Penn Avenue, a five-mile corridor, is an important local street that celebrates many unique neighborhoods and has been a catalyst for development. It provides multi-modal infrastructure, enhances neighborhood character, and emphasizes pedestrian safety. Within the downtown cultural district, Penn Avenue is lined with retail shops, restaurants, pocket parks, parking, and public art initiatives. Downtown is experiencing a development boom and is a vibrant area for walking, biking, and transit. Entering the Strip District, Penn Avenue transforms into a bustling marketplace and pedestrian way. It is often used for events, including Pittsburgh’s first annual Open Streets festival that attracted 15,500 people to walk, bike, dance, glide and play. Beyond the Strip, Penn Avenue bifurcates into several East End business districts. Phase 1 of a pedestrian improvement project resulted in significant safety amenities that incorporated stormwater management into the redesign. Public art, in the form of glow-in-the-dark seating, was also added. Lastly, Penn Avenue continues into East Liberty where it fronts the newly renovated East Liberty Transit Center and associated mixed-use development. Walking, bicycling, and transit usage, as well as pedestrian safety, public art and stormwater management are promoted throughout the corridor, yet, each segment is unique and livable for different reasons.

Strip District Transportation and Land Use Video