Plans for Trail Linking River Towns Sparks Interest
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
8 December 2011
By Jill Cueni-Cohen
While some politicians talk about high-speed rail to connect the
country, the trend locally appears to lean more toward biking and
hiking trails stretching throughout the state and as far away as
Maine and Washington, D.C.
The economic possibilities of a 26-mile trail linking river towns
in the Allegheny Valley to trails outside Allegheny County
attracted more than just the usual group of hikers and bikers to a
public meeting Nov. 30 by the Allegheny Valley Community Trails
Initiative.
Among the standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 were municipal
officials, including Allegheny County Executive-elect Rich
Fitzgerald, who pledged the county's support in moving forward
with the trail's completion.
"Borough folks need to communicate with the county, and the county
will deal with this situation specifically," he said. "We need
your help."
Hannah Hardy, program manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental
Council, presented the findings of a trail and riverfront
development study that encompasses 17 municipalities from
Pittsburgh to Harrison along the north bank of the Allegheny
River.
"Pennsylvania has a healthy, nationally recognized system of
trails and greenways," she said.
"We need to broaden our idea of trails," said Darla Cravotta,
special projects coordinator for Allegheny County. "Our goal is to
connect to each other in a contiguous way to get to each river
town."
The purpose of the initiative is to expand the Three Rivers
Heritage Trail along the north bank of the Allegheny River so that
it links communities and provides public access to riverfront
recreational sites. The connection will play a vital role in
several other trail projects, including the Allegheny County
Riverfronts Project, Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail and
Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway.
The project is funded through the state Department of Conservation
& Natural Resources, Allegheny County, Allegheny River Towns
Enterprise Zone, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Friends of
the Riverfront. It also receives financial backing from the towns
in the corridor.
In addition to the funding partners, O'Hara and the Fox Chapel
District Association are partners assisting with community
outreach and fiscal responsibilities. One of the trail's biggest
challenges identified by the study is in dealing with the
railroads, because riverside trails are often created from former
rail lines.
"How do we move people through those areas safely? We have to
develop a relationship with the railroad," said Ms. Cravotta,
sparking a discussion about the various experiences local
officials have had in dealing with the railroads. "Sixteen miles
of this [trail] alignment is along railroad property. Safety is
the most important consideration."
Davitt Woodwell, senior vice president of Pennsylvania
Environmental Council, acknowledged that the trail has been and
will continue to be a long-term effort.
"We have 17 municipalities interested in seeing this as an
opportunity for local support," he said, noting that every
municipality along the trail has approved the concept. "But the
process will happen over time." Bike lanes installed on new
roadways could happen sooner, while other opportunities will have
to be sought out and researched by local municipalities and
organizations.
Mr. Fitzgerald pledged the county's support in moving forward with
the trail's completion. "Borough folks need to communicate with
the county, and the county will deal with this situation
specifically. We need your help."
"Economic impact studies show that money will be brought into
communities as people use the trails," said Ms. Cravotta, noting
that the goal is to lead people into local business districts, but
the process will require municipal cooperation. "We will need to
have municipal groups working in clusters; we need to put together
resources to share with these groups; and we must identify local
interest and opportunities."
Allegheny County Councilman Nicholas Futules of Oakmont, chairman
of the parks committee, agreed the trail development is an
economic plus for riverfront communities.
"In addition to bringing in tourism dollars, the trail will also
have a positive effect on community wellness and property values,"
he said, "because people want to live near trails and parks."
Information: http://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org.
Jill Cueni-Cohen, freelance writer:
suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.