Design of VOPP Trail continues, 3 out of 4 phases mapped out
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A bike lane through parts of Verona and Oakmont, a new traffic light at a busy intersection near the boroughs’ borders and the use of an old railroad bed are all parts of a proposed bike/walking trail connecting Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum.
Project officials announced three out of four phases of the VOPP Trail have been mapped out with the assistance of a Pittsburgh branch of engineering and design firm TranSystems.
“I think we’re in a good place,” TranSystems project manager Brian Krul said at a project update meeting July 13 at the Penn Hills municipal building. “There’s going to be some project issues we’ll encounter: railroads, permits, property acquisition, utilities.”
The proposed 14-mile bike and walking trail begins at Steel City Rowing along Arch Street in Verona and ends in Boyce Park.
Engineers have so far designed it from the rowing business to the Plum borough building at 2000 Old Mine Road.
Phase four, from the Plum building to Boyce Park, is still being evaluated. The design phase is expected to be complete by the end of next summer and all permits are expected to be obtained by fall 2024.
Construction documents and bids would then be sent out after permit approvals and contingent upon construction funding.
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Bike lane proposed
Penn Hills planning director Chris Blackwell said they plan on working with Giant Eagle to have a bike lane in Verona by the GetGo at the intersection of Center Avenue and Allegheny River Boulevard.
It would be a 10-foot bike lane, with five feet for each direction along Railroad Avenue, onto Center Avenue and then onto the boulevard.
A barrier would also be needed to separate the bike lane from vehicular traffic.
Blackwell said the trail/bike lane may use the right-turn lane on the boulevard side of the gas station.
“We’ll work with Giant Eagle to make that better,” he said. “The other side of the roadway (with the other businesses) is much more complicated. We are doing everything we can to eliminate the need to remove any parking. The plan is to not eliminate any on-street parking.”
Verona councilwoman Nancy Carpenter said she supports the project but is concerned about traffic issues at the aforementioned intersection.
“I think it’s a great concept to have a trail and a plan for a trail,” Carpenter said. “Anybody wanting to go right is going to have to wait at the straight lane at the light (if they eliminate the turning lane). That area between Center and South (avenues), especially during rush hour, gets very backed up.”
The bike lane would go from Verona into Oakmont along the viaduct and turn on to Plum Street. It could eliminate the right-turn lane heading in to Oakmont, making the boulevard all one lane by the former Daily Juice Products.
Carpenter and Krul spoke after the meeting about those concerns. Krul said the bike lane plans have not been finalized.
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New light
A traffic light has been proposed at Plum Street and Allegheny River Boulevard for pedestrian, cyclist and driver safety.
PennDOT authorization would be required for the light. Oakmont would be responsible for its installation and usage, which is something Oakmont council president Nancy Ride is concerned about.
“I think the trail looks like it’s going to be a wonderful addition to the whole region,” she said. “I have some concerns about the ARB section and how that’s going to be implemented and how it will affect Oakmont. I’m very interested in seeing why PennDOT is suggesting it be done that way. I’m not saying I’m opposed — I’m worried.”
PennDOT is not suggesting the traffic light be installed at the intersection, according to PennDOT acting traffic signal engineer Zach Murray, who was at the VOPP Trail meeting.
He said the light was part of the trail proposal submitted to the state. Murray said he is unaware of anything trail related being approved yet.
“We are reviewing what they have,” Murray said.
Other highlights
The trail goes from Plum Street to Dark Hollow Road and past Creekside Park and the Oakmont Commons. It follows an old railroad bed along Plum Creek and behind Creekview Gardens to Milltown Community Park.
The trail has asphalt and gravel, on and off-road sections. Other streets involved include Hulton Road, Kirk Drive, Boda Road, Leechburg Road, Jodie Lane, New Texas and Ross Hollow roads.
Major destinations along the trail include Riverbank Park and Railroad Park in Verona, Creekside Park in Oakmont, Penn Hills Community Park, Milltown Park and North Bessemer Park all in Penn Hills; and Plum Creek Park, Renton ballfields and Boyce Park in Plum.
Engineering and design is expected to cost about $1.173 million, all of which will be covered by grant funds through the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County’s Trail Development Fund.
Penn Hills’ grant is part of about $21.8 million in RAAC funds awarded last year. Construction cost estimates have not been finalized.
Molly Levine from state Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa’s (D-Forest Hills) office said the senator is a supporter of the trail and plans to help fund the project.
“We’re always trying to look for grants for our communities,” Levine said.
Attendees of the trail update meeting were able to ask overall questions as well as split off into groups to speak with officials working in each community.
“All four communities are very heavily engaged,” said Friends of the Riverfront Director of Trail Development and Government Relations Courtney Mahronich Vita about the VOPP Trail. “They show up to the public meetings. They are definitely giving feedback. That’s been great. They are moving at a really great pace (with the project) because all of the municipalities have really bought into the project.”
Friends of the Riverfront is assisting with public engagement as well as construction funding, and trail maintenance whenever it is built.
People will eventually be able to take a virtual ride on the trail.
TranSystems engineer Kyle Spargur said he used a drone to survey the trail.
He said it took about a week using the drone as opposed to a traditional walking survey that likely would have taken a month.
“We were able to cover a huge distance in a short amount of time,” Spargur said.
The footage is still being processed and will be posted online hopefully by the end of the year.
Blackwell said even though they are still in a design phase, at least one part of the trail will be open to the public soon.
Oakmont parks and recreation chairman Tony Lascola said about a half-mile of trail in the borough is currently under construction, by the intersection of New London Lane and Dark Hollow heading into the woods. It is expected to be done by the end of August. It is unclear when more of the trail would be constructed.
At least three other public meetings are being planned. No dates have been announced. However, they will be in Verona, Oakmont and Plum.
People who want more information about the trail can email Chris Blackwell at cblackwell@pennhills.org or Brian Krul at bakrul@transystems.com. The trail presentation is available online at friendsoftheriverfront.org.