{"url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-29/pittsburgh-regional-transit-wabash-tunnel-closure","markdown_url":"https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-29/pittsburgh-regional-transit-wabash-tunnel-closure.md","title":"Pittsburgh Regional Transit to Close Wabash Tunnel Dec. 1","headline":"Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board Approves Permanent Wabash Tunnel Closure on Dec. 1","description":"Pittsburgh Regional Transit will permanently close the Wabash Tunnel on Dec. 1, citing $43 million in needed rehabilitation and retaining $848,238 in federal funds.","section":"Divestitures","published_at":"2026-10-29T12:51:48+00:00","modified_at":"2026-10-29T12:51:48+00:00","author":"News Desk","key_takeaways":["Pittsburgh Regional Transit's board approved permanently closing the Wabash Tunnel to traffic on Dec. 1.","Keeping the tunnel open would require an estimated $43 million in rehabilitation, according to PRT.","The Federal Transit Administration concurred with the closure and allowed PRT to retain $848,238 in remaining federal funding value."],"companies":[{"name":"Pittsburgh Regional Transit","is_primary":true,"profile_url":"https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007w1m/pittsburgh-regional-transit","website":"https://rideprt.org"}],"source":{"publisher":"Yahoo","title":"Pittsburgh's Wabash Tunnel will permanently close Dec. 1","url":"https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/pittsburghs-wabash-tunnel-permanently-close-123851326.html"},"other_sources":[],"tags":["Divestitures","Pittsburgh Regional Transit"],"body_markdown":"Pittsburgh Regional Transit will permanently close the Wabash Tunnel to traffic on Dec. 1 after its board voted to approve the closure, [Yahoo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/pittsburghs-wabash-tunnel-permanently-close-123851326.html) reported. Keeping the tunnel open would require an estimated $43 million in rehabilitation. The tunnel now primarily carries private vehicles rather than public transit.\n\n## Pittsburgh Regional Transit's Wabash Tunnel Decision\n\n[Pittsburgh Regional Transit](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007w1m/pittsburgh-regional-transit) is the public transit authority for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, operating bus, light rail and incline services. The tunnel, built in 1903 as part of the Wabash-Pittsburg Terminal Railroad, was acquired by PRT, then the Port Authority of Allegheny County, in 1996 and converted into a paved roadway facility using federal transit funding.\n\nAbout 1,500 vehicles use the tunnel each day, and PRT no longer provides scheduled transit service through it. The overall tunnel structure remains in fair condition, but its lighting, ventilation and electrical systems are in poor to critical condition and have exceeded their useful life.\n\n\"The Wabash Tunnel has a long history in Pittsburgh, but today it primarily serves private vehicle traffic rather than public transit,\" PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said. \"With an estimated $43 million needed to rehabilitate the tunnel, we have a responsibility to focus our limited resources on the infrastructure that is most critical to delivering safe, reliable transit service.\"\n\nThe closure will not affect the Wabash Park and Ride, which will remain open and continue serving customers. PRT has continued to use the tunnel as a detour when regular bus service is disrupted by roadwork or special events.\n\n## Federal Funding and Tunnel History\n\nThe Federal Transit Administration earlier this year concurred with closing the tunnel and allowing PRT to retain $848,238 in remaining federal funding value associated with it. The amount represents the portion of the tunnel's original federally funded value that remains after depreciation. PRT plans to apply that money toward a future eligible federally funded capital project.\n\nThe tunnel reopened in 2004 as a High Occupancy Vehicle facility and opened to all traffic in 2017.\n\n## Pittsburgh Regional Transit's Recent Board Actions\n\nAccording to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Pittsburgh Regional Transit's board adopted an FY2027 operating budget of $595.7 million and a capital budget of $211.6 million in May 2026, preserving current fares and service levels while advancing the University Line BRT project. The same records show the operating budget was balanced using $44.8 million in capital funding and $15.4 million in operating reserves.\n\n## Earlier Pittsburgh Regional Transit News\n\nOn October 23, 2026, Pittsburgh Regional Transit's board approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85, representing about 2,100 employees, Yahoo reported. The contract includes a 15% total wage increase over four years, modified health insurance and work rule changes.\n\nOn October 24, 2026, Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced paving work in Oakland and Uptown beginning October 26, closing Kirkpatrick Street Monday and Tuesday and intermittently during the week, Yahoo reported.\n","publisher":{"name":"News for Agent","url":"https://newsforagent.com"}}