PROJECT OVERVIEW

In 2022, Friends of the Riverfront secured funding for design and engineering of the extension of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in O’Hara Township.

The design of the trail is in progress, but we anticipate the trail will occur within the PennDOT right-of-way with the goal of a separate path from vehicular traffic (with some type of barrier or delineation). We are working in collaboration with PennDOT to coordinate the multimodal trail improvements with their ongoing design work for a rockfall solution along Freeport Road.

The approximate length of this segment will be 2.25 miles long and will extend the Three Rivers Heritage Trail from Blawnox Borough (completed) to the Hulton Bridge (connection to Oakmont). 

The project began in June 2023 and will actively engage the communities, stakeholders, and project partners at various times throughout the project to review the proposed alignments as they evolve based on site analysis and public input. As the project progresses, updates will be shared here inclusive of meeting dates, opportunities to review and give feedback and any other project information. This project will run through December 2026.

PROJECT PROGRESS:

The Engineering Team (led by GFT Infrastructure) and Friends of the Riverfront have been progressing the project from conceptual planning to a collaborative design phase involving key stakeholders like PennDOT and O’Hara Township, with a specific focus on developing safe barrier options for cyclists along Freeport Road.

PROJECT FUNDING

Funding for this project was provided by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County (RAAC)’s Trail Development Fund, which was made possible via the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021. 

PREVIOUS STUDIES

In 2011, Friends, in partnership with Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) completed the Community Trails Initiative (CTI) Study. This study outlined the extension of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail from Millvale to Freeport, as part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. Another study was completed in 2018, PennDOT Central Office funded a study to look at key segments of the Allegheny Valley corridor that needed significant PennDOT and railroad coordination. This segment was identified as one of those key segments and the study showed potential solutions for connectivity within the corridor.