New pedestrian wayfinding system unveiled in Pittsburgh
A new system to make the city of Pittsburgh more navigable and connected for people walking and biking around popular neighborhoods is well on its way.
It was a turning point in the city of Pittsburgh, as a kiosk was unveiled Tuesday on Liberty Avenue. The kiosk highlights nearby attractions and walk times. It's just the beginning for the Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding System, which is designed to make the city more walker friendly.
"Wayfinding is more than just signage. It's a system that presents information in a unified and sequential manner for orientation, navigation and enjoyment," said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Around 34 street map kiosks and 98 directional signs will be installed in Downtown, Oakland, and the Northside.
"Whether you're a commuter, a student, someone who's visiting Pittsburgh for the first time, this is going to help you navigate the city and find what good things are happening here in Pittsburgh and in our neighborhoods," said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, which launched the initiative in 2014, celebrated the big step forward with project partners and elected leaders.
"For all those ppl who are getting around without that GPS that's on their dash, tools like this are going to give them confidence and the independence to be able to move around in our city," said Kim Lucas, Director of the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.
The system will also help visitors find the best Steel City spots as hundreds of thousands of people come to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft.
"As the nation turns its eyes on us, we will get to showcase who we are in many different ways. It'll be the first time that we will ever have this level of a global audience to showcase turning from a Steel City to a technology one," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's goal is to have all the pedestrian wayfinding signage in place by early July, and they hope to eventually take things a step further and expand the system.
"To me, this is something that's going to bring our city up another notch. This is more than a sign, this just brings us into a world-class situation," said Jason Zang, PennDOT District Executive.
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'It's as if Kyle himself is being discriminated against because his home is modified,' she said. There are of course factual errors that can be made on property value assessments, officials say. 'As I understand their concern, I will review the value for these properties,' said Kavanaugh, also pointing out that Moser's ranch home must be compared to other ranch styles. That aside, the Batavia Township assessor, expressing empathy for Moser and a willingness to help wherever she can, told me 'I do believe legislation should be changed. … Your disability should not be tied to a tax bill beyond what you can afford.' While the 2024 changes have given some tax relief to more disabled veterans, increased property values the last five years means more are falling into similar situations, according to Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong, particularly in less-populated Illinois counties that tend to have a higher percentage go into the military and return home after service. The good news is that Moser's predicament has made officials more aware of the flaws in the current law, and Kifowit, who is clearly upset with the situation, says she will 'push for a legislative fix,' if possible. At the very least, she told me, there should be more than a 30-day window to appeal an assessment notice, which would be beneficial even for 'average people who don't understand the process and how it can impact their property bill. 'Imagine how hard it could be for a disabled veteran with a lot going on,' she said. More positive news, at least short term, is that when notified of Moser's tax obligation, the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation sent a check for $3,600 to pay for the first installment of this wounded warrior's bill, with Medal of Honor recipient Lynch noting 'we hope that this can be corrected as soon as possible so Kyle does not have to fear' losing the home that was custom-built for his needs. 'We are grateful for partners like the Lynch Foundation for supporting our veterans,' said Jake Zimmerman, supervisor of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission who has been working to resolve this issue. 'I don't know how a property like Kyle's can increase in value by more than $300,000 in a single year, but I do know Kyle has given enough for our country,' Zimmerman said. 'And we're going to make sure he is taken care of.'
