NORTH SIDE, Pa. -- The Port Authority announced Friday a plan to preserve the North Shore Connector project by extending the T to the North Shore and deferring an extension to the Convention Center.

Under the plan, the Port Authority would construct the 1.2-mile extension of the T under the Allegheny River to Allegheny Avenue and the North Side.

The Port Authority said the project is critical to the continued economic development of Allegheny County.