Fifth Avenue outbound bus routes move to Forbes Avenue

On Jan. 4, 2026, the counterflow bus-only lane on Fifth Avenue was permanently retired after 45 years of service.

Riders can now catch the outbound bus routes — 54, 61D, 71A, 71B, 71C, 71D, 75, 93 and P3 — on Forbes Avenue. The buses will travel in the direction of general traffic and will serve stops at the corresponding intersections on Forbes Avenue. Designated bus-only lanes are projected to be completed by 2027.

The closure of the Fifth Avenue counterflow lane is part of the University Line project for Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s bus rapid transit service, also known as PRTX. According to Melissa Rubin, director of public relations at PRT, PRTX will provide more dependable and on-time service for individuals who use public transit. 

PRTX’s first corridor is the University Line, which will operate between Downtown, Uptown and Oakland. The first phase of construction began Downtown in September 2023 and was completed in July 2025. The second phase began in January 2025 in Uptown and Oakland with a projected completion date of 2027.

According to Rubin, one of the final steps of the University Line project is to install a two-directional bike lane on Fifth Avenue where the former counterflow lane is located by 2027. 

Rubin said the relocation of the outbound bus routes will have a long-term benefit on transportation reliability — even if these benefits are still in progress. By 2027, when construction is projected for completion, buses on Forbes Avenue will have a dedicated outbound and inbound lane.

“Forbes Avenue will be more congested now with more bus routes traveling in general traffic, for the time being,” Rubin said. “Giving buses a dedicated lane, where they’re not sharing the travel lane with mixed traffic, allows service to be more reliable.”

The Forbes Avenue bus-specific lanes are one of the final stages of construction for the University Line, according to Rubin. In addition to the bus-only lanes, new infrastructure will be constructed along Forbes, including expanded sidewalks and curbs, accessible ramps, traffic signals and pedestrian crosswalks.

Pittsburghers For Public Transit, a grassroots union of transit riders and workers, are cautiously optimistic about the University Line project and the changes in Oakland’s transit. According to Dan Yablonsky, the digital director of PPT, PPT agrees with the project’s priority for public transit on the streets of Pittsburgh.

“Transit prioritization, whether it’s [bus-only] lanes on the road or traffic signals that prioritize buses, are good for transit riders, the transit agency and we need more of it all throughout Allegheny County,” Yablonsky said. “There’s a lot of concerns about the University Line as a whole, but we agree with the overarching goal that it will elevate transit on our streets.”

According to Yablonsky, PPT’s concerns towards the University Line are due to transit service and reliability, not the infrastructure being built.

“Infrastructure alone doesn’t make good transit,” Yablonsky said. “It’s the service that runs on that infrastructure that is the real benefit to riders, and the real benefit to the communities that transit can bring.” 

PPT is worried about transit ridership and reliability with PRT, according to Yablonsky.

“We’re asking the agency to have clear goals around increased ridership and increased reliability before it really starts to implement a bus line redesign,” Yablonsky said.

The University of Pittsburgh is not directly involved in the University Line project according to Jared Stonesifer, a University spokesperson. However, the University is in contact with PRT to maintain safety on campus.

“Environmental Health and Safety conducts weekly campus walks to help ensure overall campus safety is being maintained by the general contractor who is responsible for the project,” Stonesifer said. “In addition, the University is in contact with PRT to discuss the feedback we hear from students, staff and faculty.”

During the week, the Fifth Avenue counterflow lane was being closed, PRT staff members were located at select bus stops along Fifth to direct riders to the new bus stops on Forbes. PRT staff members will be on Fifth Avenue again for the first week of Pitt classes.