The expansion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail throughout the Pittsburgh region continues to be a top priority for Friends of the Riverfront and our partners including Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. We’d like to keep our members and supporters informed on important developments including new trail construction, temporary closures, improvements and detours. Please contact us if you have an interesting addition or recommendation for our site or visit our Social Network for topic discussions from trail users like you.
Trail Alerts/Conditions Advisories
> Point State Park
> Mobility Assist Device Policy
> North Shore Trail Segment Detour
Planning and Development
> Ohio Riverfront Montour Connection
> Aspinwall Marina - Riverfront Community Project
> Community Initiatives - Extending the trail up the Allegheny
> Allegheny Riverfront - Convention Center to Highland Park
> Allegheny Riverfront - Allegheny River Blvd to Rail Trail
> Verona Borough Sustainability Needs Assessment
> Carrie Furnace
> East End Loop
> Carnegie
Science
Center
Development Plan
> Convention Center Riverfront Park
> Mon Wharf Landing
> South Shore Riverfront Park
Linking the Heritage Trail Regionally
> Great Allegheny Passage
> Erie to Pittsburgh Trail
> Allegheny Places –
Allegheny
County
Comprehensive Plan
> Allegheny's Riverfronts - A Progress Report
Point State Park
Restoration of Point State Park is still going on. Trail users will be happy to know the connection across the Allegheny River along the Fort Duquesne Bridge is now open. Biking is permissible around the lower riverfront promenade. Caution is advised as the flagstones have not yet been replaced.
Visit the Point State Park renovation web page for details.
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Mobility Assist Device Policy
Friends of the Riverfront and the City of Pittsburgh have adopted a new policy for mobility assist devices on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Effective immediately, this policy meets U.S. Department of Justice and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, and encourages people of all ages and abilities to use the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
Mobility Assisting Devices on City Trails Policy
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North Shore Trail Segment Detour
As part of the Manchester/Chateau Demolition and Site Clearance project, a North Shore segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail will be detoured to remove a metal building adjacent to the Trail. The route will be diverted to an 800' temporary Trail that will be constructed through the adjacent property, onto Kroll Drive for a short distance and back onto the main Trail. Construction equipment and trucks will be crossing the detoured Trail at Kroll Drive to access the project site during the demolition work. Please exercise caution. It is anticipated that this detour will be in affect from mid-September through November of 2011.
Detour Map
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Ohio Riverfront Montour Connection
Friends of the Riverfront in partnership with Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council has selected Mackin Engineering for the plan to expand the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Currently the trail system ends on the banks of the Ohio River adjacent to Station Square. Expansion of the Three Rivers Heritage trail will provide a connection from the City of Pittsburgh to Allegheny County’s Sports Legacy Project in Coraopolis. The continuation of the trail system will also connect to the Montour Trail and provides a dedicated non-motorized connection through the South Hills and access to the Pittsburgh International Airport. Development of a trail along the Ohio River will also create numerous community connections and offer opportunities for alternative transportation to and from work, school and other destinations. This multi-municipal effort encompasses the City of Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks, Stowe, Kennedy, Neville, Robinson and Coraopolis including several local community groups.
Click here to download a copy of the Request for Proposals. Additional stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to participate in the planning process. Please email your preferred contact information to friends@friendsoftheriverfront.org. Your input and ideas are integral to making the plan a reality. top
Aspinwall Marina - Riverfront Community Project
Friends of the Riverfront has successfully completed the purchase of the Aspinwall Marina which is located at 285 River Avenue in Aspinwall and includes approximately eight acres of land, a year-round boat storage facility, docks, a marina store, and related facilities. The sale of the marina was valued at $2.3 million and is part of $5.0 million riverfront development project. Click here to view a preliminary vision for a potential riverfront community park. For additional details, visit the Aspinwall Riverfront Park project website! Remember, you can make this valuable community asset happen. Please consider making a donation in direct support of the park development by clicking here.
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Community Trails Initiative
The Community Trails Initiative is a public/private multi-municipal project to complete a trail feasibility study encompassing 17 municipalities (City of Pittsburgh, Millvale, Shaler, Etna, Sharpsburg, Aspinwall, Fox Chapel, O’Hara Township, Blawnox, Harmar, Cheswick, Springdale, Springdale Township, Frazer, Tarentum, Brackenridge and Harrison) along the North Shore of the Allegheny River for the purpose of connecting the existing Three Rivers Heritage Trail with the Armstrong Trail. This connection is an important part of the Allegheny County Riverfronts Project, the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance and also the Pittsburgh to Harrisburg Mainline Canal Greenway.
Friends of the Riverfront and our project team have completed a series of meetings with leaders of each municipality to garner consensus and support for this initiative. Together we have completed a multi-municipal trail and greenway plan that stretches for more than 34 miles. We encourage you to click on the links below to review the entire plan and associated maps highlighting both the preferred and practical trail alignment through each community.
Community Trails Initiative Feasibility Report
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Hard copies of the plan have been placed in the following public locations and may be viewed during normal hours of operation.
Cooper-Siegel Community Library – 403 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Springdale Free Public Library – 331 School Street, Springdale, PA 15144
Community Library of Allegheny Valley – 400 Lock Street, Tarentum, PA 15084
Community Library of Allegheny Valley – 1522 Broadview Boulevard, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Boyd Community Center - 1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Friends of the Riverfront - 33 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Below are the links to meeting minutes from the Community Trails Initiative Public Meetings.
Millvale 3.2.10
Tarentum 3.3.10
Ohara 3.6.10
We would like to hear from you and have your input and engagement throughout this process. Please take a few moments to complete this survey and return to Friends of the Riverfront. Click here to view the survey.
Fax: 412.488.7716
Mail: Friends of the Riverfront, 33 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
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Allegheny Riverfront - Convention Center to Highland Park
The Urban Redevelopment Authority and partnering organizations have recently begun requesting proposals from multi-disciplinary consultant teams to create an urban design vision and market based implementation plan for the left bank of the Allegheny River from the Convention Center to Highland Park including a small section of riverfront. Visit the Allegheny Riverfront Vision Plan Blog for more information.
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Allegheny Riverfront - Allegheny River Blvd to Rail Trail
Below is a breakdown of the potential trail connection between Penn Hills and Verona along Allegheny River Boulevard.
Allegheny River Blvd to Rail Trail - Part 1
Allegheny River Blvd to Rail Trail - Part 2
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Verona Borough Sustainability Needs Assessment
Sustainable Verona
Verona Sustainable Community Development
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Carrie Furnace
Preliminary engineering design connecting Duck Hollow through the Carrie Furnace site to Braddock is available by clicking below by section:
Carrie Furnace Trail Section 1
Carrie Furnace Trail Section 2
Carrie Furnace Trail Section 3
Carrie Furnace Trail Section 4
Carries Furnace Typical Sections
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East End Loop
The City of Pittsburgh and Friends of the Riverfront are currently working on a plan to connect the Duck Hollow Trail on the Monongahela River with the Pittsburgh Zoo area on the Allegheny River. The proposed alignment will connect several City Parks and neighborhoods stretching for nearly 10 miles of trails/improved roadways. Additional information will be posted shortly.
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Carnegie
Science
Center
Development Plan
Carnegie
Science
Center
unveils details for future development. Plans include expansion of the
Science
Center
’s existing building, construction of a new SportsWorks facility and newly redesigned riverfront park area containing trail access along the
North
Shore
segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
View Master Development Plans.
Visit the
Carnegie
Science
Center.
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Convention Center Riverfront Park
The Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) and partners continue plans for the development of a mixed use riverfront park on the banks of the
Allegheny River
adjacent to the Convention Center. The plans include docking facilities, connections to the adjacent Heritage Trail, additional greenspace and links into the Tenth Street Water Feature already in place.
Visit the SEA Development Page for complete details and preliminary drawings of this project.
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Mon Wharf Landing
Plans are underway to develop one of the last remaining riverfront open spaces for public use. The Mon Wharf Landing Phase One will include adaptive reuse of parking into a linear park and trail connection. The link is a vital portion of the Great Allegheny Passage and will allow trail users access to Point State Park. Phase Two of the project involves development of a switchback ramp from the Smithfield Street Bridge/Eliza Furnace Trail to the Mon Wharf. Access for boats including a Three Rivers Water Trail Landing for canoe/kayaks is planned for Phase Three.
Visit Riverlifetaskforce.org for additional information on this project.
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South Shore Riverfront Park
This extension of South Side Riverfront Park will include a portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail between 25th and 29th Streets adjacent to South Side Works. By 2011 the South Side Trail will be permenantly rerouted along the Monongahela River behind Hofbrauhaus and American Eagle to connect to the Hot Metal Bridge at S. 26th Street.
South Shore Overhead View with SouthSide Works
South Shore Riverfront Park Overhead View
South Shore Riverfront Park Concept
To view details and more information on the project, visit the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
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Great Allegheny Passage
The Great Allegheny Passage, is a 150-mile system of biking and hiking trails that will connect Cumberland, MD and Pittsburgh, PA when completed. The connection to the C & O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, MD was made in 2006, creating a continuous non-motorized corridor, 318 miles long, from McKeesport, near Pittsburgh, to Washington, DC. Portions of the Heritage Trail including the South Side Trail, Eliza Furnace Trail and the Hotmetal Bridge are all part of the Great Allegheny Passage before reaching the final destination at the fountain in Point State Park.
Friends of the Riverfront is a founding member of the Allegheny Trail Alliance who, along with our partners and numerous stakeholders, are committed to completing the final missing pieces along the alignment. We are currently focusing attention on the area adjacent to the Glenwood Bridge where a half mile gap exists. Tentative agreements have been reached with property owners. Final agreement of the exact trail alignment will depend on the engineering and design of the trail.
The trail is complete from Cumberland, MD to Homestead, PA, a distance of 141 miles. The trail ends at the Waterfront shopping district in Homestead, PA.
Click Here for complete details.
We do not recommend riding Route 837 from the Waterfront to the Hot Metal Bridge: this well-traveled highway has poor sight lines in many areas and non-existent shoulders. Most of the local buses can transport two bicycles per bus. From downtown the 61D Somerset and the 57 Hazelwood buses both terminate at the Giant Eagle grocery in the Waterfront. They also begin inbound to town from the same stop. Schedules and maps are available at Port Authority's web site.
Visit atatrail.org for more details.
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Erie to Pittsburgh Trail
Emerging mega-greenway effort to establish a continuous trail from the Erie Bayfront to Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. This initiative is being led by the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance (EPTA), an alliance of non-profit organizations, municipalities, and other organizations actively involved in the acquisition, development and maintenance of non-motorized trails and safe, well marked bicycle and pedestrian routes in Western Pennsylvania. Friends of the Riverfront and our partners Allegheny County Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council are actively working on the portion of this alignment within Allegheny County along the Allegheny Riverfront. See Community Trails above for details on this development locally.
Download the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail PDF for or further information.
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Allegheny Places –
Allegheny
County
Comprehensive Plan
Friends of the Riverfront and our partners
Allegheny
County
and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council are pleased to partner on the continued development of trails, greenways and open spaces along the riverfronts of
Allegheny
County
. Allegheny Places, the County’s first comprehensive master plan has information on trail development can be found in Chapter 4: Parks, Open Space and Greenway Plan.
View Chapter 4: Parks, Open Space and Greenway Plan.
Visit AlleghenyPlaces.com.
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Allegheny's Riverfronts - A Progress Report
With each passing year, more and more people are finding new and fun ways to enjoy Allegheny County's riverfronts. The Allegheny County Riverfronts Project, a partnership of Allegheny County, Friends of the Riverfront, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council celebrates this historical connection to our riverfronts.
Allegheny's Riverfronts - A Progress Report on Municipal Riverfront Development in Allegheny County
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If you have a question or would like additional information, click here.
To get involved or become a member, click here.
