Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

Just over 334,000 people live inside the city limits of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County boasts some 1.33 million people), and the city is within 500 miles of half the population of the United States.

Steel production, of course, was a key industry until the 1980s, and US Steel, the seventh-largest steel producer in the world, is still headquartered here. Today, Pittsburgh's largest employers are in the fields of health care, technology, finance and higher education. Sometimes overlooked, the travel industry is also a big contributor to the area economy, bringing some 10 million visitors and 3 billion dollars each year.

Since its location on the Ohio River gives it easy access to the country's extensive, 9000-mile inland waterway system, Pittsburgh enjoys status as the U.S.'s busiest inland port.

Weather

Although the Steel City experiences four clear-cut seasons, its climate is relatively temperate year-round, making anytime a good time to visit. Winter temperatures range from the low 20s to the high 30s, and snow is common. During the summer, temperatures fall as low as the 60s and can sometimes reach into the mid to high 80s. The spring and fall usually see days between the low 40s and low 60s.

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

Pittsburgh International Airport is located about 25 miles west of downtown, and JD Power and Associates ranks it among the best in the country in terms of customer experience. This busy facility sees some 11 million passengers and 270,000 aircraft pass through its gates each year, is serviced by 19 carriers, and offers nonstop flights to 80 destinations.

Cab fare between the aiport and downtown should be between $35 and $45. Taxis may be hailed only at the Landside Terminal outside of baggage claim. A less expensive alternative, the Port Authority of Allegheny County operates the 28X Airport Flyer (minibus) between the main terminal and Oakland; fare is $2.25 one-way, and it departs every 20 minutes.

If you don't plan on flying to the Steel City, you'll find it easily accessible by car thanks to Interstates 76 and 79. Arrival by rail is another option. Penn Station, located downtown at 1100 Liberty Avenue, is used for intercity Amtrak service.

Making Your Way

The Port Authority of Allegheny County operates an extensive public transport network that involves buses, the 25-mile "T" lightrail system and two funiculars (incline railways). The fee schedule for single adult rides is as follows: Downtowner Zone $1.25, One Zone $1.75, Two Zone $2.25, Three Zone $2.75, Incline $1.75. Weekly, monthly and annual passes are available.

The city's two most prominent cab companies are Yellow Cab (412-321-8100, www.pghyellowcab.com) and Checker Cab (412-664-5600).

News & Views

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is the area's primary print source for local, national and international news, and its online version features extensive sections dedicated to A&E, local restaurants and nightlife and area events. For a more politically conservative slant on the daily news, check out the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which is known for the enthusiasm of its investigative reporting. Much looser around the collar is the , a liberal weekly that tends to focus more on arts and entertainment. The Pittsburgh Courier deals with news from an African-American perspective and is one of Western Pennsylvania's most respected and longest running ethnic publications. Good sources for news, entertaining stories and information about what's happening on the student scene are The Pitt News, The Duquesne Duke and The Tartan, which are linked to the Universities of Pittsburgh, Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon, respectively.

Quirks & Curiosities

Pittsburgh's unoffcial colors, black and gold, can be found just about everywhere you look, most noticably in the uniforms of the city's three major professional teams – the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins – and those of the police and fire departments.

Because it sits at the confluence of three major rivers – the Ohio, Allegheny and Monogahela – Pittsburgh, understandably, is a city of bridges. In fact, there are more than 440 bridges in Greater Pittsburgh.

The area known as Mount Washington sits atop a bluff that runs along the south bank of the Ohio River. Making pedestrian travel easier from Carson Street to the residential area high above, the Port Authority operates two inclined railways (the Mount Washington and Duquesne). Not surprisingly, tourists love them because they afford great views of downtown.

Getting Your Bearings

When you're not familiar with a city, you feel completely adrift. That's exactly what local visitors' centers hope to ward off. They've compiled a vast collection of resources to help you better understand a particular city, and they're more than eager to share their time, hints, and literature. Contact the Greater Pittsburgh Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.visitpittsburgh.com) at 412-281-7711 or toll-free at 800-359-0758. Welcome center locations include:

Downtown Pittsburgh
Liberty Avenue adjacent to Gateway Center
Nov-Mar
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm
Apr-Oct
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm

Pittsburgh International Airport
Landside Terminal in Baggage Claim
Mon 9am-4pm, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm

Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
1212 Smallman St
Mon-Sun 10am-5pm

Pittsburgh + Its Countryside
PA Turnpike I-76, mile post 21.7 (east of Ohio)
Mon-Sun 7am-7pm

Necessities - Post Offices

It's usually not too difficult to spot a drop box when you're out and about, but if you need to conduct more serious postal business, it's not always that easy. In the heart of Pittsburgh, several locations are convenient to travelers and residents. They include:

Wylie Station
415 Dinwiddie St
412-642-0859
Mon-Fri 8:30am-1pm, 2pm-4:30pm

Uptown Pittsburgh Station
1402 5th Ave, Ste 2
412-642-0792
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

Grant Street Station
700 Grant St, Ste A
412-642-0769
Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-2:30pm

Carson Station
1731 E Carson St
412-431-1057
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm, Sat 8:30am-noon

Fourth Avenue Station
412-642-1151
336 4th Ave, Ste 1-A
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

East Ohio Station
435 E Ohio St
412-231-7170
Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat 9:30am-noon

Oakland Station
347 S Bouquet St
412-621-1134
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm

Gateway Center Station
635 Stanwix St, Ste 104
412-642-2158
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

Allegheny Station
395 Federal St
412-231-4691
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-noon

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.

Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).