UPDATE - December 3, 2025

The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel is expected to reopen by the end of 2025.

 

UPDATE - November 3, 2025

The reopening of the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel has been delayed.

PRT is working with its contractor to develop and solidify a new timeline to reopen the tunnel. PRT anticipates having a new timeline by mid-November. 

PRT closed the tunnel on February 23, 2025, to allow crews to complete critical infrastructure upgrades. The project was expected to be completed by the end of October. 

Project Update 

During construction, PRT identified a design issue that required the adjustment of the newly installed sections of track. Following a necessary refinement of the original design, the tracks at the inbound end of the tunnel are being adjusted to meet PRT’s precise operational and safety standards.  

PRT is actively pursuing reimbursement of excess costs from the design consultant. 

Rail Service 

  • - Red and Blue Lines: Rail vehicles will continue detouring through Allentown via Warrington and Arlington avenues, serving the temporary stop on Warrington Avenue at Allen Street. 
  • - Silver Line: Full service resumed on October 19 from Library Station to Allegheny Station, with a detour through Allentown. 
  • - Temporary “Subway Local” Service (SWL): Service between Station Square Station and Allegheny Station will continue. 

  • - Free Fare Zone Expansion: Station Square Station will remain part of the Free Fare Zone until the project is complete. 

Bus Service 

Most bus routes will continue to follow temporary detours

  • - Most affected routes will operate inbound via Warrington and Arlington avenues and outbound via the Wabash Tunnel. 

  • - Some routes may have additional or different adjustments. Please see route-specific detours below.

About the Tunnel 

The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel serves as a key connection between South Hills Junction and Station Square Station and is the only tunnel in the country shared by both buses and light-rail vehicles. 

Stay Informed 

For updates or questions, riders are encouraged to call PRT Customer Service at 412-442-2000, X (formerly Twitter) @PghtTransitCare or chat with a Customer Service representative at www.rideprt.org

 

Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel Rail Replacement

About the Work

Pittsburgh Regional Transit will close the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel for about eight months starting on February 23, 2025, to replace more than 1,000 feet of light-rail track, the roadway, and overhead electric lines inside the tunnel between South Hills Junction and Station Square Stations just south of downtown Pittsburgh.

The project is estimated to cost $28 million and is expected to run from February 23, 2025 until October 2025.

Detours

The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel will be closed to all traffic, including rail and buses.

While the tunnel is closed, Blue Line and Red Line light-rail service will operate about every 15 minutes through Allentown using the tracks along East Warrington and Arlington avenues; PRT will establish a temporary light-rail stop on Warrington Avenue at Allen Street in both directions.

Meanwhile, the Silver Line will be temporarily shortened on weekdays to operate between Library Station and Washington Junction to reduce the number of rail cars operating up the Arlington Avenue hill and through Allentown. Riders traveling to Silver Line stations beyond Washington Junction can transfer from the Blue Line to the Silver Line at Washington Junction. On weekends, the Red, Blue, and Silver lines will operate via Allentown.

PRT will operate a temporary “Subway Local” light-rail route from Station Square to Allegheny Station, which will ensure adequate capacity within the Downtown and North Shore areas . This route will operate about every 35 minutes between 4:45 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. on weekdays, 5:45 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays, and 5:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.

Station Square will be included in the Free Fare Zone from February 23 until the project is complete.



Several bus routes that normally use the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel will generally travel inbound via Warrington and Arlington avenues. Buses traveling outbound will generally use the Wabash Tunnel, which will be open only in the outbound direction for the entirety of the closure.

39-Brookline        

40-Mount Washington        

41-Bower Hill        

44-Knoxvville        

51L-Carrick Limited        

Y1-Large Flyer        

Y45-Baldwin Manor Flyer        

Y46-Elizabeth Flyer        

Y47-Curry Flyer        

Y49-Prospect Flyer