Tom Corbett, Governor • Barry J. Schoch, Secretary

Issue 5 • Summer 2013

Venango, Crawford Counties Aspire to be Home for Several Bicycling Hub Communities By Marianne Warner, Safety Press Officer, PennDOT District 1

Thanks to a partnership of PennDOT, state and local officials, and community groups, the Erie-to- Bicycle Trail in western is another step closer to becoming a reality.

Ground was broken last fall on the McClintock Trail, a 1.7-mile-long trail that runs through the historic oil region near Oil City in Venango County. It will be part of the planned 270-mile-long trail that would stretch from Erie to Pittsburgh.

The northern portion of the McClintock Trail already runs on low traffic volume rural roads. The southern portion is now under construction and nearing completion.

The southern trail will parallel railroad tracks and will feature an eight-foot-wide paved trail surface and, eventually, interpretive panels.

The newly constructed segment of the McClintock Trail will start at McClintock Well #1 – the historic oil well in Cornplanter Township that is identified as the oldest well in the world that is still producing oil at its original depth. The trail will extend into Oil City.

When complete, the McClintock Trail will join other Oil Region trails – The Queen City Trail, the Trail, Samuel Justus Trail, Oil City Trail and the Allegheny River Trail – in Belmar Trail, a spur of Erie to Pittsburgh trail. Photos ultimately providing bicyclists a contiguous route from Titusville in courtesy of Kim Harris, Project Manager, Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism Continued on page 2

In This Issue: Altoona Bike Path Project Receives Community Transportation Award ...... 3 Shared-Lane Markings Improve Safety ...... 4

Capitol Region Study Aims to Improve Trail Spotlight: The Lower Trail ...... 5 Biking, Walking Safety ...... 3

1 Tunnel on Erie to Pittsburgh trail Photo courtesy of Kim Harris

Continued from page 1 Crawford County, through Venango PennDOT District 1’s former bicycle 160,000 users and generate more County to the City of Parker in and pedestrian coordinator. than $4.3 million in revenues. Armstrong County. Kim Harris of the Oil Region Alliance A follow-up economic study is now That Titusville-to-Parker segment of of Business, Industry & Tourism, an under way, and Frawley believes it the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail will be Oil City-based development group, will show even more promising 85 percent complete when the is the project manager responsible results because of the miles of trail McClintock Trail is finished. for design and construction of the that have been added and the southern McClintock Trail. She improved connections to towns. The McClintock Trail also has a already looks forward to a project safety component. Cyclists will no that PennDOT expects to let in 2014. The vision of trail proponents is to longer have to share the road with That project would further develop have local towns in Venango and traffic on busy Route 8. Additionally, the southern trailhead – the point Crawford counties develop into a fence that will separate the trail where the trail would begin in Oil bicycling hub communities – places from active Western New York & City. that would have the facilities and Pennsylvania Railroad tracks will attractions to prompt cyclists to use discourage people from trespassing The combined Oil Region trail them as a start point or end point for on those tracks. segments would provide bicyclists their travels. with a ride through the historic and The WNY&P realigned 1,800 feet of picturesque Oil Creek and Allegheny And that vision may be seeing its tracks to facilitate development River valleys, but planners also hope progress. The City of Franklin is of the trail. they will help the communities along already designated a Bicycle the route. Friendly Community, and there are Construction of the McClintock Trail plans to develop trail town plans for was made possible with $1.7 million A bicycle trail can be an economic Titusville, Oil City, Franklin, Foxburg in transportation funds through engine for a community, according and East Brady. PennDOT and a $205,000 grant from to Deb Frawley, the Greenways the state Department of Coordinator for Council on In recognition of these regional Conservation and National Greenways & Trails, a group created efforts, the statewide Greenways and Resources. through a partnership of three Trails Summit is to be held Sept. 15 – counties (Crawford, Venango and 17 in Franklin. Event hosts include “PennDOT provided technical Clarion), seven municipalities and the Council on Greenways & Trails guidance, along with an avenue for seven non-profit groups to enhance and the Oil Region Alliance. the delivery of this project. It’s been the outdoor recreation infrastructure very rewarding to be part of an effort of the region. For more information on the that required so much coordination McClintock Trail and Erie-to- between the partners involved, and A 2006 study by the Allegheny Pittsburgh Trail, visit will result in the construction of a Valley Trails Association and the Oil http://www.eriepittsburghtrail.org/ trail that will be enjoyed by so Region Alliance said existing trails in many,” said Brian McNulty, the Oil Region attract more than 2 Altoona Bike Path Project Receives Community

Transportation Award By Tara M. Callahan-Henry, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator

In 2009 the City of Altoona approached PennDOT John Ciprich, PennDOT design services engineer. District 9, based in Holidaysburg, about a bike path “The department is always on the lookout for more project linking Penn State Altoona’s Main Campus to its projects like this one.” downtown buildings. The department decided to take advantage of the opportunity to link transportation The project was developed in cooperation with the City investments and land-use planning to help community of Altoona, Penn State Altoona and District 9, adding a development. transportation alternative for students beyond transit and driving. The Altoona Bike Path was Recently the collaborative effort earned a added into an already existing roadway 2013 Community Transportation project along Juniata Gap Road from West Excellence Award from the 10 Thousand 14th Avenue to Chestnut Avenue, an Friends of Pennsylvania, an alliance of existing 2.7 mile route connecting the organizations and individuals committed Ivyside Campus to the downtown campus. to land-use policies in the state. Through the cooperative effort, the path The project receiving the award was the helped improve the community’s quality of Altoona Bike/Pedestrian Trail along life by reducing congestion, emphasizing Juniata Gap Road, which was developed safety and promoting the town center. The through PennDOT’s previous pilot program, the project’s completion was marked with dedication Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative ceremony in 2010, with many attendees biking to the (PCTI). District 9 was the first to put out a PCTI bid in event to show their support. the state, with the City of Altoona applying for and receiving the $300,000 federal grant. The project award was presented on June 19 in Harrisburg, with Altoona Mayor Bill Schirf accepting the “This was a great opportunity for a multi-modal project, award. A small commemoration ceremony was also held and those are rare in rural areas like District 9,” said at the path on July 11 for local award recognition. Capitol Region Study Aims to Improve Biking, Walking Safety

pedestrians and bicyclists in the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg.

A study team has been formed to evaluate the current conditions and what improvements could be made in the area between Forster Street and Market Street (north/south) and North 7th Street and North 3rd Street (east/west).

The initiative is under way, and an initial analysis has been completed gathering information on traffic volumes and walking and biking patterns in the area. This review identified potential pedestrian and bicycle conflict areas within the study area.

Using these study results, the team will review what Navigating the streets on a bicycle can be a challenge. enhancements could improve safety in the area. PennDOT, along with partners including the City of Potential improvements could include signing, Harrisburg, the state Department of General Services, crosswalks, lighting, bus stops and shelters. Pending Capital Area Transit, and the Capitol Police, are available funding, PennDOT hopes to be able to working together to improve the safety and mobility of implement enhancements in the next 18 months. 3 Shared Lane Markings Improve Safety By Sean A. Brown, Safety Press Officer, PennDOT District 5

and bicyclists. Motorists are reminded that bicyclists are expected to travel in the street and are allowed to use as much of the lane as necessary for optimal safety. Also, they remind bicyclists to ride in the street as opposed to the sidewalk, avoiding parked cars and traveling in the same direction as motor vehicle traffic.

Whereas many municipalities across the country implement bike lanes that designate specific areas for bicyclists to ride, bicycling safety groups in the have been strong advocates for use of the sharrow, which they believe to be an alternative to bike lanes.

The Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (CAT), a Lehigh-Valley based organization that encourages various modes of transportation like bicycling, walking and public transportation, has worked to lead this initiative within the Lehigh Valley. Along with their main focus of bicyclist education efforts through on-the-road Linden Street in Allentown utilizes shared-lane markings. training, CAT was instrumental in piloting the use of With summer in full swing, more and more bicyclists are sharrows by conducting bicycle surveys and working sharing the road. Have you noticed any new markings with city officials on sharrow placement. lately on the roads in your community? Communities in Lehigh and Northampton counties have started to Bicycle surveys have recently shown that while 90 implement shared lane markings, or “sharrows,” on their percent of bicyclists in Bethlehem ride in the correct city streets. directions, only 60 percent of bicyclists do in Allentown - a fact that exemplifies the need for education in Beginning in 2009 with the City of Bethlehem and just Pennsylvania’s third largest city. this year in the City of Allentown, sharrows started making their way to the city streets and state roadways In late June, CAT, with PennDOT and the City of within these municipalities. Allentown, held a demonstration at the PennDOT District 5 office in Allentown on how to properly, and Shared-lane markings are distinguished by a symbol most importantly, safely ride utilizing the new shared- that looks like two chevrons with a bicycle beneath. The lane markings. The event was well attended and sharrows serve to provide direction for both motorists PennDOT thanks all who participated. PennDOT to Present on Bicycle Facility Development

PennDOT’s planning partners the Tri-County Regional Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines. Planning Commission, Lancaster County Planning The afternoon will be framed around discussion of the Commission, Lebanon and York Metropolitan Planning AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Organizations will join other transportation Facilities. stakeholders to host an afternoon discussion on developing bicycle facilities on Thursday, Sept. 26. The event will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at Fort Hunter Centennial Barn in Harrisburg. For more As part of the event, Mike Keiser, PennDOT’s executive information about the event and registration, contact for the Harrisburg-based District 8 office, will speak Janine Park of the Tri-County Regional Planning about the department’s perspective on bicycle facilities Commission at [email protected]. meeting PennDOT and American Association of State

4 Trail Spotlight . . . The Lower Trail by Karl King, Vice President, Rails to Trails of Central PA

ver 150 years ago, canal boats plied the route of what is now the Lower Trail as part of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal. Paralleling the scenic Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River, the trail stretches 17 miles from Onear Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County through the peaceful Juniata Valley to the village of Alfarata in Huntingdon County.

Mostly wooded, the trail’s name rhymes with “flower” and honors the memory of the wife and son of its chief benefactor. It is open to hiking, cycling, horseback riding, wildlife photography, birding and cross-country skiing and provides canoe and kayak access at five sites along the Juniata River Water Trail. The river also offers excellent fishing opportunities.

With only a minimal grade from east to west, the Lower Trail consists of a rolled, crushed limestone surface, with the exception of a 2-mile stretch extending through the borough of Williamsburg where roller blading and skate boarding (Photo courtesy of RTTCPA)

One-time railroad bridges built on the piers of canal aqueducts carry the Lower Trail over the Frankstown Branch at three locations along the corridor. are permitted. Rails to Trails of Central Pennsylvania (RTTCPA) purchased the corridor from the Penn Central Corporation in 1989 after the rail line that succeeded the canal was discontinued and the trail was opened in 1994.

Today, visitors to the trail can see the remains of canal locks and lock tenders’ houses, as well as abandoned stone crushers and tipples left from the early 20th century when the rail (Photo courtesy of RTTCPA) line served limestone quarries and refractories in what was once and industrial valley. Ruins of a lock from the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal near Mt. Etna along the Lower Trail.

Five trailheads serve the Lower Trail: Flowing Spring near Canoe Creek State Park, Grannas Station, Williamsburg where food and services are available, Covedale, Mt. Etna and Alfarata, near Alexandria. Directions to the trailheads and more information on the Lower Trail can be found at www.rttcpa.org.

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