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Southwestern PA Commission pitches $8.3 million BUILD grant to finish Pittsburgh–Erie trail
Summary
Rich Fitzgerald of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission outlined a regional BUILD grant request of about $8.3 million to move the Pittsburgh‑to‑Erie trail from roughly 75% to about 95% complete, saying the grant plus local match (about $630,000) would deliver significant economic benefits to towns along the route.
Rich Fitzgerald, introduced to the committee as the executive director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, spoke to committee members about the Pittsburgh‑to‑Erie Trail and a BUILD grant proposal that project partners say would complete most remaining segments.
Fitzgerald said the corridor is currently about 75% built and that the BUILD grant request in the proposal is for a little over $8.3 million, which the partners estimate would take the project to roughly 95% completion. He said partners include the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Oil Region Alliance, the Friends of the Riverfront, the Erie‑to‑Pittsburgh Trail Alliance and local MPOs.
"What this build grant would do with a little over $8,000,000 ... would take it from about 75% built to about 95% built," Fitzgerald said. He called the trail an "unbelievable economic generator" in towns along river corridors, citing the Pittsburgh‑to‑Washington DC trail as an example that draws more than 1 million users annually and spurs visitor spending and local development.
Fitzgerald said the project secured local match of approximately $630,000 and described meetings in Washington, D.C., with federal staff and members of Congress to advocate for the funding. He urged continued municipal cooperation and congressional support, and provided the SPC website (thespc.org) as a resource for materials and maps.
Committee members and attendees voiced support and local officials discussed connectivity and potential spurs. Kathy Belkapper (speaker 7) encouraged the MPO to pursue a connection across Erie County (Corry to Erie) and to pursue rail‑right‑of‑way options where feasible. Members discussed recreational and economic benefits, the potential for branch connections, and the need for political and legislative support for any fee or registration policy for trail users.
The presentation closed with staff thanking Fitzgerald and noting the BUILD grant outcome timeline depends on federal DOT award decisions; Fitzgerald said that could come as early as next month but timing is controlled by the federal process.
