Pittsburgh International Airport Area Development Vision Plan

The object of this study is to provide proof-of-concept research for the development of a Pittsburgh Aerotropolis, focused on the Pittsburgh International Airport, including developable properties within thirty minutes driving time of the airport.

An ‘”aerotropolis” is a planned and coordinated multi-modal freight and transportation complex that provides efficient, cost-effective, sustainable, and intermodal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport. Speed and agility are its hallmarks. The ideal aerotropolis has close access to the four fundamental R’s of transportation: runways, roads, rail, and river.

Pittsburgh is uniquely suited for the development of an aerotropolis in the eastern United States because the airport has excess landing capacity and is not landlocked. The goal of the Pittsburgh aerotropolis is to attract new development and jobs to the airport area from outside the region rather than to relocate existing development and jobs from within the region.

MGB & Associates (MGB) was engaged by the Department of Economic Development (DED) of the County of Allegheny with participation of the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Airport Authority. MGB brought on Aerotropolis Business Concepts and the Remaking Cities Institute as sub-consultants to provide market and urban design expertise.