Capital Area Greenbelt seeks $746,390 PennDOT grant to reconnect South Harrisburg trail; city to sponsor application
October 22, 2025 | Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania
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Representatives of the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) told Harrisburg City Council on Oct. 14 that they will ask the city to sponsor a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Transportation Alternatives set‑aside grant application for the Greenbelt’s South Harrisburg reconnection project.
CAGA’s Phase 2 proposal would reroute the trail through a corridor that uses Front Street, Sycamore Street, and a drive through the Pensy property to reconnect the Greenbelt near Shenoy Street. CAGA said the phase‑two construction grant request is for $746,390 and that the Greenbelt will contribute about $133,000 in upfront costs for the project. The organization said phase 1 has a budget near $1.2 million and that it has grant applications in to state sources and is pursuing private fundraising.
Doug Hill (CAGA) told council the city will be the formal grant sponsor through PennDOT’s system while CAGA will prepare the application and administer the project on the city’s behalf if the grant is awarded. Hill said the phase‑2 work will include negotiating rights of way and a land transaction with Pennsy Supply to secure the trail corridor; the land‑acquisition costs are not included in the grant budget and will be addressed separately. A CAGA representative also said the organization has raised roughly $150,000 to date from foundations and other private sources and has received a $30,000 grant from the Tunnel of Towers project.
Council members asked for clarification on funding sources and community access. Councilwoman Daniels asked how much of the project money was non‑taxpayer funding; the presenters said about $150,000 in private funds had been raised and that additional applications with county gaming funds and state sources are pending. Councilman Rodriguez asked whether the Tunnel of Towers project had participated financially; Hill confirmed a $30,000 contribution. City staff said they support the project and can administer the PennDOT grant because the city has access to PennDOT’s ECMS grant portal while the Greenbelt does not.
Action: President Hill moved to add Resolution 71 of 2025 (authorizing the city to apply for and serve as project sponsor for the PennDOT Transportation Alternatives set‑aside grant of $746,390 to the Capital Area Greenbelt Association for the project) to the next legislative agenda for a formal vote. The motion passed to place the resolution on the legislative agenda for a future vote; the resolution will return to the council with grant application materials and a formal sponsor agreement if the administration proceeds.
CAGA’s Phase 2 proposal would reroute the trail through a corridor that uses Front Street, Sycamore Street, and a drive through the Pensy property to reconnect the Greenbelt near Shenoy Street. CAGA said the phase‑two construction grant request is for $746,390 and that the Greenbelt will contribute about $133,000 in upfront costs for the project. The organization said phase 1 has a budget near $1.2 million and that it has grant applications in to state sources and is pursuing private fundraising.
Doug Hill (CAGA) told council the city will be the formal grant sponsor through PennDOT’s system while CAGA will prepare the application and administer the project on the city’s behalf if the grant is awarded. Hill said the phase‑2 work will include negotiating rights of way and a land transaction with Pennsy Supply to secure the trail corridor; the land‑acquisition costs are not included in the grant budget and will be addressed separately. A CAGA representative also said the organization has raised roughly $150,000 to date from foundations and other private sources and has received a $30,000 grant from the Tunnel of Towers project.
Council members asked for clarification on funding sources and community access. Councilwoman Daniels asked how much of the project money was non‑taxpayer funding; the presenters said about $150,000 in private funds had been raised and that additional applications with county gaming funds and state sources are pending. Councilman Rodriguez asked whether the Tunnel of Towers project had participated financially; Hill confirmed a $30,000 contribution. City staff said they support the project and can administer the PennDOT grant because the city has access to PennDOT’s ECMS grant portal while the Greenbelt does not.
Action: President Hill moved to add Resolution 71 of 2025 (authorizing the city to apply for and serve as project sponsor for the PennDOT Transportation Alternatives set‑aside grant of $746,390 to the Capital Area Greenbelt Association for the project) to the next legislative agenda for a formal vote. The motion passed to place the resolution on the legislative agenda for a future vote; the resolution will return to the council with grant application materials and a formal sponsor agreement if the administration proceeds.
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