On occasion, when unscheduled disruptions to light rail service in the Downtown & North Side area occur, buses are acquired to replace a portion or all of the light rail service during the interruption until service is restored.
This routing encompasses all stations from First Avenue to Allegheny Station only. For routing breakdowns when a certain number of intermediate stations only are affected, or when the bus substitution must continue to Station Square or the South Hills, other routings will be utilized or adjusted by Pittsburgh Regional Transit staff at the scene.
Buses while in substitution service in the Central Business District (CBD) only are to use the Head Sign reading "Rail Shuttle" to avoid confusion as buses will terminate at First Avenue or Steel Plaza Station dependent upon the type of closure. For bus substitution service beyond Downtown Pittsburgh, buses will carry respective routing designations as applied along the disrupted part of the light rail system.
Start: 01/01/2026 — End: 12/31/2026
During unplanned emergency situations, such as inclement weather, power outages, fallen timber or other causes that render the entire Library Line out of service from Library (Simmons) Station to Washington Junction, light rail vehicles will be detoured at Washington Junction from and to the South Hills Village Rail Center, and as soon as available buses will replace Silver Line - Library service along the affected line until repairs are completed.
All rail stops and stations along the Library Line will be out of service. Buses will service within the Library (Simmons) Station Park & Ride Lot, and stops at corresponding intersections with either Library Road or Brightwood Road.
Only Washington Junction and points inbound will continued to be served by Library cars, in addition to other routes.
Sandy Creek Stop will not have a corresponding alternate stop location due to topographic limitations. Passengers that normally use Sandy Creek Stop are advised to board and alight buses at and opposite the West Library Park & Ride Lot on Library Road (SR 88).
Due to traffic congestion on Library Road, especially between Connor Road and Brightwood Road, buses will not be able to maintain rail schedules. Delays will vary based on traffic congestion.
Light rail service will resume on the Library Line upon completion of emergency repairs.
This Standing Detour is available for emergency application only: any planned work or outages will be provided on a separate Detour Notice.
For emergency outages that only affect the outermost portion of the Library Line, please refer to Standing Detour Notice #26-016-0.
Start: 01/01/2026 — End: 12/31/2026
As necessary, during unplanned emergency closures of the southern portion of its Library Line, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will temporarily close a section of that line to effect repairs, requiring the temporary termination and turn back of Silver Line - Library rail service at Mesta Stop & Crossover, followed by staging at Lytle Station, while replacement buses will be deployed as soon as possible between Library (Simmons) Station and Lytle Station.
As needed, this will occur during outages caused by downed foliage, power outages or sever weather that damages the infrastructure.
Light rail service will remain intact as far south as Lytle Station (and Mesta Stop) with cars stopping and turning back at a maintenance crossover switch just outbound of Mesta Stop.
Replacement buses will service the remainder of the line from Lytle Station to Library (Simmons) Station.
Silver Line - Library replacement uses will run as close to scheduled rail times as possible.
During this situation, all rail stops between South Park Road and Library (Simmons Station cannot be served. Buses will serve corresponding temporary stop locations nearby along either Library (SR 88) or Brightwood Roads.
Sandy Creek Stop due to topographical limitations will not have its own temporary stop; passengers must use temporary stops on Library Road at and opposite the West Library Park & Ride Location.
Upon completion of emergency repairs, full light rail service will be restored.
For emergency situations closing the entire Library Line, please refer to Detour Notice #26-015-0.
Closures caused by planned work or improvements will be provided its own Detour Notice with specific dates and times of the planned work.
Start: 01/01/2026 — End: 12/31/2026