Pittsburgh hearing draws competing petitions over Serpentine Drive; council hears public comment but takes no vote

PITTSBURGH — Dozens of residents and advocacy groups on June 4 told Pittsburgh City Council their sharply divided views on whether Serpentine Drive in Schenley Park should reopen to motor vehicles after repairs or remain a pedestrian- and bicycle-only way.

At a cablecast public hearing called after two petitions were filed, speakers on both sides described safety, historic-use and access concerns. "I strongly support keeping Serpentine closed to car traffic," said Liana Krissoff, a Bartlett Street resident who described daily family use of the park roadway. "Opening Serpentine to cars would close it to everyone else." Tom Harr, membership and donor manager at Bike Pittsburgh, said a pedestrianized Serpentine would advance the city's bike network and Vision Zero safety goals.

Supporters of reopening argued the road was built as a driving route and that the city's repair investment should serve all users. "Serpentine Drive was made for vehicular traffic," said Audrey Glickman of Greenfield. Tom Ingalls, a nearby resident and Army veteran, said he asked paramedics whether they would use Serpentine in emergencies and was told they would when extra seconds matter.

Why it matters: The debate pits neighborhood- and park-preservation priorities against drivers' access and perceived commuter convenience. Speakers for keeping the drive car-free cited safety for children and the elderly, the lack of stroller- and scooter-friendly alternatives on adjacent trails, and the city's Vision Zero commitments; opponents cited historic design, repair costs, and access when nearby bridges are closed.

What happened at the hearing: The clerk read two petitions — labeled in the hearing as Bill 487 (petition to reopen Serpentine Drive to cars) and Bill 516 (petition to maintain Serpentine as bike/pedestrian-only) — and stated the petitions were valid under the Home Rule Charter. A range of neighborhood groups and individuals gave three-minute statements: Bike Pittsburgh, Friends of Schenley Park, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, Squirrel Hill Historical Society board members and many residents from Squirrel Hill, Greenfield and nearby neighborhoods.

Speakers cited differing numbers for repair costs and usage. Martha Eisler said the city paid "more than $2,260,000" to repair 1,500 feet of roadway; others referenced an approximately $2.5 million figure. Helen Wilson asked whether an engineering study of crash and mobility impacts had been completed and requested to see it; several speakers called for a formal, data-driven review of traffic flows and safety before any long-term change.

Council response and next steps: Councilmember Erica Strassburger, who represents part of the area, said public feedback reinforced broad support for keeping Serpentine closed to vehicular traffic but emphasized that the council was not making the initial DOMI decision. The clerk summarized petitions and correspondence: 175 signatures and about 53 emails in favor of keeping the drive car-free, and 38 signatures and four emails in favor of reopening; 12 registered speakers testified for keeping it car-free and seven spoke for reopening.

No formal motion or vote was taken during the session. The hearing concluded with councilmembers noting Vision Zero priorities and the pending reopening of Panther Hollow Bridge as a factor that may ease current neighborhood traffic pressures. The petitions and public comments remain part of the official record.

Authorities and documents: Hearing testimony referenced the Home Rule Charter as the basis for validating petitions and multiple speakers asked for DOMI (Department of Mobility and Infrastructure) reports and any signed engineering studies assessing safety and traffic impacts; DOMI's 2024 public process and decision to keep Serpentine open for bike/pedestrian access after repairs were cited by several residents as precedent.

The hearing adjourned with no council action; further administrative or legislative steps were not announced at the meeting.