citizens, visitors, employees and commuters of the City of Pittsburgh. We are very excited about implementing changes to make those services even better.”
Click here to read the full article with more details on improvements and statistics on 3-1-1 system
03/11 2015

City Of Pgh Plans For St Patrick's Day Parade 3/14

City of Pittsburgh officials announced plans to ensure a safe, fun and clean atmosphere for tens of thousands of visitors expected in the city Saturday for St. Patrick’s Day parade festivities.
Motorists should expect delays and street closures Downtown after 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning from the parade staging area on Liberty Avenue from 11th Street east to 26th Street in the Strip District. The parade starts Downtown at 10 a.m. at Liberty Avenue and Grant Street, goes to the Boulevard of the Allies and finishes at a grandstand at Stanwix Street.
Streets should begin reopening by 1 p.m., but those attending other Downtown events — including the 1 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins game at Consol Energy Center and the Home & Garden Show starting at 10 a.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center — should plan for delays or consider taking public transit.
Uniformed and bike patrol officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will be enforcing the city’s prohibition against open containers of alcohol throughout the day.
As the parade ends the Department of Public Works will begin picking up barriers and trash and sweeping Downtown streets.
With the conclusion of the parade public safety personnel including city police and mounted Allegheny County police will shift their focus to the South Side. Police will begin clearing the South Side at 2 a.m.
At that time Public Works will also begin collecting barricades, picking up trash and street sweeping. Crews will use backpack blowers to blow sidewalk trash into the paths of street sweepers.
For more details, click here to read the full article
03/11 2015

Phipps Conseratory Receives Global Award For Center For Sustainable Landscapes

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Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens announced that it has received the 2014 Global Best Project Award in the Green Project category from Engineering News Record (ENR) for the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL). This competition was established to honor and identify project teams behind outstanding design and construction efforts across the globe, and the CSL is one of only 20 such projects worldwide, and one of only two in the U.S., to win an award.

Click here to read the full press release
Click here to see the webpage for CSL
03/07 2015

Birmingham Bridge Construction And Detours Mar 9 – Nov 11

The next phase of the Birmingham Bridge Complex Preservation Project was announced Friday by PennDOT.
Starting at 10 p.m. March 13, the northbound lanes of the bridge will be closed. All northbound traffic will be shifted into the southbound lanes. The new configuration will have two southbound lanes, one northbound lane and a bicycle lane. Pedestrians will use the southbound sidewalk.
The northbound Oakland/Forbes Avenue ramp will be closed.
CAR AND TRUCK DETOUR:
  • Northbound traffic will turn left onto Fifth Avenue
  • Turn left onto Moultrie Street
  • Turn left onto Forbes Avenue
PennDOT plans to have the configuration in place until Nov. 11. Preparatory work will begin March 9-13.
PennDOT is creating an email distribution list to keep motorists informed of all traffic advisories and construction updates. Enroll by sending email addresses to stcowan@pa.gov and writing “Subscribe – Birmingham Bridge” in the subject line. Additionally, motorists can find information at http://birmingham.otmapgh.org/
Click here to read full WTAE synopsis of the project
03/06 2015

Round The Clock Pothole Blitz Tue 3/10 – Fri 3/13

The City of Pittsburgh will conduct an around-the-clock pothole blitz next week for three straight days beginning Tuesday night.

Weather permitting, Department of Public Works crews will begin filling potholes citywide starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, and finish at 6 p.m., Friday, March 13. Crews will work during night and day shifts for 72 hours, while also attending to rubbish and riverfront cleanup from storms and flooding this week.

Residents are encouraged to submit pothole repair requests to the City of Pittsburgh 311 Response Center. The “blitz” efforts will be based on 311 submissions, as well as problem areas identified by Public Works supervisors.

Please note that to effectively dispatch repairs 311 needs as many details as possible on pothole locations, such as addresses, intersections, block numbers, or landmarks.

All calls to 311 are answered by a live operator from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday. In the City of Pittsburgh, dial 3-1-1. Outside of Pittsburgh, call 412-255-2621. Voice or text messages can be submitted by dialing or texting 412-573-9736. Online submissions can be sent at any time via Twitter to @Pgh311 or the online form on the city website: http://pittsburghpa.gov/311/form.

03/05 2015

Pot Holes And Deteriorated Roads

With the bad weather and increased salt use, more potholes and general deterioration will be developing.  Early next week the temperatures are expected to be above 40 degrees for a few days and will allow DPW to do some badly needed road patching, so if you are aware of any potholes, make sure to report them by either calling 3-1-1 or using the online form at http://pittsburghpa.gov/311/form
It is also approaching that time of year that the city will be evaluating roads that need to be repaved, so mentioning that in any report, or filing a separate report for that would be a good idea.
03/05 2015

City Still Seeking Volunteer Help For Boards, Authorities & Commissions

(March 2, 2015) Roles are still open for volunteers interested in neighborhood issues such as building codes, disruptive properties and water bills, and for preservationists who can help oversee the City’s archives.
Last month the Peduto administration announced openings for several volunteer roles in City boards, authorities and commissions. Interest has been high in the positions, but the City is still seeking more applicants for the following:
  • Building Code Board of Appeals
  • Commission on City Archives
  • Disruptive Property Appeals Board
  • Water Exoneration Hearing Board
They are among the openings on nine bodies, all of which are listed here on the City website. Links for each group describe the volunteer roles and whether city residency or professional certificates are required for the positions.
Click here to read for article and apply for positions
03/05 2015

AmeriCorps VISTA 50th Anniv & Be My Neighbor Day 3/21 & 22

For the AmeriCorps VISTA 50th Anniversary, servePGH is partnering with The United Way of Allegheny County to support the 2nd annual Be My Neighbor Day. Please join us in celebrating the incredible legacy of AmeriCorps VISTA by serving hand in hand with our community members!
 
Be My Neighbor Day was started in part to honor Fred Rogers and provide a place where kids and families can learn about acts of kindness and participate in activities that benefit our community. 
 
This event will take place on March 21 & 22nd at several YMCAs across Allegheny County. Volunteers are needed to help lead activities for kids and families at local YMCAs to promote kindness and generosity. Families also have the opportunity to meet Daniel the Tiger. 
Click here for full article, contact and signup info