Connectivity Roadmap | Digital Equity & Maps | Digital Navigator | Communication Tool Kits

About the Project

The Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Connected initiative is a regional consortium that includes the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Allies for Children, and a diverse group of regional partners to develop an equitable Connectivity Improvement Plan to provide affordable, reliable broadband internet access across the region.

This initiative is not affiliated with any internet provider and is not intended to sell any internet services. Rather, it seeks to guide the region’s future internet investments that can be made now that the historic infrastructure bill has passed, which includes $65 billion for broadband.

Broadband should be available and Affordable to the Southwest PA Region

Rural and urban areas in our region are lacking affordable
access to internet and equipment that is fast and reliable. This impacts the
quality of life for our residents and communities.

• Rural issue – high-speed broadband service is oftentimes unavailable.
• Urban issue – affordability where low-income households cannot afford access.

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Connectivity Roadmap

The Connectivity Roadmap was informed by a public survey, county interviews, ISP interviews, workshops with regional providers, nonprofits, local and state government leaders, industry experts, community organizations, and through best practices.

• Connectivity Roadmap Appendices

  • Appendix A – County Profiles
  • Appendix B – Projects
  • Appendix C – Funding Matrix (.xls)
  • Appendix D – Community Conversions Report
  • Appendix E – Glossary

An implementation Guide

Rather than identify a comprehensive set of future projects that may quickly become obsolete in this changing landscape, the Connectivity Roadmap provides several tools to guide the selection of projects as priorities shift.

• The Project Identification Decision Tree
  guides decision-making through the steps needed to meet a given need, according
  to the existing conditions and type of need.
• The Measures of Effectiveness
  rubric rates and weights projects according to an extensive set of metrics that
  includes technical and equitable qualifications.
• Fourteen initial Projects have been
  prepared to illustrate priority infrastructure improvements that meet the needs
  of the county, by first starting with areas that are unserved and that can
  pursue funding immediately.

The Connectivity Roadmap not only identifies regional goals, and how to identify projects, but also provides recommendations and next steps for the SPC, county and city leadership, and other partners to improve broadband infrastructure, tools, and skills across southwestern Pennsylvania.

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Digital Equity & Maps

To better understand the needs of the region, SWPA Connected
examined the current state of broadband coverage, speed, resources, and gaps in
relation to the region’s demographic and socioeconomic conditions.

SWPA Connected developed two connectivity data dashboards
leveraging existing local and national open-source datasets. We also analyzed
and incorporated Environmental Justice and Title VI data to create the
Connectivity Indices.

These mapping applications will be used to assist in prioritizing potential deployment locations across the region. In the meantime, these applications will serve entities who are applying to state and federal grant programs for broadband deployment funding by helping articulate the need to deploy high-speed connectivity to the most critical unserved and underserved areas of the region.

• Resources

  • Connectivity Index Scoring Guide
  • Connectivity Dashboard Explainer Video

Note: The datasets are very large and may take time to load and refresh.

Fixed Broadband Story Map

The Fixed Broadband Story Map provides an in-depth look at the fixed broadband speed across the region, the type of broadband or internet technology available, and what that technology supports, as well as the broadband providers throughout the region.

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Digital Navigator

Overview

SPC’s Digital Navigator Resource & Mapping Tool is a user-friendly web application designed to assist residents of our ten-county region in accessing essential digital resources and assistance programs. This interactive database and map enables users to locate and explore a variety of support services tailored to their specific needs, ensuring everyone can stay connected and benefit from available digital opportunities. The Digital Navigator Program Finder features detailed provider descriptions, contact information, and links to further resources for each listed service, with a continuously-updated database to ensure the latest information on available resources and programs. The easy-to-navigate map includes demographic data on digital navigator outreach needs in the SPC region. SPC designed this resource in partnership with our broadband and digital equity stakeholders throughout the region.

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Communication Tool Kits

These tool kits aim to provide helpful resources and materials to assist in raising awareness about the SWPA Connected initiative, the Connectivity Roadmap, and to provide communities and residents across the region the tools they need to increase their digital literacy and better advocate for improved internet access.

• Resources

  • Social Media Tool Kit

    • Full Toolkit (.doc)
    • Facebook Graphics (.zip)
    • Twitter Graphics (.zip)

  • SWPA Connected Engagement Packet

    • Engagement Packet (.pdf)
    • County Profiles (.pdf)

  • Community Meeting Materials

    • Facilitator Material List (.doc)
    • Sign-in Sheet (.doc)
    • Discussion Guide (.doc)
    • Presentation Template (.ppt)
    • Connected Words for Discussion (.doc)
    • Engagement Packet (.pdf)

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In the News/CMU Student Videos

Students in an undergraduate Junior Communications Design Studio created sample public service campaigns focused on equitable broadband as part of a course assignment.  Click below and view examples of the students’ terrific work as well as news articles related to SWPA Connected!

 
 

The coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt life in the region; overall, residents of Allegheny County are still traveling less compared to 2019. However, bike miles have gone up.

“We pretty much had our best May ever,” said David White, executive director of Healthy Ride, Pittsburgh’s bikeshare system.

The nonprofit’s ridership increased 43 percent from 2019 to 2020. Much of the growth stemmed from Healthy Ride’s partnership with Port Authority: anyone with a Connect Card can take unlimited 15-minute trips. However, beginning May 1 of this year, average trip length increased by 60 percent.

“Instead of linking the last mile or first mile of their transit trip with bikeshare, people are just taking the whole trip on a bike now,” said White.

National, county, and city data reflect an increased appetite for bikes. According to analytics company Streetlight Data, bike miles in the Pittsburgh region saw up to a 19 percent increase in May 2020. The region’s trails recorded jumps of more than 30 percent on some segments, according to data collected by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Year over year, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership recorded a daily average increase of nearly 50 percent at its counting sites during the months of March, April and May.

Read the full article at WESA.fm

Bike Share Pittsburgh, the nonprofit operator of POGOH bikeshare, is installing 22 new POGOH stations through July and is launching 154 new e-assist bikes and 66 pedal bikes into their fleet.

In addition to creating more connections within the current network, the new stations will connect several new neighborhoods, including Hazelwood, Larimer, Garfield, Upper Lawrenceville, Allegheny Center and Central Northside.

The growth of the bikeshare network is made possible by a Federal Highway Administration grant for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ). The grant request was supported locally by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the City of Pittsburgh.

“Because POGOH riders need to both rent and return their bikes at one of our stations, we need a lot of stations to make the system convenient. This expansion is focused on increasing the convenience of our network, and better connecting more neighborhoods to bikeshare,” said David White, executive director of Bike Share Pittsburgh, in a press release. “This twenty-two station expansion is a meaningful step towards our vision to have POGOH stations in every neighborhood in the City and eventually extend to many inner ring municipalities.”

The new station locations have received approval from city council and permits from the City of Pittsburgh.

For more information about Bike Share Pittsburgh and the 2023 station expansion, visit pogoh.com.

View the full story at wpxi.com

If you feel like you’re noticing more bikes on the roads, you’re probably right: POGOH bikeshare hit record-breaking ridership last year and has reached 1 million rides total since launching in 2015.

“Students, residents and visitors embraced POGOH last year — it’s clear that when we expand the station network, our ridership grows significantly,” said David White, executive director of Bike Share Pittsburgh, the nonprofit that operates POGOH bikeshare, in a press release.

To meet the demand, Bike Share Pittsburgh has announced POGOH’s Phase 3 Expansion, which aims to add more than 50 new stations to Pittsburgh over the next few years. There are currently 60 stations across Pittsburgh.

“We have a vision that POGOH stations cover every neighborhood in the city, and that over time our network will extend to many inner-ring municipalities in Allegheny County,” White said.

POGOH plans to engage with Pittsburgh communities to choose the 50 new locations; feedback is being accepted through an interactive map on its website.

Funding for the new stations will come from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program, the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund Grant in partnership with the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, and other grants.

In 2023, 211,000 rides were recorded, up significantly from the previous high of 124,000 in 2021. Bike Share Pittsburgh said the increase in usage can be attributed to factors such as the popularity of the electric-assist bicycles, high ridership from the University of Pittsburgh community, increased support for biking and walking, and collaboration with PRT, which allows users to register and rent POGOH bikes through its Transit App.

View the full article at pittsburghmagazine.com.

While living in Monaca, Dr. Vincent Troia frequently rode his bike to the Montour Trail in Coraopolis. He followed the Ohio River down Bicycle PA Route A, along Route 51, despite the high-speed traffic. Troia also said he would bike on the Little Beaver Creek Greenway trail, just across the state border in Ohio.

“I was thinking, ‘boy, it would be nice to just connect the two trails, and then we’d have a beautiful network, a bike network,’” said Troia, who now serves as president of the Ohio River Trail Council (ORTC). The nonprofit organization works to protect trails and to provide active transportation networks in the Ohio River Valley and surrounding areas.

Since its founding in 2009, the nonprofit ORTC has completed multiple bicycle feasibility studies to improve safety for cyclists. The studies encompassed an area along the Ohio River from Coraopolis to the Pennsylvania-Ohio border and examined possibilities for safer, off-road trails, according to Troia. Now, ORTC is developing a more comprehensive bicycle suitability study.

Read the full article at Trib Live

Leann Chaney, senior active transportation coordinator at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, works with stakeholders looking to advance active transportation such as biking and walking within the SPC’s 10-county region. She provides technical guidance to help local governments achieve their active transportation goals and improve safety, comfort and connectivity. She also manages SPC’s nonmotorized data collection program, implementing the Regional Active Transportation Plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania and sponsoring a quarterly Active Transportation Forum.

How did you end up working in active transportation, and what attracted you to the field?
I prefer biking or walking for short trips and often bike to work, so the idea of advancing active transportation was appealing to me. Active transportation plays a crucial role in public transportation and transportation demand management strategies and is integral to many aspects of the work we do at SPC.

In what ways can active transportation be incorporated into projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act moving forward?
There are numerous opportunities to incorporate active transportation into plans, policies and infrastructure projects. Bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be incorporated into roadway and other infrastructure projects by embracing Complete Streets principles and using innovative design guidelines to develop contextually appropriate multimodal solutions.

What has been the most gratifying aspect of your career?
Knowing that more people of all ages and abilities can safely bike, walk or roll to get to everyday destinations because new bike lanes, trails or sidewalks were installed or because street crossings were improved brings a sense of fulfillment, knowing you’ve played a part in fostering positive change.

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on active transportation?
Rates of active transportation have increased nationally over the past several years, driven by improved walking and bicycling infrastructure and emerging technologies like electric bikes and micromobility solutions, like scooters. E-bikes make biking accessible to a wider range of people, and scooters provide convenient options for short trips, particularly in urban areas.

What book are you currently recommending to friends?
“The Death and Life of Great American Cities” by Jane Jacobs — one of the most influential works in community planning.

View the full article at bizjournals.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is proud to announce the approval of two transformative plans on June 23, 2025, aimed at improving transportation and safety across the 10-county region.

The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is a cutting-edge tool tailored for industry professionals, planners, and engineers. This interactive story map offers detailed data, maps, and resources to support the development of bike lanes, pedestrian pathways, and other active transportation projects. The ATP aims to improve connectivity and promote healthier, more sustainable travel options, making it an invaluable resource for shaping the region’s future mobility. It is available for online viewing and usage here.

Complementing the ATP, the Regional Safety Action Plan (RSAP) addresses a critical need for safer roads across SWPA. This comprehensive document outlines strategies to reduce traffic crashes, enhance pedestrian safety, and upgrade infrastructure, impacting everyone from daily commuters to cyclists. Accompanied by a series of engaging videos, the RSAP highlights real-world safety improvements, offering a visual testament to SPC’s dedication to protecting all road users. The plan builds on recent regional safety data, aiming to address high-risk areas identified through community input and analysis. It is available for online viewing here.

SPC invites the public, industry professionals, and local leaders to explore these plans and provide feedback as implementation begins. Videos and additional resources will be shared on SPC’s social media channels in the coming days.

Media Inquiries: DJ Ryan
Cell:  412-478-1928 
DJRyan@spcregion.org

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About Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission:
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, more commonly known as SPC, is the cooperative forum for regional collaboration, planning, and public decision-making for the ten counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania including the City of Pittsburgh. SPC develops plans and programs for public investment and fulfills federal and state requirements for transportation, economic development, and local government assistance programs.

PRESS RELEASE DOWNLOAD (PDF)

Elected officials, business owners and residents from Verona and Oakmont gathered Sept. 27 to walk from the Off the Rails restaurant in Verona to College Avenue in Oakmont and back again for a Verona Borough walk audit.
 
Trish Hredzak, vice president of Verona council, set up the audit after there was some divide from residents and committee members about the VOPP Trail bike path planned at the intersection of Center Avenue and Allegheny River Boulevard and the viaduct connecting Oakmont to Verona. Despite discussions of rerouting the path, there are still issues with the viaduct that need to be solved, Hredzak said.

“Even if we reroute (the bike path), we can’t forget about the viaduct,” Hredzak said.
 
She said the council has received multiple complaints about the stretch of road, including the condition of its crosswalks, speeding motorists and safety concerns while walking along the road. The roadway was designed in the 1930s and changes from two lanes to five lanes and then back to two lanes in less than a mile.
 
Hredzak said she had multiple conversations with state Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, through which the VOPP Trail will run. After a few conversations, she suggested the walk audit to get first-hand opinions from residents.
 
“We wanted to think of (solutions) from a non-motorist perspective,” Hredzak said.
 
The day of the walk audit, 50 people, including government officials, business owners, residents of Oakmont and Verona and Riverview students attended the event.
 
Officials included state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forrest Hills, Allegheny County councilman Nick Futules, Riverview School District superintendent Neil English and McAndrew.
 
Attendees were split into four groups to make the almost mile-long trek. Some members of the group were given strollers, walkers, wheelchairs or canes to use during the walk to give an accurate perspective of what it would be like to walk with those additions.
 
Riverview student Eli DeVita, 18, pushed a stroller during the audit. He expressed how difficult it was for him to maneuver the stroller over cobblestones and around potholes while crossing the street. He said it was difficult to find a place to walk off the sidewalk onto the road to cross the street at Center and Allegheny River Boulevard without being placed in front of traffic.
 
“There’s some really strange geometry at Center and Allegheny River Boulevard,” said Craig Toocheck, an employee of Pittsburgh Regional Transit who attended the audit to discuss methods to make bus stops fit with crosswalk placements or edits in the borough.
 
DeVita was joined by classmates Renton Biondich, 17, and Cailey Trosch, 17. Trosch used a walker during the study and expressed the same difficulties as DeVita.
 
Hredzak said nine students attended the audit. Trosch said she and the other seniors attended the event for their civics class — for class they are required to attend a council meeting, but the walking audit counted as a replacement event.
 
Suzie Davis, 69, of Verona had complaints about how faded the crosswalks are on the road.
 
“My husband and I are crossing guards down here,” Davis said. “People don’t pay attention. They blow the red light on my husband (at the intersection of South Avenue and Allegheny River Boulevard) all the time. As a crossing guard, you see a lot.”
 
The group also discovered that some sidewalk ramps were pointed in the wrong direction for visually impaired people trying to cross the street safely.
 
During the walk, participants were asked to check off boxes for how easy the route was for walking and make suggestions for traffic deterrents such as on-street parking and mid-block crosswalks.
 
After the audit, Hredzak asked participants to fill out a survey to see what residents want prioritized.
 
“It’s always good to check in with your base,” Hredzak said.
 
Leann Chaney, senior active transportation planner with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, helped Hredzak to organize the audit.
 
“Without (SPC’s) guidance, I would have no idea how to organize this,” Hredzak said. “Without them, it would not have been as well orchestrated.”
 
The results of the survey will be used in future road studies in the borough.

View the full story at triblive.com.

Since our 2014 Member’s Meeting, Bike Pittsburgh has been pushing Pittsburgh’s mayors to adopt a policy toward zero traffic deaths. While other policy goals of ours such as a Complete Streets policy and a new bike plan were achieved in 2017 and 2020 respectively, we still lacked the bold policy goal of zero traffic fatalities until this week.

On Monday, March 4, Mayor Gainey answered our call and made a commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries as part of his vision of making Pittsburgh the safest City in the country. This policy commitment, known as Vision Zero, is due to be supported by City Council, with the introduction of Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution.

At the core of Vision Zero is the recognition that these fatalities and serious injuries are, in fact, preventable. All humans make mistakes, so we need to design our streets in a way where the chances that someone will be maimed or killed because of that mistake is reduced. When this engineering is combined with a holistic approach including education, a change in processes and policy, encouragement, evaluation, and public safety, true gains can be made toward eliminating harm.

Additionally, a formal city commitment towards zero traffic fatalities will help open Pittsburgh up to even more Federal safety funds, as the Biden Administration has developed a National Roadway Safety Strategy to address what they refer to as a “national crisis” of the needless loss of more than 40,000 American lives per year.

Councilperson Warwick’s resolution begins with the standard legalese justifying why the bill is necessary with statistics and values.

WHEREAS, traffic deaths and serious injuries occur disproportionately in low-income communities, communities of color, and communities with low car ownership and disproportionately affect individuals with limited mobility, people with disabilities, and people who are unhoused, children, and the elderly

A sample from Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution

After addressing why this is necessary, the resolution gets into “how” the city will achieve this goal. This section sets specific actions that city departments and staff should take, however it still lacks a target date to by which to reach this goal of zero. The resolution is by no means comprehensive, but it outlines the first necessary steps to catalyze action. It will also inform the future Vision Zero Action Plan that the City, County and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission are developing with funds from President Biden’s federal infrastructure bill.

First, the resolution formally adopts the goal “of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roadways and endorses the Vision Zero strategy as a comprehensive and holistic approach to achieving this goal, while maintaining constant evaluation of programs and practices.”

Second, DOMI will create a Vision Zero Task Force comprised of individuals from various City departments “that may be expected to commit resources or take actions toward the objective of Vision Zero.” This is a standard step in making sure that all appropriate departments are collaborating toward the goal in their work through this new lens, as well as adopting new policies and procedures that are missing. We don’t know everything that will come of this, but a focus on the goal may yield some surprising results. For instance, they may determine that a policy banning right turn on reds should be implemented citywide. In another example in New York City, they realized that outfitting large city fleet and contracted vehicles with side-guards will improve safety results. Other cities have lowered speed limits.

The third section gets into how the city will use the newly launched High Injury Network (HIN) map as a guide for where focus street improvements, policy, and education resources, with an eye toward equity. The “Vision Zero Working Group shall create a Vision Zero Memorandum to commit City resources to the goal…while prioritizing the most vulnerable and dependent users of the most dangerous parts of the transportation network.”

The fourth and final step of the resolution directs DOMI to include a Vision Zero component in their biennial Complete Streets Report.

Earlier in the day on Monday, March 4, DOMI presented their first Biennial Complete Streets Report to Council, a requirement of the 2017 Complete Streets Policy, another major policy win that BikePGH campaigned on during the Peduto administration. The report is a snapshot on what the City is currently doing toward road traffic safety, what the City needs to do, and a large dose of statistics on what’s happening on the ground.

Behind the statistics are people – our families, friends, and neighbors. Each crash has a ripple effect that touches countless lives.

DOMI 2023 Complete Streets Biennial Report

Another aspect of the 2017 Complete Streets Policy included the formation of a Complete Streets Advisory Group (CSAG). The group dissolved, along with many things during the pandemic, but in 2023, DOMI and the Mayor resurrected it. The CSAG Engage Page will be the primary public-facing location to keep track of the progress toward Vision Zero. On the page, you can currently find the CSAG Biennial Report, the HIN Map, a list of planning documents, and past meeting minutes.

BikePGH is glad to see the Gainey Administration and City Council make this commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Pittsburgh. Committing to zero deaths is good policy and help ensure that Pittsburgh families cease getting their lives upended by a mistake that could have been prevented in the first place.

Councilperson Warwick’s Vision Zero Resolution will be discussed in Council Chambers during their Standing Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 10am. There is an opportunity for public comment at the beginning of the meeting (sign up here) to support the commitment to Vision Zero. If you would like more information about how to talk to Council, please contact us: advocacy@bikepgh.org.

View the full article at bikepgh.org.

Avid cyclist Bob Cropp enjoys blazing a trail.

And with the addition of 10 miles to Armstrong Trails in Armstrong County, Cropp of Grove City arrived on his bike Monday morning to learn more about the ongoing efforts to expand the trail in the Kiski Junction corridor through Gilpin.

“It’s new to see, and I want to support this,” said Cropp of his reason for attending the “Celebrating the Impossible” trail christening, a public event at the Armstrong Trails trailhead in Schenley that drew a large crowd despite rainy weather.

The gathering was sponsored by Armstrong Trails, an organization dedicated to protecting and converting railroad corridors into trails for public use, with a goal of acting as an economic stimulus for area communities.

Hundreds gathered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to officially open the newest section of completed trail that runs from Crooked Creek/Manor Township in Armstrong County to Gilpin, part of the 52.5-mile trail on the former Allegheny Valley Railroad corridor.

The completed trail extends from Rosston in Manor Township, near the confluence of Crooked Creek and the Allegheny River, to the Kiski River in Gilpin and includes a refurbished railroad bridge that dates to 1899.

Armstrong Trails Executive Director Chris Ziegler said she was a little overwhelmed with emotion by the turnout Monday.

“We worked really hard for a solid nine months. Without Art and Pam, this task would have been much harder. They showed up every day,” Ziegler said.

Trail volunteers Art Haugh and Pam King are core helpers. King of New Castle smiled with satisfaction as she reflected on her new volunteer pursuits.

“It’s just really neat to see this,” said King, who volunteers operating heavy-duty excavating equipment. “It’s a great turnout, and I’m feeling good.”

“(Ziegler) is amazing. She has done the impossible,” Armstrong County Commissioner Anthony Shea said.

Shea recalled when a factory in Schenley closed in 1982.

“It was a really sad day, and people said the best days of this area were done. I don’t believe that. I believe with these trails, our best days are ahead of us,” Shea said.

Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn traveled from Harrisburg to serve as one of the guest speakers.

Dunn noted beyond the connection of the communities the trail provides, the trail ultimately connects people and their stories.

“These things take time. This Armstrong Trails has been underway for 30 or more years,” Dunn said. “And this trail is significant. This bridge is special.”

Closing the trail gaps statewide is a priority this year, Dunn said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro allotted $112 million for park and forest infrastructure last year. In the latest proposed budget, Shapiro is asking for $8.5 million to build trails across Pennsylvania.

“It’s attracting and keeping communities together, particularly young people — having people come home to the best places to live, work and play nestled along the banks of these rivers,” Dunn said.

Armstrong Trails transportation history dates back to 1855 when the first railroad line along the Allegheny River began hauling passengers, lumber, iron ore and coal.

Rail service continued into the 1970s.

In 1992, Armstrong Trails (formerly Allegheny Valley Land Trust) purchased the rail corridor for Armstrong Trails.

Gilpin resident Megan Beattie lives about a mile from the trail and attended the ceremony.

Beattie said she was happy to hear that the next 4 miles of trail on tap will continue from Schenley south to Leechburg.

“It’ll be neat to just go straight to Leechburg. This is super convenient,” Beattie said.

Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal was among the local officials in attendance.

She said Leechburg is ready to welcome the trail and hopes to welcome plenty of recreational tourists this summer.

“All of the easements are approved, and property owners along Kiski, River and Hicks avenues have worked with the borough. We’re going to do everything we can to make our little town a tourist town,” Smeal said.

Three free bike racks recently were installed in Leechburg Riverview Park, at the Volunteer Fire Department near the Kiski River boat launch and one at the end of the Hyde Park Walking Bridge, all donated by the Leechburg Rotary.

Cyclist and retiree Chris Lorenzato of Canonsburg showed up to check out more biking options for himself and his cyclist friends.

Lorenzato, 71, has been riding since 2001.

“They’re doing good. I’ve been all over these trails. I just go to the trailhead, and we ride all day,” Lorenzato said.

Next up for the trail volunteers is locating cross pipes and cleaning up the trees along the 4-mile stretch to Leechburg.

Already funded by the trail volunteer fund, the Leechburg expansion will cost about $60,000.

The trail is expected to be completed in late spring in time for the summer season, Ziegler said.

“We’re not guaranteed money or funding or anything, but we are guaranteed smiling faces that we see riding down the trail — the grandparents and families — that’s what we’re guaranteed,” she said.

Armstrong Trails follows along the eastern bank of the Kiski and Allegheny rivers in Westmoreland, Clarion and Armstrong counties.

Ziegler told the crowd that a $120,000 cash investment paid for the project, but not without the donations and volunteer hours of an estimated $657,000 in labor costs and $813,00 in donated equipment.

Gilpin Supervisors Chairman Charles Stull is eager to see the next phase of the trail connecting Gilpin and Leechburg completed.

“This will not only help bolster the Gilpin economy, but also Leechburg’s economy and the entire Leechburg area. This extension is huge for our local recreation and economy,” Stull said.

View the full article at triblive.com.