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

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. 

The approximate length of this segment will be 5 miles long and will connect to segments of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail on either side (Blawnox Borough (completed) and Cheswick Borough (planned)). 

The final alignment of the trail is not determined, but we anticipate much of the trail alignment will occur within the PennDOT right-of-way with potential opportunities for portions of the trail to be separated from vehicular traffic as an off-road and paved multi-use trail. 

The project is expected to begin in April 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. 

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.