Plan Ahead for the NFL Draft: A Transportation Guide
Written by Cassie St. John
With the NFL Draft less than a month away, Pittsburgh is preparing to keep things running smoothly for residents and visitors alike. In particular, the Pittsburgh Organizing Committee, in collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), and other partners have revealed a comprehensive plan for transportation to allow traveling in Pittsburgh efficiently for the Draft.
The first important update is that PRT will be offering a special Draft Pass for riding public transportation. This pass costs $25 and will provide unlimited rides for seven days. It can be purchased in the Ready2Ride app starting April 1.
From April 23-25, PRT will be running expanded services to help move event-goers to the Draft festivities. Buses will be more frequent with greater capacity, while maintaining the same routes. The 28X-Airport Flyer will also use an expanded service, allowing visitors flying into Pittsburgh to travel with ease.
In addition to the expansion, there will also be four special bus routes including 99N, 99E, 99S, and 99W, titled “Football Flyers”, which will drop fans off near Point State Park in Downtown, where many festivities will be held, and on the North Shore, near where the Draft itself is located. These routes will run every 15 minutes on April 23-24, and every 30 minutes on April 25. More information about these routes can be found here.
Beyond buses, PRT is also increasing their light rail service during the Draft. Both the Red Line and Blue Line services will run every 15 minutes and will drop riders off on the North Shore. Services that travel within Downtown and the North Shore are free. More information about light rails can be found here.
In addition to PRT transportation systems, fans are encouraged to travel on foot through pedestrian paths which will include the ability to walk across the iconic Roberto Clemente Bridge. The Gateway Clipper Fleet will also provide free services to bring fans to Point State Park and the North Shore across the river.
Finally, the committee announced the road closure plan for the Draft and the weeks leading up to it. The closures will happen in phases and will allow the event environment to remain safe and will allow for a walkable experience for guests. Some roads have already started closing, with the biggest phase of closures starting on April 22.
Pittsburgh expects hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents alike to be a part of the Draft and its festivities. If you’re thinking of attending the Draft, make sure you have a clear transportation plan and allow for extra time when traveling during peak times.
