New Route 13 Pedestrian Passageway Creates Critical Link for Area Trails

Monday, November 18 marked the opening of the long-awaited pedestrian passageway beneath Route 13 in Bucks County, the first of five obstructions to be removed to improve and extend the area trails network. This project creates a critical trail link at the northern end of the 165 mile D&L Trail - Delaware Canal Towpath Section which is a part of The Circuit regional trail network and the East Coast Greenway.

“The new pedestrian passageway is imperative to the Delaware & Lehigh Trail as a legitimate method of transportation,” said Elissa M. Garafalo, President and Executive Director of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.  “This opening will make it more accessible for everyone to use and enjoy.”

Prior to the opening of the passageway, cyclists along the towpath within Delaware Canal State Park were forced to carry their bikes up the Route 13 embankment and scale the guiderail separating the north and south lanes to reach the trails. Beginning in 2001, Federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds were sought to solve the safety concerns of users. Since that time, a number of organizations have come together to make this plan a reality. The Delaware Canal passageways under Route 13 were funded in part with $1.69 million in TE funds.  Remaining costs were assumed by PennDOT as part of the Route 13 highway reconstruction.    

The passageway is one of the most impressive D&L Trail improvements and gap openings.  As the first of five obstructions to the Delaware Canal Trail to be opened through a strategic plan laid out by the D&L Obstructions Committee, the Route 13 pathway serves as a model for future projects.  The four additional obstructions include:

· The Green Lane Obstruction which recently received $250,000 in funds from the DVRPC Regional Trails Fund according to a proposal written by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

· The Tyburn Bridge obstruction that is in design and negotiations with Amtrak for a project to be built by PennDOT. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is funding the design and easement negotiations associated with this project.

· The Bridge Street obstruction which is in design by Gilmore Associates under contract with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.

· The CSX Railroad Obstruction which is underway and is led by the DCNR.

“This passageway is an important step in our ambitious goal of opening all five obstructions in the next five years,” said Patrick Starr, Executive Vice President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC).  “Working with other members of the D&L Obstruction Committee, PEC aims to be a driving force behind these improvements to connect the regional trail network.”