There are certain fixtures that simply define their city.
For Paris, it’s the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. For Washington, there are the White House and the Capitol and the monuments on the mall. For Philadelphia, it’s the Liberty Bell, the LOVE sculpture and the steps of the Museum of Art made famous in “Rocky.”
Pittsburgh is defined by geometry. The triangle of Point State Park. The pyramid spires of PPG Place. The elegant arcs of the bridges. And the angles of the inclines climbing Mt. Washington.
The city once had more than a dozen funiculars — that’s the formal name of the cars that climb the side of mountains. Most closed before 1964. Just two remain: Duquesne Incline and the oldest of them all, the Monongahela Incline.
And the Mon Incline is closed, too. Usually, at least.
Despite $8.2 million in renovations from August 2022 to March 2023, malfunctions have shut the incline yet again. Ironically, the 154-year-old conveyance isn’t hurting from its antique parts. It’s the modern computer technology causing problems now.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit is forming a committee to talk about the future of the incline — one of just 10 working versions left in the country. Replacement is on the table.
If you look at the numbers, it makes sense to consider giving up on it. It isn’t the only way to get up the mountain. The number of riders is low — although looking at the last two years when it’s been closed for a total of almost 10 months does give a distorted view.
But the incline is more than a pathway from the bottom of the mountain to the top. It is part of the city’s identity.
It’s the moment of wonder when kids press their noses on the glass as it rises. It’s the breathtaking view of the skyline when you get to the top. It’s the quaint image of the car following its short track back and forth.
Is there a place where the cost no longer makes sense? Of course. But the funicular — the oldest funicular — has a value that must be considered outside of dollars and cents.
