Pittsburgh Bridges

PITTSBURGH BRIDGE PROJECTS

The Pittsburgh skyline rises in the distance as an eastbound Norfolk Southern train passes through the Liberty Avenue Amtrak station on the Pittsburgh Line. Height restrictions through the North Side prevent NS from operating double-stack intermodal trains and auto multilevel rail cars over the line.

Pittsburgh Clearance Projects Map

The Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance projects consist of modifications to bridges and tracks to enable double-stack intermodal trains to pass through the city’s North Side on Norfolk Southern mainline tracks.

 

Following are locations for the five individual projects that require increased clearance. NS is studying options to elevate bridges, lower tracks, or a combination of both. The PT and PC numbers are railroad milepost markers to identify locations along NS’ Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne lines. (See locator map.)

 

PT-344.91 Washington Avenue overhead vehicular bridge.

PT-353.20 Amtrak Station concourse.

PC-1.60 North Avenue/Brighton Road overhead vehicular bridge.

PC-1.82 Pennsylvania Avenue overhead vehicular bridge.

PC-2.17 Columbus Avenue overhead vehicular bridge.

Pittsburgh Clearance Project Maps

Learn more about our Pittsburgh community projects

Norfolk Southern’s 22-state rail network is an important part of the nation’s freight transportation system. The ability to move freight safely, efficiently, and reliably by rail is essential to businesses and households and is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy.

 

Nowhere is this more critical than in Pennsylvania. Norfolk Southern’s operations in the Commonwealth are a core part of the company’s rail system and the movement of freight between the Midwest and the East Coast.

 

To enhance the efficiency of freight rail movement through Pennsylvania, Norfolk Southern has proposed the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance projects. As part of a public-private partnership with Pennsylvania and PennDOT, Norfolk Southern has developed a series of projects designed to increase the height clearance for trains moving through Pittsburgh and southwest Pennsylvania. 

The proposed Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance projects will enable Norfolk Southern to move freight and people more efficiently through Pittsburgh and southwest Pennsylvania and connect industries and businesses to consumer markets on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The projects support jobs, economic growth, and national goals relating to greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency. They will improve both rail and roadway networks in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects Purpose and Need Statement

On June 26, 2018, Norfolk Southern held a combined open house for the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects to introduce the public to the projects. An estimated 300 to 400 people attended, including North Side residents and local government leaders. NS received more than 90 written comments at the meeting, with additional comments received later by email or postal mail.


For information about the open house, including public notices, project boards displayed, and public comments received, view the Open House Summary.

A second public open house was held for the project on January 18, 2023, to present the preferred alternatives for the vertical clearance projects and to accept comments from the public. Approximately 50 people attended the open house and 24 comments were received at the meeting and via the online comment form posted on this website.


For information about the open house, including public notices, project boards displayed, and public comments received, view the Open House Summary.

PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS

The following DRAFT document has been prepared in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 120.
 

Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects Alternatives Analysis

People who attended the public open house had plenty of questions about the projects. They ranged from concerns about air quality and noise to why Pennsylvania tax dollars would be used to help fund the projects.
 

Read Norfolk Southern’s answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects.

Norfolk Southern operates more than 2,400 route miles of track in Pennsylvania, while more than 4,600 employees live and work in the Commonwealth. NS operates four intermodal terminals across Pennsylvania and serves three additional private intermodal terminals, including one in Pittsburgh. NS’ Harrisburg Intermodal Facility anchors the east end of the Pittsburgh Line, serving as a major transportation hub for shippers moving freight between Chicago and the mid-Atlantic region.
 

View a Fact Sheet to learn more about NS’ presence in Pennsylvania, including the railroad’s positive economic impact and the categories of freight NS moves in and out of the Commonwealth.

The Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance projects would create an efficient, reliable route for Norfolk Southern to operate double-stack intermodal trains and auto multilevel rail cars through the city’s North Side. A growing number of businesses are shipping goods on intermodal trains, and double-stack trains are the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to transport them.
 

Learn more about the benefits of rail intermodal at the Association of American Railroads’ webpage, Freight Rail & Intermodal.

CULTURAL RESOURCES STUDIES AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES FOR THE PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS

Cultural resources studies and reports of findings are required by the State History Code (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act No. 1978-273 (as amended as Act No. 1988-72), as codified at Title 37 of the Pennsylvania Code, 37 Pa.C.S. § 101 et seq.) for projects using state funding.  To a large extent, State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) follows the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process in the review of state actions.


Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer (PA SHPO) PROJECT REVIEW FORM, DETERMINATION OF AREA OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS, AND IDENTIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY RECORDED HISTORIC RESOURCES FOR THE PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS

The purpose of this document is to define the project’s area of potential effect (APE) and identify historic properties located in that APE for submittal to the PA SHPO and PennDOT to satisfy consultation provisions as part of review considerations under Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act 120 of P.L. 356 (Act 120) amended Section 2002.  The document is submitted for the purpose of consultation and compliance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act No. 1978-273 (as amended as Act No. 1988-72), as codified at Title 37 of the Pennsylvania Code, 37 Pa.C.S. § 101 et seq. (“State History Code”), as applicable.  The report satisfies the PA SHPO Project Review Form and Request to Initiate Consultation on State and Federal Undertakings and requirements of the History Code for establishing project APEs and for the preliminary identification historic-age (50-years of age or older) resources.  This includes provisions addressing archaeological field investigations on archaeological resources.

 

View the report : PA SHPO Project Review Form


IDENTIFICATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES REPORT FOR THE PITTSBURGH  VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS 

The purpose of the Identification of Historic Properties Reports are to present to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer (PA SHPO) the results of the historic resources survey and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility assessment that was conducted to identify historic properties within each project’s area of potential effects (APE). This report has been prepared in accordance with the Pennsylvania State History Code. 

 

View the report: PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE IDENTIFICATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES REPORT


HISTORIC BRIDGE REHABILITATION ANALYSIS REPORT FOR W. NORTH AVENUE BRIDGE, ONE OF THE PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS

The W. North Avenue Bridge is a contributing element of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible Pennsylvania Railroad: Main Line (Pittsburgh to Ohio State Line) railroad corridor historic district (Key No. 112372).  The preparation of this Historic Bridge Rehabilitation Analysis (HBRA) is pursuant to PennDOT Publication 689 – Cultural Resources Handbook (March 2013), PennDOT Design Manual Part 1A Transportation Design Manual, and the intent of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to seek ways to avoid or minimize adverse effects on the railroad corridor historic district.  This report examines whether the W. North Avenue Bridge could be made “adequate” through rehabilitation relative to addressing the project’s purpose and needs while meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s (SOI’s) Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

 

View the report: W. NORTH HISTORIC BRIDGE REHABILITATION ANALYSIS


DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS REPORT FOR THE PITTSBURGH VERTICAL CLEARANCE PROJECTS

This report assesses the potential effects of the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects upon historic properties identified within the areas of potential effects (APEs) of the five proposed undertakings.  A total of ten historic properties were identified within the APEs of the five undertakings.  The application of the Definition of Effect and Criteria of Adverse Effect indicates that the proposed project will result in a FINDING OF ADVERSE EFFECT.  The proposed undertaking will result in an adverse effect on the Pennsylvania Railroad: Main Line (Pittsburgh to Ohio State Line) Railroad Corridor Historic District because of the proposed demolition and replacement of the W. North Avenue Bridge, a contributing element of the historic district.  Coordination with the PA SHPO and consulting parties has occurred throughout the course of the project.  Measures to mitigate the adverse effects of this project will be identified in continued consultation with the PA SHPO and the consulting parties.  The agreed-upon mitigation measures will be included in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between PennDOT, PA SHPO, and Norfolk Southern.

 

View the report:  DETERMINATION OF EFFECTS REPORT

Consulting Parties List and Contact Information – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects
 

 

Area of Potential Effects (APE)/Project Review Form

The Project Review Form was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) on May 29, 2018.  The review period extended to June 29, 2018.  The PA SHPO commented on June 5, 2018.
 

 

 

Consulting Parties Meeting #1 – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects

The first consulting parties meeting for the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects was held on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.  Documents related to the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects Consulting Parties Meeting #1 include:
 

 

 

Identification of Historic Properties Report – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects

The Identification of Historic Properties Report was submitted to consulting parties on October 9, 2019.  The 30-day review period extended to December 11, 2019.  The PA SHPO commented on November 8, 2019.
 

·  Identification of Historic Properties Report: SHPO Letter 20191108

 

 

Historic Bridge Rehabilitation Bridge (HBRA) Report—W. North Avenue Bridge

The draft HBRA Report was submitted to consulting parties on November 13, 2019.  Comments on the draft HBRA were accepted until December 11, 2019.  The PA SHPO commented on the draft HBRA Report on December 10, 2019.  The final HBRA Report was submitted to consulting parties on March 10, 2020.  The final review period extended to April 20, 2020.  The PA SHPO commented on the final HBRA Report on April 9, 2020.
 

 

Determination of Effects Report – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects

The Determination of Effects Report was submitted to consulting parties on December 1, 2022. The 30-day review period was extended to January 14, 2023. The PA SHPO commented on December 13, 2022.
 

 

 

Consulting Parties Meeting #2 – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects

The second consulting parties meeting for the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects was held on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Documents related to the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects Consulting Parties Meeting #2 include:
 

 


Consulting Parties Meeting #3 – Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects

The third consulting parties meeting for the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects was held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Documents related to the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects Consulting Parties Meeting #3 include: