A designation is the route number. Every major community will receive its own route number. This will allow you to know where the route is going to take you. For example, McKeesport will be assigned the number 11. Any route that begins with 11, or letter+11 will serve McKeesport. Yes, other routes will run through McKeesport, but the designation system is intended to make life easier. Someone living in McKeesport will know right away that that any 11 route will be McKeesport.
However, most routes will have 3 numbers. How will you get a 11 when most routes will be 3 numbers. This is always the first 2 digits of the designation. For example, there will be the 111E: McKeesport Short. As you can see – the route begins with 11. Someone familiar with the routing system will know that the 11 bus will be McKeesport.
Routes that are just a single digit number will be funicular inclines. Right now, PRT? has 2. If I had a say, I will work with the City of Pittsburgh to try to build a funicular incline for Troy Hill. In the late 1800s, there was one. All three of these funiculars will have a single digit followed by the route name. In example, if I was to be able to acquire the Troy Hill funicular, it will be the 3: Troy Hill Incline. Those with a fare card will be able to ride on all funicular inclines for free.
Routes that are only numbers are connectors. They are designed to get people from within a community and get them to the bus stops/stations. They may also be used to get to essential resources. Since they might have to traverse narrow streets, they will likely be shuttles. This will get people from point A to point B quickly, and easily.
Routes that begin with a number, and ends in a letter will be a secondary route. Secondary routes will extend beyond the community. For example, you would have a route that would serve the entirety of the Mon Valley. With that said, this will be a 3 digit number followed by a letter.
Routes that begins with a letter will take the rider to Downtown Pittsburgh. The goal will be to reduce the number of buses entering Downtown Pittsburgh. The reason for this is to try to work with the city of Pittsburgh to streamline the routes in Downtown Pittsburgh. If this can happen, then making the schedules, and making sense of where the routes serve while in Downtown will be easier. For example, all northern routes may serve the same path in Downtown. If that happens, it would make finding the route easier. The buses that are a letter+1 digit serves the busway. Buses that are a letter + 2 digits will be flyers. Buses that are a letter + 3 digits will be your standard primary route.
In the case of a 3 digit route number, the first 2 numbers are the designation community. The third number is the branch number. This will allow the buses to make sense for the rider once they get the hang of the new route and designation system. When possible, all of the buses mentioned here will try to replace the same name for the route when possible. This will make the transition for the riders easier.