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Council committee approves easements to advance long‑running Trolley Trail project
Summary
The standing committee recommended a resolution to authorize permanent and temporary easements to advance the Trolley Trail, marking the project’s move from design to construction bidding. Staff said the project is at the end of design and the easements will allow the work to be bid at no cost to the city.
The standing committees gave an affirmative recommendation to Bill 26‑25, which authorizes acquisition of permanent and temporary construction easements to advance the long‑planned Trolley Trail.
Councilwoman Kale Smith, who said she began work on the Trolley Trail before being elected, told the committee the project connects neighborhoods and has been years in the making: "I started this trolley trail…before I was ever elected," she said, and expressed relief that the project is "finally moving."
City planning and public‑works staff said the segment before the committee is the last piece of design: "We are finally, we're at the very end of the design phase here," a staff presenter said, and explained the trail will be asphalt with gravel shoulders and include stormwater provisions to limit runoff impacts.
Members asked about connections to other regional trails and ownership of an adjacent abandoned rail corridor; staff said PennDOT currently owns part of the corridor and has indicated it is willing to transfer it to an entity able to take on maintenance and operations. Utilities and access agreements for stormwater tie‑ins were described as conditions the city will secure before construction.
The committee recommended the easement authorization with an affirmative recommendation; staff said the easements are expected to let the project be publicly bid and constructed without a direct cost to the city for the land rights in question.
Next steps: With the design phase nearly complete and easements approved by the committee, staff said the city will advance the project to bid and return to committees as needed for contract awards and construction milestones.
