Harrisburg to administer Paxtang Parkway Trail grant; city accepts small PennDOT increase

The administration and parks committees discussed city sponsorship and administration of state Transportation Alternatives funding for the Paxtang Parkway Trail restoration.

Resolution 54 of 02/2025 would authorize the city of Harrisburg to serve as the project sponsor for a PennDOT Transportation Alternatives set‑aside award of $1,435,400 originally made to the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) for the Paxtang Parkway Trail Restoration Phase 3 project. Administration staff said CAGA requested the city to administer the grant because CAGA cannot administer the award through the state system. Interim business manager Sam Secosky told council the city would take over grant administration if council approves the resolution.

Scott Shepler, Parkway restoration program manager for CAGA, said the grant will pave the southern two‑thirds of the Parkway toward Paxtang and that an additional resolution on the committee agenda covers the first third. “The money’s in place, and we just need to execute at this point to finish up. I think the first third probably in 2026 and the final two thirds in 2027,” Shepler said. He added there is no local match required from the city for Resolution 54.

Separately, Resolution 49 of 02/2025 would accept an increased PennDOT award of $27,173 in Transportation Alternatives set‑aside funding for Paxtang Parkway; city project staff explained the adjustment covers higher than expected bid results and PennDOT will cover the difference.

City engineers and the law bureau said the city’s administrative role would be limited to grant administration and the execution of required agreements with PennDOT. Council members asked clarifying questions about match requirements and timing; staff confirmed there is no local match for these TASA awards.

The committee moved both resolutions to the next legislative session agenda for formal consideration and vote.