Monroeville officials debate ways to improve access to Westmoreland Heritage Trail

Monroeville officials plan to improve residents’ access to Westmoreland Heritage Trail. But the precise form access will take has yet to be finalized, especially after the cost of one approach doubled in price.

Council on Tuesday night voted to pursue a $250,000 state grant, which would be combined with a $243,000 grant they already have in hand for the project.

The original grant — which must be spent by the end of the year — was to fund construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting Valley Park to the trail, which makes a northeast bend in the area and runs between Meadowbrook Road and the park. In addition to the Saunders Station trailhead, located west of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the pedestrian bridge would provide another trail access point on the turnpike’s eastern side.

The project began in 2018 with a price estimate of a $500,000, but over the years it has doubled to a little more than a million dollars. That made council members and staff hesitate, and had them looking into the second grant.

“In my opinion, if we don’t get this (second) grant, we should take the current grant, and beg and plead to use it for improvements at the Saunders Station trailhead,” Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said. “We could extend water service there to add restrooms, and we could add parking.”

Graziani said the municipality had already spent about $58,000 on engineering work related to the pedestrian bridge, but added that officials at the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would likely be open to shifting the focus to Saunders Station if necessary.

“The ‘deliverable’ for them is the same: Improved trail access for Monroeville residents,” he said.

Council ultimately voted to pursue the second grant with the goal of improving trail access, including the Valley Park bridge as a possible second phase.

Councilman Bob Stevenson was absent.

Upcoming events

• The Monroeville Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. May 26, with a ceremony to follow at the Old Stone Church cemetery, 2700 Stroschein Road.

• Monroeville’s annual Community Day will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7 at Community Park West on Tilbrook Road. The day will be filled with performances, family activities, food trucks and more, including a “Family Fun Zone” from 1-3 p.m. and a special performance of “Hamlet” by Poor Yorick’s Players from 2-4 p.m.

• The municipality will host a June 21 collection event for household hazardous waste and electronics. It will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the public works building at 200 Starr Drive. Register online at NobleEnviro.com/drive-thru-collection.