Pittsburgh Launches New Comprehensive Plan Process

Pittsburgh is seeking contractors to help the Steel City complete a new comprehensive plan—the first for a city since 1958, where planning has traditionally happened on the neighborhood level.

“The city has said in contract documents that it wants to engage with residents across all 90 neighborhoods, gathering input about topics ranging from parks to stormwater management to transportation,” according to an article by Jon Moss for Pittsburgh Union Progress.

“A previous comprehensive planning effort called ForgingPGH had been launched under former mayor Bill Peduto, though it later stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic and transition in 2021 between mayors. Initial work completed will be incorporated in the plan solicited by the Gainey administration,” adds Moss.

A report published in 2022 by the Gainey administration described the city’s lack of a citywide plan  as “[allowing] for decades of piecemeal decision-making driven by outside developer interests rather than community input.”

The article includes more explanation of comprehensive plans work, with advice from Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Jenny Schuetz about how to make the process as effective as possible.