The Erie to Pittsburgh Trail effort to tackle the "simpler part" of the Hydetown to Titusville connection first in order to move the project along.
"It could be done in the near future," Ron Steffey told Titusville City Council Monday night during a trail update presentation. The proposed plan, created by Steffey Trail Connections on behalf of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance, would build a trail from Garden Street to Kerr Mill Road by way of the O'Rourke Field area.
"It could be done in the near future," Ron Steffey told Titusville City Council Monday night during a trail update presentation. The proposed plan, created by Steffey Trail Connections on behalf of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance, would build a trail from Garden Street to Kerr Mill Road by way of the O'Rourke Field area.
The groups recently made a lot of headway on sections of trail to the north of Titusville known as the East Branch Trail. Volunteers completed nearly 2.5 miles of trail between Hydetown and Spartansburg. Money has been secured to complete $1 million worth of work toward the trail in Sparta Township. A group of volunteers in Corry is tackling trail and maintenance needs.
"There is starting to be a lot more excitement for the East Branch Trail and connection from Hydetown to Spartansburg and from Spartansburg to Corry," Steffey said.
He also pointed toward plans to expand the trail system owned by the Oil Creek State Park.
"That kind of leaves from Titusville to Hydetown and in Titusville as the connections we need to make," he said.
"There is starting to be a lot more excitement for the East Branch Trail and connection from Hydetown to Spartansburg and from Spartansburg to Corry," Steffey said.
He also pointed toward plans to expand the trail system owned by the Oil Creek State Park.
"That kind of leaves from Titusville to Hydetown and in Titusville as the connections we need to make," he said.
To move that section from theory to reality, Steffey suggested turning their attention first toward what he called the "simpler part" - the O'Rourke Field Connections. The trail would connect from Kerr Mill Road to Garden Street predominantly along a section of unused railroad property. Steffey and Titusville City Manager Neil Fratus have already begun talks with the railroad to gauge their interest in the project.
"It is going to take an agreement with the railroad," Steffey said Monday night.
The city's role would be to continue participating in those conversations and serve as a manager or owner of the future trail as needed. This will help secure use of the land from the railroad and money from grants and other sources. It will also make it easier to recruit and engage volunteers for the project, according to Steffey.
"Let's show the different funders that we're doing something," he said.
Tackling the "simpler" section between Titusville and Hydetown may also provide the momentum needed to solve the overall issue of creating the full connection, which is something people continue to wonder about. "How are you going to get from there (Hydetown) to Titusville?" councilman William McCrillis asked.
Steffey gave no definitive answer. The presentation he provided council prior to the meeting suggested that once the O'Rourke Field Connection is complete, the remainder of the distance between the city and the borough would be done as "two smaller and more manageable projects" - Kerr Mill Road to Hydetown and Garden Street to the Queen City Trail across town.
"The success of one project will elevate the other, but the obstacles in one project will not slow down the other project," the presentation said.
This could also address the need to connect the trail to the downtown businesses, pubs and other amenities, according to Mayor Jon Crouch. He was joined by the other council members in giving verbal support to the proposal.
Steffey said he plans to talk with Oil Creek Township officials in January and hopes to return to the Titusville council with another update that month as well.
"It is going to take a lot of cooperation to get up to Hydetown," Steffey said.
"It is going to take an agreement with the railroad," Steffey said Monday night.
The city's role would be to continue participating in those conversations and serve as a manager or owner of the future trail as needed. This will help secure use of the land from the railroad and money from grants and other sources. It will also make it easier to recruit and engage volunteers for the project, according to Steffey.
"Let's show the different funders that we're doing something," he said.
Tackling the "simpler" section between Titusville and Hydetown may also provide the momentum needed to solve the overall issue of creating the full connection, which is something people continue to wonder about. "How are you going to get from there (Hydetown) to Titusville?" councilman William McCrillis asked.
Steffey gave no definitive answer. The presentation he provided council prior to the meeting suggested that once the O'Rourke Field Connection is complete, the remainder of the distance between the city and the borough would be done as "two smaller and more manageable projects" - Kerr Mill Road to Hydetown and Garden Street to the Queen City Trail across town.
"The success of one project will elevate the other, but the obstacles in one project will not slow down the other project," the presentation said.
This could also address the need to connect the trail to the downtown businesses, pubs and other amenities, according to Mayor Jon Crouch. He was joined by the other council members in giving verbal support to the proposal.
Steffey said he plans to talk with Oil Creek Township officials in January and hopes to return to the Titusville council with another update that month as well.
"It is going to take a lot of cooperation to get up to Hydetown," Steffey said.
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