|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
5/8/98: Governor Ridge Commits $1.8 million to the Pittsburgh to D.C. Corridor ... |
The first continuous 100 miles of the Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD Trail is now possible with grants announced by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge at a press conference in Rockwood, PA on Friday May 8, 1998. Of the $1.2 million made available statewide through the Keystone Rails-to-Trails Program, $355,000 was allocated to trail groups of the Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA), who collectively are completing the Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Trail. The commitment of nearly 30% of the total funding indicates the importance of this trail project to the Commonwealth.
In addition, Governor Ridge announced the release of $1.5 million from state capital budget funds to build the section south of Ohiopyle State Park. The ATA will complete the 100 miles in Pennsylvania between McKeesport and Meyersdale by the summer of 1999. Seventy continuous miles of trail from McKeesport to Confluence, PA, which follows the scenic Youghiogheny River, will be completed by the end of this summer.
The Governor made his announcement to more than a hundred trail enthusiasts at the trail access area in Rockwood, Somerset County. John Oliver, Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources stated that this is one of the most exciting rail trail projects in the country. Secretary Oliver praised the high level of dedicated volunteers at the grass roots level who are making this project a reality.
Here's the Governor's press release ....
Commonwealth News Bureau, Room 308, Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Tom Charles, Deputy Press Secretary, (717) 783-1116 or Larissa Brescia,, DCNR, (717) 772-9101
ROCKWOOD, Somerset County (May 8) -- Gov. Tom Ridge today announced $2.7 million in funds for the planning, acquisition and construction of 25 rails-to-trails projects throughout Pennsylvania, including one that will be a part of a proposed Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., trail.
Gov. Ridge today made the announcement at the Allegheny Highlands Trail in Somerset County, overlooking the Casselman River. This trail is receiving $100,000 for restoration of the Salisbury Viaduct. The Governor also today announced $1.1 million to help non-profit organizations and local governments protect and enhance waterways across the Commonwealth (see accompanying press release).
"Today, I'm pleased to keep Pennsylvania's rail-to-trails program moving on the right track and Pennsylvania's river conservation projects flowing in the right direction -- with a $3.8 million investment in Pennsylvania's prized natural resources," Gov. Ridge said.
Pennsylvania is the No. 1 state in the nation for rails-to-trails projects. With Gov. Ridge's announcement today, Pennsylvania now can lay claim to 800 miles out of the national total of roughly 10,000 miles of rail-trails.
Since Gov. Ridge took office, Pennsylvania has nearly doubled the number of miles of rail-trails -- from 432 to 800 since 1995. A rail-trail is an abandoned railroad bed that has been converted to trail use for outdoor recreational activities such as biking, hiking, jogging, cross-country skiing and horseback riding.
As part of today's announcement, Gov. Ridge released $1.5 million in state capital budget funds to convert a nearly six-mile section of rail bed that currently is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance trail. This trail runs through Ohiopyle State Park and five Southwestern Pennsylvania counties. Once completed, the project will provide a 400-mile continuous trail corridor from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.
"This trail passes through some of the most spectacular scenery Pennsylvania has to offer," Gov. Ridge said. "When completed, it is estimated that 2.5 million people will use the trail and will produce an economic boom of $60 million for the region."
The trail network is easily accessible to more than two million residents in Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland counties, and is strategically located within a day's drive of more than 70 percent of the nation's population.
Keystone Ride '98, Gov. Ridge's annual bicycle ride will utilize part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance trail. Gov. Ridge last week announced that his Keystone 98 bike tour will swing through Southwestern Pennsylvania on Sept. 9 and 10. In 1995, Gov. Ridge began the Keystone Ride bike tours of various regions of the state to promote travel, tourism and cycling in Pennsylvania.
The other $1.2 million in rail-trails grants were made available through The Keystone Rails-to-Trails Program, administered by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The program is part of Gov. Ridge's Community Conservation Partnership -- a four-year, $75 million grant and technical assistance initiative that helps communities and non-profit organizations conserve natural and cultural resources, provide outdoor recreation, enhance tourism, and foster community and economic development. The program provides up to 50 percent funding for the planning, acquisition and development of rail-trail corridors for public recreational uses.
The following is a list, by county, of the rail-trail grant recipients, the grant amounts, and a brief description of the projects
# # #
1998
.
|
||||||
| This page is part of the Allegheny Trail Alliance's site in support of the Great Allegheny Passage, a motor-free recreational rail trail connecting Pittsburgh PA and Cumberland MD. Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001by Allegheny Trail Alliance, Bill Metzger, Mary Shaw, and Roy Weil. Amenity information courtesy of FreeWheeling Easy. We encourage you to create links to this site and to print copies of the maps for your personal use. We prohibit other uses of this site, especially if they generate spam or other mass communications -- see our Privacy Policy.. This page was last modified on 07/10/01. Send email to ATA or contact the ATA or member trails. | ||||||
