PittsBirds Art Arrives Along Pittsburgh’s University Line

Twenty bird-inspired artworks are arriving along Pittsburgh's University Line, turning signal control boxes and other transit infrastructure into a connected public art project. The city announced PittsBirds on October 9, with installation underway and most pieces expected to be completed by the end of October. Artist Marsha Rollinger developed the work with input from people connected to Downtown, Uptown, the Hill District and Oakland.

The project brings together the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Shiftworks Community + Public Arts and The Art Supply Co. It is intended to give people walking, cycling or riding through the corridor a series of artworks to discover during everyday trips. The installation is still progressing, so the announcement should not be read as confirmation that every bird is already in place. The city says artwork will continue to appear through the fall as construction advances.

An artist selected for community-centered work

Shiftworks announced Rollinger's selection in September 2025, following a process that drew 39 applicants. Its announcement highlighted her bold colors, layered imagery and interest in working with communities. Shiftworks and The Art Supply Co. were selected to manage the artist-selection process and the public art component, linking artistic development with the larger infrastructure project.

Rollinger grew up in Apollo, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Seattle area through her work with Nintendo, according to Shiftworks' artist biography. Volunteering on an arts commission helped lead her toward public art. After returning to western Pennsylvania, she brought that experience to a commission shaped by the places people pass through daily. Her background gives the project a local connection while also drawing on experience outside the region.

Neighborhood stories along a transit corridor

The city's Percent for Art project page provides proposed designs, installation locations and progress information. It is a useful starting point for anyone interested in finding the pieces as they arrive. Community engagement included online surveys, in-person meetings and events, with residents, workers and students contributing stories and ideas that informed themes, designs and placement. The birds are therefore connected by a shared format while drawing on different neighborhood experiences.

The broader University Line project remains under construction, with full completion expected in 2027. PRT describes a corridor with dedicated bus lanes, upgraded stations, improved sidewalks and accessible curb ramps, traffic signals and a two-way bike lane on Fifth Avenue. Its planned 24 stations include amenities such as seating, lighting and real-time arrival information. PRT completed the Downtown Loop in June 2025, while the current phase continues work through Uptown and Oakland. The art installation's fall timetable is separate from completion of that transportation work.

For people planning to explore, checking the project map alongside current construction information is more useful than assuming the entire corridor is finished. PittsBirds adds another reason to notice the spaces between destinations: the corners, crossings and infrastructure that form a regular commute. As the pieces are installed, those everyday places will carry work by a regional artist and stories contributed by the communities around them.