Trail News - Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance

		Calendar of Events and Happenings Alerts New Posts
Date	Event	and who to contact

October 2010 (Dates TBA)	Oil Creek 100 Trail Run 5 AM of day one to 4 PM of day two Est. 300 to 500 participants on the trail system in the areas of Jersey lot to Boughton Acid Works, Miller Farm Area and Petroleum Centre. Contact: Oil Creek State Park Jake Weiland\| Park Manager, Phone: 814.676.5915, jweiland@state.pa.us
August 22, 2010	Drake Well Marathon 7AM to 3 PM Est. 300 to 500 participants on the trail from Jersey lot to Pioneer Contact: Oil Creek State Park Jake Weiland\| Park Manager, Phone: 814.676.5915, jweiland@state.pa.us
July 17, 2010	Allegheny Valley Trails Association annual Fun Ride Titusville to Foxburg or join them anywhere in between. Breakfast in Titusville and dinner in Foxburg. See AVTA website for more details. Download a flyer here.
June 7, 2010	Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance Public Informational Meeting A public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, June 7, at 6:00 pm., at Penn State Behrend, REDC Room 180, 4701 College Drive, Erie, to provide local citizens and interested parties with information on the trail work being done by the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail Alliance (EPTA). Presentations will be given by trail representatives who are working towards a complete trail route between Pittsburgh and Erie, PA. A question-and-answer period will follow. The public meeting will include presentations and updates on the main sections of trail covered by the Alliance: Pittsburgh to Kittanning, Kittanning to Parker, Parker to Titusville and Titusville to Erie. Representatives of each of the local trail groups involved in the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail will be available.
March to early April 2010	Fish Stocking - Oil Creek State Park Cooperative stocking by PA Fish & Boat Commission and PA DCNR for early trout season (delayed harvest) and trout season starting April 17. Exact dates for stocking are not publicized. Typically 15 to 20 vehicles utilize the bike trail to stock fish. Contact: Oil Creek State Park Jake Weiland\| Park Manager, Phone: 814.676.5915, jweiland@state.pa.us
April 24, 2010	The Allegheny Valley Trails Association is participating in the 2010 Great American Cleanup of PA with a trail clean up on Saturday, April 24. (Rain date May 1) Clean up starts at 9:00 at the trailheads. The clean up should be finished soon after noon. Bring along work gloves and tools such as pruning shears, broom, shovel, trash bags, etc. Be prepared to: Pick up trash. Carry out what you can. Leave remainder beside trail for later pickup. Report sections where pickup required. Clear the edge of the trail back 6-8 ft of stones, branches and anything that would damage a mower while trimming the edge. Trim branches up 2-3 feet from the ground and back 6-8 feet, where practical, for mower clearance. Trim branches back from the trail far enough that you won’t hit them when riding on the edge of the trail; clear overhead so you don’t need to duck. Trimmed branches should be thrown at least 10 feet off the trail. If you can help, please contact one of the people below and be at the trailhead at 9:00 AM, April 24 or just show up. Section Leaders - Allegheny River Trail · Franklin towards Belmar - Cindy Schenck - cschenck3@verizon.net · Belmar towards Franklin - Bob Hoffman - CHERLY52@msn.com · Belmar towards Brandon - Sue Hilton - hilton@clarion.edu · Brandon towards Belmar - Charlie Danielson - chd7@verizon.net · Kennerdell tunnel - not assigned · Between tunnels - St. George · Rockland Station tunnel - not assigned · Emlenton north - Emlenton · Foxburg to Parker - not assigned Section Leaders - Sandy Creek Trail · Van towards Rockland - not assigned · Rockland towards Van - not assigned · Belmar towards Rockland - Randy Stewart - schenck102@verizon.net · Fisherman's Cove to Belmar - Vision Quest
April 17, 2010	March of Dimes in Oil Creek State Park 7 AM to 3 PM Est. 1,000 participants will be on the trail from Petroleum Centre to Jersey Lot Contact: Oil Creek State Park Jake Weiland\| Park Manager, Phone: 814.676.5915, jweiland@state.pa.us
Times and dates below	Allegheny County, Friends of the Riverfront and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council are proud to announce a series of public meetings to showcase the planned trail along the Allegheny Riverfront. Community members interested in reviewing the draft plan are encouraged to do so online by visiting the Trail Status page of www.friendsoftheriverfront.org keyword Community Trails Initiative. http://www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/new_pages/heritage_status.htm #communitytrailinitiative
March 2, 2010	6-8 pm Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Avenue, Millvale, PA 15209
March 3, 2010	6-8 pm Alle-Kiski Museum, 224 East 7^th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
March 6, 2010	1-3 pm Boyd Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
February 27, 2010	Allegheny Valley Trails Association Fundraiser 6:00 PM K of C Franklin A variety of activities, including a silent auction, raffles, door prizes and a brief overview of AVTA’s progress over the past year. Some of the prizes include a bicycle, a kayak, Penguins hockey tickets, a night at the Foxburg Inn in Foxburg as well as framed, local artwork and numerous gift certificates. Ticket prices are $15.00 per person, $25.00 per couple, and includes your admission as well as lots of good food!!! A cash bar will be available also. Tickets can be secured by completing the form below and WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR! Cut-off date for ticket purchases will be February 19. Knights of Columbus Hall (K of C) located at 1436 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA

Group News

*Friends of the Riverfront*	Relocation of a section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail near the 31st Street Bridge, including construction of a trail bridge along the edge of the Allegheny River, is expected to be completed sometime in August, said Thomas E. Baxter IV, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront, the project sponsor. Read more in the Post Gazette
*Clear Lake Authority*	The *East Branch Trail* is now open for 3.1 miles around Spartansburg! Come and enjoy, see the lake and visit town.
*AVTA & the City of Franklin*	The City of Franklin has now been designated as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Bronze Level by the League of American Bicyclists. Come and visit and see for yourself!
*Oil City*	Detour The City has discovered structural issues with the pedestrian walkway on the iron railroad bridge over Oil Creek in downtown Oil City, and it is now closed. This walkway also serves as the recreational trail to connect Petroleum Street to the Northside business district. Center Street bridge or Veteran's Memorial Bridge may be used as alternate routes, however there is no trail signage on these bridges.
Friends of the Riverfront	Route 28 Trail Construction: Tom Baxter indicated at a recent EPTA meeting that a June ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for this vital project, for which construction is slated to finish in mid-May; the engineering, permitting, etc. cost approximately $1 million and the construction cost approximately $3 million. He noted that being part of a Mega Greenway such as Erie-to-Pittsburgh helps with funding. Another vital section of the system will now be linked.
Rails to Trails Conservancy	Ms. Pat Tomes indicated the public informational meeting concerning the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail held November 16 at the Fire Hall in Freeport, PA had 60 attendees and resulted in media coverage and some additional new volunteers. During June, RTC will conduct a public informational meeting in Erie, on a date to be determined, perhaps near June 5 which is National Trail Day.
Northwest PA Trails Association & Clear Lake Authority	Two more sections of trail will soon by constructed! The Corry Junction Trail and the East Branch Trail have both been put out to bid and bids awarded. Construction will begin in the spring 2010.
Friends of the Riverfront	June 2009 - ONLINE INTERACTIVE THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL MAP We recently took the paper version of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail Map and made it available online! By visiting www.friendsoftheriverfront.org/map you can take adavantage of all the interactive version has to offer! Zoom in on your favorite spots, save your favorite POI's (points of interest), and leave feedback! Let us know how you love it, like it, or how we can work to improve it! Send your feedback to friends@friendsoftheriverfront.org!
	STATE OF THE RIVERFRONT REPORT"Allegheny County's riverfronts are destinations for its' citizens and visitors. They provide recreation, conservation, and access opportunities while maintaining their place as important drivers in the region's industrial, commercial, and residential economies. The Allegheny County Riverfronts Project provides overall planning and coordination for implementation of recreation, conservation, and access. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council works closely with Allegheny County, Friends of the Riverfront and other partner organizations to implement specific projects along the riverfronts." To view the 2009 State of the Riverfront Report and several key projects of Friends of the Riverfront, please click HERE.