Greater Philadelphia Bicycle News

DCNR AWARDS NEARLY $1.6 MILLION FOR PENNSYLVANIA RAIL-TRAILS:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gretchen Leslie
DCNR Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

Pennsylvania Continues To Lead Nation in Number of Rail-Trails

HARRISBURG (May 6, 2004) ? Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis today announced almost $1.6 million in grants for the planning, acquisition and construction of more than 99 miles of rail-trails in 14 Pennsylvania counties.

Rail-trails are abandoned railroad beds converted for recreational uses such as hiking, biking, jogging and cross-country skiing.

?The value of rail-trails goes well beyond recreation,? Secretary DiBerardinis said. ?They help our children get to school and other community places, improve local economies through tourism, provide a place for safe exercise, protect our open spaces and connect us with our neighbors.

Although we lead the nation in the number of rail trails, we could be doing more to promote and encourage these and other trails as vibrant parts of our community living,? Secretary DiBerardinis said. ?We need the Governor?s proposed 2004-05 budget to provide the funding momentum to continue the important trail work already under way in many areas of the state.

Governor Edward G. Rendell's proposed expansion and renewal of the state?s current Growing Greener program would invest in projects that return brownfields and other polluted sites to productive use; protect farmland and open space from development; clean up polluted streams and abandoned mines; improve state parks and communities"

2004 Rails-To-Trails Grants

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Fairmount Park Commission, $250,000 - to further develop 1.8 miles of the Kensington & Tacony Trail.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Montour Trail Council, $90,000 – to construct a 115-foot bridge over Piney Fork Run on the Montour Trail.

Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, $250,000 – to rehabilitate the Hot Metal Bridge to provide a connection to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage.

CLARION AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES
Tri County Rails To Trails Association, $100,000 – to acquire 41 miles of abandoned railroad from Brockway to Piney for development of a trail.

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES
SEDA-Council of Governments, $50,000 - to determine the feasibility of developing a trail along the historic North Branch Pennsylvania Canal from Danville to Benton.

FAYETTE COUNTY
Fayette County, $55,000 – to complete the design of 10.4 miles of the Sheepskin Trail North.

LEHIGH COUNTY
Whitehall Township, $35,000 - to further develop the Ironton Rail-Trail, including construction of parking area, installation of ADA access, fencing, pavilion, landscaping, sign and other related site improvements.

LUZERNE COUNTY
Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council, $150,000 - to further develop 5 miles of the Susquehanna Warrior Trail.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
Bethlehem City, $100,000 – to acquire about 10 acres of abandoned railway in the City of Bethlehem between Hill to Hill Bridge and Hayes Street for use as a pedestrian and bicycle trail.

SNYDER COUNTY
Snyder County, $20,000 - to study the feasibility of developing a 15-mile rail-trail in western Snyder County from McClure Borough to Middleburg Borough, including the villages of Paxtonville and Beaver Springs; Beavertown Borough; and West Beaver, Spring, Beaver, and Franklin townships.

VENANGO COUNTY
Allegheny Valley Trails Association, $100,000 - to further develop 6 miles of the Allegheny River Trail from Rockland Tunnel to Emlenton.

WASHINGTON COUNTY
Washington County, $70,000 - to further develop 4.25 miles of the Panhandle Trail from Station Street to Dinsmore Road.

McDonald Area Redevelopment Association, $37,000 – to renovate and further develop the McDonald Trail Station/Meeting House as part of the Allegheny Trail Association’s “Trail Towns” initiative.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Alle-Kiski Revitalization Corporation, $200,000 – to acquire a permanent trail easement on 7.8 miles along the Allegheny River in the boroughs of Oakmont and Plum in Allegheny County and the cities of New Kensington and Arnold in Westmoreland County.

Westmoreland County, $80,000 – to further develop the Five Star Trail, including a pedestrian bridge over Sewickley Creek in New Stanton.