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County approves $5.48M reimbursement agreement for Lebanon Valley rail-trail bridge project and adopts trail rules
Summary
County planning staff briefed commissioners on the LBRT Phase 6 bridge replacement and partial road realignment at 22nd Street (an ~18‑month project estimated at $5,478,425 with federal, PENNDOT, Protect, and local funds) and the board approved a reimbursement agreement; the board also adopted an ordinance setting rules for rail-trail use.
John Fitzky, of the Lebanon County Planning Department, told commissioners the LBRT Phase 6C project (22nd Street) will replace a bridge and realign roadway to create a safer four‑way intersection that connects the trail to US 422. Fitzky said the total project cost is approximately $5,478,425, funded through federal transportation dollars, PENNDOT Protect funds, and roughly $1,478,425 in local contributions including Act 13 bridge funds, traffic impact funds, an MS4 consortium allocation and the Lebanon Valley rails‑to‑trails local fund.
"This is going to be a critical project ... it will include a bridge replacement and partial road realignment that will help to carry a key portion of the LBRT up into US 422," Fitzky said. He told the board executing the reimbursement agreement would allow initial project work to start toward the end of the year and estimated the construction timeline at about 18 months.
Commissioners asked about traffic impacts and closures; planning staff said they will coordinate maintenance‑of‑traffic plans with the department of transportation and expect to maintain at least one travel lane with phased work while the new alignment is built. With the funding package in place, commissioners voted to authorize the county to execute the reimbursement agreement for the project.
Separately, planning staff presented a proposed ordinance to set rules for operating and maintaining the rail trail. The board adopted the ordinance, with staff noting it is expected to be revised over time as needed.
Next steps: staff will execute the reimbursement agreement, proceed with design and contract scheduling, and coordinate public notifications for any traffic impacts when work begins.
