For our project we have chosen the issue of public transportation. Currently, Pittsburgh has two forms of public transportation, the Port Authority bus system. While clean, and arguably relatively easy to use since there are a variety of apps that will tell you what buses to take without having to be familiar with the bus routes, it is time-consuming and limiting in terms of ease of travel. Waiting for the bus and sitting in traffic takes a significant amount of time, and traveling from outer boroughs to downtown make taking the bus an even less preferable option when you consider regular and rush-hour traffic. Pittsburgh also has the Light Rail System, which connects the Northside/Downton to the South Hills. Unfortunately, other populated boroughs like Lawerenceville, Oakland, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are left without this option. As Pittsburgh tops most-livable city lists time and time again, neighborhoods are gentrified and populations increase, it’s critical that an accessible, wide-reaching and affordable public transportation option is introduced to make travel easier and make all areas of the city easy to access.

Currently our group is considering designing a subway route, using a map, app and possibly a website to advertise and explain the system to the public. In particular, the app would be used to help navigate the subway system. It would have a basic map, so that users could see all possible destinations. Like Google Maps, they would be able to put in their current location and destination to figure out what trains to take and what stations to use. Arrival times of trains could also be viewed, as well as projected future arrival times and the current location of a desired train. The app could also be used in place of a subway card, though those could also be available, to get into the station and it would be linked to your bank account so that it can be easily reloaded to pay for travel.