PITTSBURGH — On Thursday, CSX and the City of Pittsburgh signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that includes the transfer of portions of CSX property and easements so that the city can expand public access and close critical gaps in Western Pennsylvania’s trail system.
The city is working to purchase five acres of riverfront property from 33rd Street in the Strip District towards the Downtown area. Eventually, it will continue in the other direction toward Lawrenceville.
“We’ve been a city for decades, where everybody says, ‘Why aren’t you connecting to the rivers?’ Well, here we are,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor.
City officials are calling this a landmark agreement that will allow them to connect trails across the region. That includes extending the Three Rivers Heritage Trail well beyond the Strip District.
“CSX will also be transferring their interests and easements between Hazelwood and Carrie Furnace, which will extend the trail by three miles along the northern shore of the Monongahela River and connect the city with the Mon Valley and Turtle Creek communities,” said Kelsey Ripper, executive director of Friends of the Riverfront.
“It connects people to communities they wouldn’t have explored otherwise; it connects them to small businesses and really is an economic driver,” said Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County executive.
Leaders said Pittsburgh has been at the forefront of U.S. cities developing trail systems along the riverfront and believe there’s still work to be done.
“We look forward to continuing this work and collaborating together to help find ways to get things done in Pittsburgh,” said Rodney Oglesby, director of state relations at CSX.
A press release from the City of Pittsburgh indicates the preliminary terms of the MOU also include proposed pedestrian bridge connection projects in Duck Hollow and Hazelwood. The proposed Duck Hollow Terminus Bridge would provide a safe, grade-separated crossing over the CSX rail corridor, connecting the Three Rivers Heritage Trail’s Duck Hollow segment with Hazelwood. This would close a longstanding pedestrian gap in the regional trail network.
The upgraded Melanchton Pedestrian Bridge in Hazelwood will replace the existing bridge to meet ADA standards and railroad design requirements. This would create another important crossing that improves access and connectivity for trail users and the Hazelwood community.
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