York County rail trails.More essential than ever. Your gift.More appreciated than ever.
HANOVER TROLLEY TRAIL NEWS
Find out"What's next?"at our Open House! Now that the rails have been removed and the dormant rail corridor is cleared, York County Rail Trail Authority is hosting an open house to offer information on "What's next?" The public open house will be held on March 23, 2023 at Windy Hill On-the-Campus, 1472 Roth's Church Rd., Spring Grove, PA. The public is invited to stop in anytime between 4 PM and 6 PM to meet members of the York County Rail Trail Authority and its committees, learn more about the Hanover Trolley Trail expansion project, and view plans and drawings for 2023 trail construction.
We continue to walk, study, and plan. On March 2, York County Rail Trail Authority hosted representatives from PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources for a walk along the dormant rail corridor from Gitts Run Rd. to Jacobs Mill Rd. in Heidelberg Township. The Authority’s engineer, Jeff Shue of York engineering firm C.S. Davidson, Inc, provided details on the plans for conversion of this section to a rail trail and for the restoration of nearby Oil Creek. A grant application will be submitted by the end of March seeking funding to meet an estimated $3 million budget that includes construction of 1.75 miles of trail and restoration of nearly 0.7 miles of creek. If successful, construction could begin as early as 2024.
Say “Goodbye!” to another dormant rail crossing. In February, PA Department of Transportation offered the York County Rail Trail Authority a perfect opportunity to remove the bumpy rail crossing of Iron Ridge Rd. in Heidelberg Township. The Department was preparing a temporary closure of the roadway in order to complete some maintenance work on their bridge over Oil Creek, and could offer the Authority the dates of February 27 and 28 to remove the nearby rail crossing. Quick action to advertise a public bidding of the rail removal project resulted in Kinsley Construction offering the low bid and completing the work on February 27. This follows the 2021 removal of the Colonial Valley Rd. rail crossing and is one more step in the conversion from rails to trail.
Temporary barriers installed. Concrete barriers have now been placed across the cleared corridor in Heidelberg Township at several road crossings in response to reports of unauthorized motor vehicles entering the corridor. Signs are also posted prohibiting motorized vehicles from entering the corridor. Until the trail is build in these sections of the corridor, unauthorized access is strictly prohibited.
Restrictions to trail traffic planned in Penn Township. In the coming months, visitors to the Hanover Trolley Trail will experience temporary lane restrictions and closures of the trail in Penn Township as Met-Ed, a First Energy Company, completes several upgrades to their electric infrastructure near Barnhart Drive. Work is scheduled for May-July and September-December.
For additional information including updates on these projects, please contact Mahdi Sadiqi, PE at 785-317-1310 or Brian Wright, Construction Site Coordinator, at 717-215-5319.
Parking lot re-opens: trail section remains closed. The Jackson Township parking lot at Hershey Rd. has reopened for trail visitors to use. However, safety fencing is now installed along two sides of the lot (red lines in photograph) to restrict the use of the trail section west toward Spring Grove, as the Borough's improvements to their sanitary sewer line continue. Visitors are welcome to travel along the trail between Hershey and Martin Rds. We apologize for any inconvenience.
HERITAGE RAIL TRAIL NEWS
Protective canopy nears completion. Work on the Heritage Rail Trail to complete a protective overhead canopy at Blackbridge Railroad Bridge north of the RT 30 parking lot has resumed. Work is scheduled for completion in early April, at which time the trail will re-open at this location. Please plan your visits accordingly.
YORK COUNTY RAIL TRAIL AUTHORITY IS HIRING!
York County Rail Trail Authority is currently looking for a rail trail lover to assist our Executive Director. If you are looking for a fun and fulfilling part time position with the YCRTA, we want to meet you! Full job description is here.
YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS THIS RAIL TRAIL WORK! Become a supporting member ... Feel great the next time you visit your rail trails!
Your annual donation provides a one-year membership to Friends of the York County Rail Trail Authority.
Memberships begin at just $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. Every donation supports the work of the Authority to build new miles of rail trails in York County, PA.
