Pittsburgh English Dancing Directions

A note on public transit in Pittsburgh: the buses are reliable and easy to use, but schedules sometimes slip; if you're traveling at off-peak times, arrive at the stop a bit early. Also, the Port Authority of Allegheny County does change schedules and occasionally routings. You'd be well advised to call them at 412-442-2000 and/or pick up paper schedules, since this page may not reflect their most recent updates. The base fare is $1.60 and transfers are $.25 (buy them when you pay your fare).

Grace Episcopal Church

319 West Sycamore Street
3 blocks off Grandview Avenue on Mt. Washington

By car

More detailed directions are available at Grace Episcopal Church's website.

By public transit

Grace Episcopal is within walking distance of the Monongahela Incline. From downtown, take the T to Station Square, walk west to the incline. At the top of the mountain, turn right on Grandview and walk west to Bertha street, just before the big yellow church. Turn down Bertha to Sycamore. The church is on the corner. Enter through the basement door that faces Sycamore.

NOTE: These directions do not take the Fort Pitt consruction into account. Please call PAT for more information. By bus, the 41E Mt. Washington bus will take you from Wood or Smithfield Sts. downtown to the corner of Bertha and Virginia (or Merrimac and Grandview, if you don't want to walk uphill). It's a circuitous route taking about half an hour. As of 25 March 2001, a 41E leaves Smithfield and Fifth downtown at 6:55PM. From the corner of Bertha and Virginia, walk up Bertha (it's steep) to Sycamore.

If you want to arrive very early, the 43E Mt. Washington Express bus will take you from Wood or Smithfield Sts. downtown to the corner of Merrimac and Grandview. The last one leaves downtown at 5:40PM. Merrimac and Grandview intersect just at the top of McArdle Roadway (the road up the mountain): walk east along Grandview to Bertha, walk down Bertha to Sycamore.

Swisshelm Park Community Center

Some special events as well as the weekly contra dances are at the Swisshelm Park Community Center (aka. the Sarah Jackson Black Community Center).

By car

From Whipple westbound:

From the parkway (I-376) eastbound:

From the parkway (I-376) westbound:

From the East End:

From Squirrel Hill: from Murray Ave., turn east on Forward, go up the hill in front of the theater, and cross Beechwood. Forward winds past the Irish Center and under I-376 and becomes Commercial St. At the first stop sign on Commercial, turn left onto Whipple. Take the next left onto Nevada. Proceed through the first intersection -- the road will change names and loop to the left. The Swisshelm Park Community Center is on the right at 1050 Windermere.

By public transit

The 68G Swisshelm Park Express is the closest bus line: get off at the corner of Nevada and Whipple, cross Whipple and continue north(ish) on Nevada. At the funky intersection, take the middle of your three choices (slight left, down a hill), turn right at the bottom of the hill onto Windermere.

The 68G runs express along the east busway from downtown to Wilkinsburg: if you take another line (like EBO) to get to the busway, transfer at Wilkinsburg. Downtown, it makes a loop around Liberty, Smithfield, Sixth Ave., and Grant. Look for the route number on the bus stop sign.

From Oakland or Squirrel Hill, take the outbound 61A (slightly preferred), 61B, or 501 (all run along Forbes Ave.).

Transfer from the 61A anytime between when it turns onto Swissvale Ave at Rebecca St. and the timepoint at Noble and Washington. The 68G and 61A parallel each other all along Edgewood Ave. to that timepoint.

Transfer from the 61B along Monongahela Ave. between Shoyer and Washington. (Monongahela is the road that breaks off of Braddock at the BP). The 68G outbound will be on the opposite side of the street.

The 501 runs directly to the busway station, but you might need to catch the 68G at the corner of Wood and South Sts.

As of 25 March 2001, the last two outbound 68Gs leave downtown at 6:46PM and 7:26PM, and get to the corner of Noble & Washington at 7:11PM and 7:51PM, respectively. The 61A and 61B run much, much later. It should be easy to find a ride back to Oakland, Squirrel Hill, or at least to your favorite bus line.


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