The Monongahela Incline returned to service Wednesday after a nearly six-day shutdown stemming from a mechanical stoppage that left two passengers trapped and required a technical rope rescue.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit said moisture inside an emergency stop button triggered the malfunction, which occurred late May 7 when both incline cars stalled approximately 80 feet from their respective stations. Pittsburgh EMS and other city public safety crews rescued both passengers. No injuries were reported.
Before reopening, PRT crews conducted multiple successful test runs over roughly a 12-hour period. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry inspected the incline before service resumed. This was a requirement necessary for reopening.
PRT Chief Maintenance Officer Don Rivetti said the agency would continue evaluating the system’s long-term reliability.
The May 7 stoppage was the second such rescue incident on the incline in approximately six months. In November 2025, 27 passengers were trapped after both cars stalled, requiring a rescue operation that lasted nearly four hours.