Duquesne May Close Center Street in Winter

By Tom Leturgey
The Tube City Almanac
November 18, 2025
Posted in: Duquesne News

A vehicle prepares to descend Center Street in Duquesne. (Tube City Almanac photo)

Duquesne City Council is considering closing Center Street from Pine Alley to Oak Street during the winter to conserve salt during bad winter weather.

The closure would allow residents on Pine and Oak to access their homes, but would not allow the steep, cobblestone street to be used as a throughway.

Council Member Denise Brownfield noted that city officials should look at detours during times of closure and said that residents of Oak Street park on both sides of the road, which may limit travel.

Officials said they will take a ride in that area and see how many people park on both sides of the road, then report back to council at a workshop meeting.

In other business, Police Chief Tom Shaw has asked city council to advertise for another test for those interested in joining the police force. In an email, Shaw told council of one officer’s impending departure, and said another might be close behind. The current list of recruits has been exhausted. Council agreed that they will advertise for a test.

In the Public Works report, Council Member Elaine Washington made a motion for council to purchase a 2016 Ford F 450 dump truck. According to Public Works Director Steve Arbasak, the department now has two trucks and are “in need of a backup.” He went on to say that one of the current trucks is “out of commission.”

Council Member Aaron Adams said the council has “exhausted efforts” to acquire so-called deduct water meters at no cost to residents. The meters allow residents who are filling up a pool or using water for gardening to deduct that water usage from their sewerage bills.

Adams said he had been working to see if Pennsylvania American Water could help provide the meters, but homeowners will have to pay for the meters themselves. The city, council and PAAW would then all have to approve the meters. “We will not have a city program,” he said.

Adams also mentioned that the city is entering its final contracted year with County Hauling for garbage pickup. He also suggested that the city might consider bringing that service in-house, “as other (communities) have.”

During her community and economic development report, Brownfield presented a resolution authorizing a resident to purchase 825 Liberty St. as part of the Allegheny County Vacant Property Recovery program.

Council approved the scheduling of a charity motorcycle rally at Polish Hill parking lot for Aug. 15 to raise money for the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The rain date is Aug. 16.

Mayor Scott Adams read a proclamation recognizing Eugene “Gene” Capristo for his service and contributions to the City of Duquesne. Adams called Capristo “a staple” of the community and mentioned that Capristo and his father were ushers in the same Duquesne church. The mayor and council have been trying to make a presentation for months, and may still officially present it in the future, as soon as Capristo’s family is available.

Light-Up Night in Duquesne has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 30.

Originally published November 18, 2025.

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