Heading Downtown This Summer? Here’s What You Need to Know

The summer months in Downtown Pittsburgh are some of the busiest of the year. With baseball season at PNC Park in full swing, and major events like Three Rivers Art Festival, Pride, Juneteenth, Picklesburgh, Rock, Reggae & Relief, and others drawing huge crowds into the city, it’s an exciting time for visitors, but it can also be stressful for those who are new to the ‘burgh or unfamiliar with the local transit options.

To help summer travelers avoid potential headaches, we’ve curated some tips and resources that will help make getting in and around Downtown a breeze.

Take Public Transit

Did you know 84% of all PRT bus routes travel through Downtown Pittsburgh? It’s easy and affordable to get downtown by bus or rail.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is the largest transit agency in southwestern Pennsylvania, and provides public transportation and Access services throughout the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. PRT operates a total of 102 routes, including 98 bus, 3 light rail, and 2 inclines.

Check out these resources to help plan your trip:

• Click here for an Interactive System Map
• Click here for information on Fares and Passes
• Click here for Schedules, Maps, and Real-time Arrival Info
• Click here for Rider Information

For more information about public transit in Downtown, click here.

Plan Ahead for Parking

Nothing is better then snagging a sweet parking spot near your favorite restaurants, shops, and activities! Check out our guide to some of the best parking options in Downtown that have flat or discounted evening and weekend rates.

Want to check garage or lot availability in real time? ParkPGH supplies real-time information about parking availability in all Cultural District garages, calculating the number of available spaces every 30 seconds.

Street Parking in Downtown

The City of Pittsburgh was one of the first cities to introduce multi-space meter parking citywide. These high-tech, easy-to-use meter systems allow Downtown visitors to park closer and more conveniently to their desired destination. Pay your meter using your mobile phone using the Go Mobile Pittsburgh app. For a full citywide view of all available on-street parking meters, check out the Pittsburgh Parking Authority’s interactive map.

Downtown street meters hours are Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and lots are Monday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Parking is free on Sundays and after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday at metered, on-street spots in Downtown.

Consider Biking

With ample bike lanes, biking is a great way to get Downtown. BikePGH has many resources – including route maps and beginner guides – to help you get pedaling in no time!

Don’t have a bike? No problem! Bikeshare programs offer low-cost bicycle rentals at a network of stations. In Pittsburgh, POGOH operates a bikeshare system of over 200 pedal bikes, 300 e-bikes, and 60 stations around the city! Rentals are app-enabled and can begin and end at any station.

Want to try riding a POGOH bike but aren’t sure where to start? Check out our POGOH Start-Up Guide to help you get up-to-speed on Pittsburgh’s bikeshare service!

Stay Up-To-Date on Road Closures and Construction

Construction projects often pick-up in the summertime, along with road closures for major events. Fortunately, you can stay on top of traffic alerts in Downtown and the surrounding areas through our webpage, and by subscribing to our In The Know newsletter.