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Councilman Calls City "Filthy," seeks State Assistance, Council Reviews Plan for Zero Traffic Deaths - City Council Week of April 7

City Council

Council Seeks State Assistance in Eliminating the City’s Litter and Illegal Dumpsites.

Council members want State help to clear the City's litter and illegal dumpsites. That help could include borrowed equipment, contracts, and funding. Still, some members worried the request could distract from larger issues like the transit funding crisis. Meanwhile, a new City program that hires people leaving incarceration to pick up trash starts this weekend in Homewood.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • Councilperson Charland raised the Issue, stating, “Being as filthy as we are is a choice, and we need to stop making that choice.”
  • While supportive, Councilpersons Gross, Mosley, and Council President Lavelle expressed concern that classifying the initial request could detract from addressing larger issues, such as the transit funding crisis.
  • Requested resources could include borrowing equipment, contracts, and funding.
  • Council members acknowledged that Public Works is doing its best but is stretched thin.
  • Local cleanups often occur through various neighborhood and community organizations.
  • A new City program, in partnership with the Center for Employment Opportunities, will hire people leaving incarceration to pick up trash; it begins this weekend in Homewood.

City Council

Mayor's Vision Zero Plan Appears on Track, Still Awaiting Traffic Fatality Data.

An average of 20 people die in traffic crashes in Pittsburgh each year. In March 2024, the city joined Vision Zero, a worldwide effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries. A progress report now marks 30 of 57 tasks as completed or completed and ongoing. Still, crash data for 2024 won't be available until this summer.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • In Pittsburgh, an average of 20 people die in traffic crashes each year.
  • Block-by-block data reveals that 83% of serious injury crashes and 76% of fatal crashes occur on just 10% of the City’s roadways.
  • Pittsburgh joined Vision Zero—a worldwide movement to end all traffic fatalities and serious injuries—in March 2024.
  • During the initiative's first year, areas with traffic calming measures saw average vehicle speeds decrease by 7 mph and a 55% drop in speeding instances. Areas with replaced traffic signals experienced 33% fewer crashes.
  • 2024 crash data (fatal, serious injury, pedestrian, and bicycle) will not be available until this summer.
  • Of the 57 tasks stated in the report, 30 are marked as completed or completed and ongoing.
  • These tasks range from passing Automated Red Light Enforcement legislation and securing large project funding to relocating or adding individual street signs.
  • An additional 18 tasks are on track to be completed in 2025.

City Council

City Receives State Funds for New Lighting Along Penn Ave in East Liberty.

Penn Avenue in East Liberty is set to get 96 new LED streetlights, from the Target at Spirit Street to Negley Avenue. The city won state funds to install them. The upgrade adds to a citywide project replacing high-pressure sodium fixtures with LEDs. LED lights use less electricity and produce less light pollution.

Written by Amy Whipple

  • The City has been awarded funds from the State to install 96 new LED lights along Penn Avenue, from the Target at Spirit St. to Negley Ave.
  • This lighting upgrade will complement the LED Streetlight Modernization Project, which aims to replace high-pressure sodium fixtures across the City with LED fixtures.
  • LED lights use less electricity and produce less light pollution than high-pressure sodium lights.