The line was reopened on June 2, 2004, following major work which included doubling of the track and elimination of 22 traditional street level trolley stops in favor of eight new LRV style stations with platforms.

Leaving downtown, it crosses the Monongahela River on the Panhandle Bridge, stopping at Station Square before running through the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel.

The South Hills Village branch was created in 1987 to complement the Red Line, which runs through Beechview before reaching the same terminus.

On June 25, 2012, the Port Authority closed two stations on the South Hills Village Branch as part of a system-wide consolidation: Santa Barbara and Martin Villa.

Low platform stations are not wheelchair accessible as they require passengers to climb stairs to board the light rail vehicle.