Building Streets for People: A New Vision for Mt. Lebanon and Dormont

This spring, Mt. Lebanon and Dormont are embarking on something simple but transformative: creating a shared Active Transportation Plan. With support from the Allegheny County Active Allegheny Grant Program, we’re teaming up to take a close look at how people move around our towns—and how we can make it safer and easier for everyone to walk, bike, roll, or ride transit.

For many of us, our streets are just part of the background—the way we get from point A to point B. But they’re also something more: our largest shared public space, and a powerful tool for shaping how we live, connect, and thrive as a community.

Right now, Mt. Lebanon and Dormont are lucky. We have historic street grids, vibrant business districts, access to light rail, and walkable neighborhoods. We’re the kind of communities where you can walk to the store, the park, or the T station—and many people do. But we also know the places where things break down: sidewalks that vanish into grass, crosswalks that don’t feel safe, intersections where cars move too fast, and bus stops without anywhere to sit or stand.

That’s what this new plan is about—filling in the gaps.

This is not just a matter of convenience. It’s a matter of equity, safety, and long-term resilience. When we design streets for everyone—not just cars—we build communities that are healthier, more connected, and more economically vibrant.

Why Active Transportation Matters

The term “active transportation” may sound like a buzzword, but the idea behind it is very real and very grounded: it’s about giving people real choices in how they move around.

That means someone in a wheelchair can navigate the sidewalk without barriers. A teenager can bike to school without a parent having to follow behind in a car. A senior can cross the street without sprinting. A family can walk to the park without feeling like they’re dodging traffic.

These aren’t luxuries. They’re basics. And when a community gets them right, the benefits ripple out:

• Local businesses see more foot traffic.

• Property values stay strong.

• Public health improves.

• Traffic congestion eases.

• Young families stay. Older residents can age in place.

In short, communities where people can safely walk, bike, or roll to school, the store, the park, or the T station are communities that thrive. They’re more resilient in times of economic stress. They’re more attractive to families and businesses. And they offer a higher return on public investment.

This Isn’t About Taking Away—It’s About Adding Options

Some folks get nervous when we talk about changing how our streets work. They hear “bike lane” and picture traffic jams. They hear “traffic calming” and picture inconvenience.

But here’s the truth: this work is not about taking anything away. It’s about adding options.

If you want to drive, drive. That’s not going away. But if you want to walk to the store, or if your kid wants to bike to the library, or if your neighbor relies on a mobility aid to get to the bus stop—they should be able to do that safely and confidently.

It’s about giving people freedom. And it’s about making smart choices with our public space—choices that reflect our values: resilience, health, connection, and safety.

Built by the Community, for the Community

One of the best parts of this project is how it will be built—with community input at the center. Over the coming months, we’ll be gathering ideas, experiences, and insights from residents of Mt. Lebanon and Dormont.

If you’ve ever had to walk in the street because there’s no sidewalk, or waited for a bus with nowhere to sit, or crossed an intersection that felt like a game of chance—we want to hear from you.

Your lived experience is data. And it’s just as important as anything that comes out of a traffic model or planning document.

Let’s Rethink What Streets Are For

For decades, we designed our streets around one question: how fast can we move cars? But more and more communities—big and small—are asking a different question: how well do our streets serve people?

This plan gives us a chance to rethink our approach—to focus not just on traffic flow, but on quality of life. Not just on convenience, but on safety, connection, and opportunity.

I hope you’ll join us in shaping this plan. Show up to meetings. Share your ideas. Push us to think bigger—or sometimes smaller. Because this work only succeeds if it reflects the people who live here.

We’re not just building infrastructure—we’re building a future that works better for our community.

And that future starts now.