Program areas at PDP
Economic development and programming - throughout the year, the district development team leveraged existing programs and launched new initiatives focused on vibrancy and economic vitality in the golden triangle. Through placemaking, research and data, advocacy and strategic partnerships, our efforts have helped reimagine how visitors, workers, and residents experience the public realm in Downtown Pittsburgh. In 2023, the pdp championed pop-up retail and public art through the modernization and relaunch of project pop-up, elevated the pedestrian and outdoor dining experience through efforts to beautify Downtown's high-traffic thoroughfares, advocated for the growth of Downtown's residential population, and advanced data-driven collaboration. The events department welcomed millions of visitors to Downtown by planning, producing, and implementing programs that create and engage community, while amplifying the diversity and vibrancy of our neighborhood. Signature events such as picklesburgh, highmark light up night, and the peoples gas holiday market saw record-breaking returns in 2023, along with new and expanding programming in market square and mellon square that provided local artists, musicians, and vendors more opportunities than ever to connect with and engage our neighborhood.
Transportation - whether you come by car, bus, bike or on foot, transportation remains a critical issue for those who work, live, and visit here. Downtown is the transportation hub for our region, and its evolution will impact how people get around the county. The Downtown mobility plan, launched in 2021, identified ways to improve experiences for pedestrians, public transit users, bikers, and vehicles. We continued efforts to rethink our bus route network and place-focused designs to high-traffic corridors while advancing the pedestrian wayfinding project, a first-of-its-kind system that will simplify navigation in and between neighborhoods and indicate key destinations and landmarks. In 2023, we finalized wayfinding planning and designs in preparation for construction slated to begin in 2024.
Operations - the core mission of the organization continues to be to foster a clean and safe Downtown. As the number of people who live, work, commute, and visit Downtown continues to grow, the clean and outreach teams have expanded their efforts to foster a Downtown environment that is vibrant, safe, and welcoming to all. 2023 marked a year of remarkable growth and integration of our three on-street services: clean, outreach, and hospitality. The pdp increased its clean and outreach services by 100% over the previous year. The introduction of the golden triangle hospitality program and the expansion of the team allowed us to broaden scope and increase our impact throughout the community. Already, we are seeing the results unfold in real-time, through cleaner sidewalks and public places , as well as initiatives that connect our community to vital resources and amenities.