The Oakland community is the second most in demand neigbhborhood under PRT?. This will not change. The reason for this is the multitude of hospitals and universities that are in Oakland. There is also a vibrant residential community – all needing reliable, and resource rich public transit. There are a number of routes that would terminate in Oakland, or use Oakland to get go Downtown. All routes in Oakland will be given the designation of 18, and as follows:
- 18: South Oakland
- 181E: Hill District
- 181N: Manchester
- 181S: Wharton Square
18: South Oakland
The 18: South Oakland will resurrect the old 84B: Oakland. This route was terminated as PRT leased shuttles rather than owning them. Once the lease expired, they returned the shuttles, and since S. Oakland’s streets are too narrow for a conventional bus, the 84B: Oakland had to be terminated. Under ACT, there will be acquisition of shuttles that would service most of the connector routes including the 18: South Oakland. The 18: South Oakland will only operate between South Oakland, and Oakland terminating at Fifth and Atwood. Riders can board a wide range of buses, and most if not all buses running through Oakland will connect with Fifth and Atwood.
181E: Hill District
The 181E: Hill District will take the unique aspects of 81: Oak Hill, and 83: Bedford and combine them to connect with Oakland. Since I never lived in the Hill District, I am not as familiar with the streets, however I will know that those in the Hill District will be able to connect with the E144: Centre to connect the Hill District to Downtown. The 181E: Hill District will terminate in Oakland. For those wishing to go to Wharton Square will need to board another route.
181N: Manchester
The 181N: Manchester will be a new route that would combine the 18: Manchester, and the 54C: Northside – South Side into one partial route. The 181N: Manchester will serve the entirety of Manchester, but the 54C: Northside – South Side will connect with Manchester, and will run as the 54C: Northside – South Side until reaching into Oakland where the 181N: Manchester will terminate at Fifth and Craft Street. To continue on to South Side, the rider will have to transfer to the 511E: SHJ – Oakland.
181S: Wharton Square
The 181S: Wharton Square will replace the southern portion of the Hill District routes therefore making the route simpler. The 181S: Wharton Square will start at Carnegie Mellon University, and serve Forbes Avenue to S. Bellefield Street. The 181S: Wharton Square will use S. Bellefield to connect with Fifth Avenue. The 181S: Wharton Square will then serve Fifth Avenue to the Birmingham Bridge so the will serve E. Carson St. until reaching S. 21st Street. The 181S: Wharton Square will turn on S. 21st Street to connect with Wharton Square on Wharton Street.
On the return trip back, the 181S: Wharton Square will use S. 20th Street to E. Carson Street. The 181S: Wharton Square will then cross the Birmingham Bridge to Fifth Avenue. The 181S: Wharton Square will use the Fifth Avenue bus lane to Bigelow Blvd. The 181S: Wharton Square will turn on Bigelow Blvd to Forbes Avenue, and then serve Forbes Avenue to Carnegie Mellon University where the 181S: Wharton Square will terminate and loop.