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South Fayette eyes walking, biking connections
South Fayette eyes walking, biking connections
WalkWorks grant funds development of Active Transportation Plan
By Andrea Iglar
Bill Price walks 6 miles to 8 miles every day, every season.
From his hilltop home in Newbury, he hoofs it to the commercial district at Newbury Market and Millers Run Road, moving briskly for his physical and mental well-being.
Price is an experienced pedestrian, but he doesn’t recommend that others follow in his footsteps because South Fayette Township generally lacks crosswalks, sidewalks and connections that would make walking easy and safe.
He hopes to change that.
Price belongs to a steering committee that is developing an Active Transportation Plan to enhance non-motorized movement, such as walking and bicycling, in South Fayette.
The team of community members and township staff is working with Gibson-Thomas Engineering to develop the plan and adopt it in September. Public input will be sought.
The township was awarded a WalkWorks grant in the amount of $11,250 to develop the plan. The result will be a roadmap for the community to provide facilities that everyone can use to safely walk, bike or connect to transit networks for recreation or for work.
Price said the plan will provide “commonsense opportunities to connect community assets—whether those are parks, trails, commercial areas—that can provide easy, safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Ultimately, the Active Transportation Plan will identify and prioritize areas where improvements and connectivity can occur. It also will provide a framework to pursue grants to implement various projects, programs and policies.
For example, policies could relate to sidewalks, traffic signals and facilities that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Mark Szewcow, municipal traffic engineer with Gibson-Thomas.
“This really is more of a planning document,” Szewcow said. “In addition to pointing out projects, it will give the township a list of funding opportunities that they can use to go out and implement these types of projects.”
Parks and Recreation Director Paula Willis launched development of the plan after hearing frequent public comment about the need to safely connect parks, trails, neighborhoods and businesses in the township and in the region.
“It’s been a common theme that people want more walkability and connectivity,” Willis said. “The township hadn’t been looked at through a connectivity lens, and this plan will help us get funding to make projects a reality.”
The steering committee’s vision includes increasing safety and mobility for vulnerable populations; creating equitably accessible networks that integrate with all forms of transportation; identifying where ADA-compliant paths can be improved; and enhancing quality of life.
The group is working to collect data, assess current conditions and gather public input.
Significant parts of developing the plan will be a public survey, which the township will issue online this winter, and then a public meeting to provide feedback on a draft plan.
“This is a community initiative,” Price said. “The survey is critical.”
Last fall, WalkWorks, a program of the state Department of Health and the nonprofit Pennsylvania Downtown Center, awarded the grant to South Fayette with the overarching goal of increasing physical activity and improving community health.
The grant pays for the development of the Active Transportation Plan, which in turn will leverage funding to actually enact connectivity projects, Willis said.
WalkWorks coordinator Samantha Pearson said the goal is safe, accessible and inviting transportation options for all.
“Our collaboration can lead to healthier people, more resilient communities, safer streets and roads, and stronger local economies,” Pearson said.
Details about the Active Transportation Plan and the public survey are available at southfayettepa.com/active.
