Bike Pittsburgh

Project will connect 17 municipalities from Millvale to Harrison Twp.

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and Friends of the Riverfront today announced a series of public meetings to discuss the Allegheny Valley Community Trail Initiative, a trail and riverfront development plan that will connect 17 municipalities along the Allegheny River between Millvale and Harrison Twp.

The Allegheny Valley Community Trail Initiative is a coalition of municipal leaders, trail groups, greenway advocates, and elected officials from Aspinwall, Blawnox, Brackenridge, Cheswick, Etna, Fox Chapel, Frazer Twp., Harmar Twp., Harrison Twp., Millvale, O’Hara Twp., Pittsburgh, Shaler, Sharpsburg, Springdale Borough, Springdale Twp. and Tarentum.

Residents in the communities along the proposed 32-mile trail may learn more about the trail study conducted in 2009 at three public meetings in March:

· Tues., March 2, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Avenue, Millvale

· Wed., March 3, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Alle-Kiski Museum, 224 E. 7th Avenue, Tarentum

· Sat., March 6, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Boyd Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, O’Hara Twp.

The project is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Allegheny County, Allegheny Rivertown Enterprize Zone, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Friends of the Riverfront, and the 17 riverfront municipalities. O’Hara Twp. and the Fox Chapel District Association are also assisting with community outreach and fiscal responsibilities.

Once completed, the Allegheny Valley Trail will tie into the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Greenway and the Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway, which follows the 320-mile path of the historic Pennsylvania Mainline Canal.

For more information about the Allegheny Valley Community Trail Initiative and to download plans, please visit the Trail Status page of www.friendsoftheriverfront.org.