Port Authority experienced minor problems but said service operated smoothly on the first workday since the Gateway Center Light Rail Transit station closed.

The station closed shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday to accommodate construction of the North Shore Connector, an extension to PNC Park and Heinz Field.

Some inbound trips were delayed as much as 10 minutes yesterday morning because a plan to automatically route vehicles to either the inbound or outbound platforms at Wood Street -- now the final stop on the system -- did not function properly, he said.

Riders of 42C, 42S and 52 trains will board and alight on the outbound platform at Wood Street. The 47L and 47S cars will use the inbound platform. The trains will reverse direction at Wood Street. That means that the first car of a two-car train going inbound will become the second car when it reverses direction for the outbound trip.

A new Gateway Center station is expected to open when the connector project is completed in late 2011.

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