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Walking and biking improvement projects identified in South Fayette
Walking and biking improvement projects identified
South Fayette adopts active transportation plan to enhance non-motorized movement
By Andrea Iglar
Pave the Panhandle Trail. Enhance crosswalks on Boyce Road. Mark a bicycle loop on Battle Ridge and Old Oakdale roads.
These are a few potential projects to improve non-motorized transportation in South Fayette.
The township Board of Commissioners adopted an active transportation plan in September that identifies possible enhancements for non-vehicular movement like walking, biking and using a wheelchair.
Gibson-Thomas Engineering, along with township staff and a team of community members, developed the plan using data and public input.
Project engineer Eileen Botti emphasized that the plan is just a road map and the listed projects would require more exploration and funding before they could occur.
“These projects are not ready to go; they will take some more coordination moving forward,” Botti said during the board meeting in August.
“This document is providing a nice framework to pursue funding in the future. There’s a lot of grant opportunities out there for this type of work.”
Projects cover pedestrian crossing upgrades, trail improvements, park and neighborhood connections, and bicycle and pedestrian facility enhancements.
The plan lists potential projects and their descriptions, cost range estimates, levels of complexity, timelines and property owners—both public and private.
Four projects are listed as priorities.
“These are things that might be low-hanging fruit, or there was an overwhelming amount of support during the public outreach,” Botti said.
The priority projects are:
• Panhandle Trail Improvements—Pave the trail; improve safety at crossings; enhance trailheads; add
amenities like benches and rest areas
• Neighborhood Connections to School Campus— Establish a multi-use path along Old Oakdale Road; install lighting along the path
• Battle Ridge Road and Old Oakdale Road Bike Loop—Establish a loop with shared-lane markings, or “sharrows,” to improve bicyclist safety and visibility
• Hunting Ridge Pedestrian Enhancements—Install crosswalks and flashing lights on Boyce Road at entrances to the Hunting Ridge neighborhood (Meeting House Road/Hunting Ridge Trail and Hunting Ridge Road/Hunting Ridge Trail)
Parks and Recreation Director Paula Willis, who spearheaded development of the active transportation plan, said the township will explore what improvements are realistic and then seek funding for those.
"While these projects are wanted and desired in the community, some may not be physically or financially feasible," Willis said. "That's the purpose of this plan—to explore our options."
Willis already has applied for a grant that would offset the cost of paving the 2.73-mile portion of the Panhandle Trail that passes through South Fayette.
“A lot of connections mentioned in the plan can be used for recreation and exercise, which promote healthy lifestyles,” she said.
Last year, WalkWorks, a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the nonprofit Pennsylvania Downtown Center, awarded an $11,250 grant to the township to develop the plan. The overarching goal was to increase physical activity and improve community health.
South Fayette resident Bill Price, who served on the steering committee for the active transportation plan, said the document is a starting point for connecting community amenities.
He said some projects appear obvious and necessary in the short term, but completing the entire list would take a very long time.
“Now it’s time for the community leaders and residents to really identify which ones make the most sense to be done and in what order,” Price said. “Safety and ease of access are really the key points.”
