Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan

 

 

 

â Lackawanna River Heritage Trail 

Why ? ? ? ?

1.  Historic travel route - Heritage trail

2.  Remember when people walked along RR tracks to reach adjoining neighborhoods

–3.  Peaceful and enjoyable stroll to local destinations

–4.  Links our area into a statewide trail and greenway system

–âEconomics

–1.  Relocating firms attracted to communities investing in amenities
–2.  Catalyst for local development
–3.  Transition of a liability into an asset
–4.  Increase in local property values
–5.  Promotes tourism  by building on regional heritage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partnership Goals 

1.  To acquire and develop a 40-mile trail along the Lackawanna River from Pittston to Scranton, the Mid Valley, Carbondale and Forest City.
â2.  LRCA and Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority work from Taylor to Scranton, Mid Valley and Carbondale.
â3.  Rail-Trail Council of NEPA and LRCA work from Carbondale through Forest City and up out of the watershed to New York state and northern Susquehanna and Wayne counties.
â4.  LRCA and Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority work with down valley partners in Taylor, Old Forge, Duryea and Pittston to connect through confluence to Luzerne county trails and Delaware/Lehigh corridor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achievements

â1.  8 miles of trail acquired
â2.  1.5 mile developed on CNJ, Scranton
â3.  3 miles developed on O&W, Blakely, Jessup, Archbald
â4.  LHVA has funding to acquire 6 more miles:
–5.  2.5 miles, North Scranton to Throop –3 miles Archbald to Mayfield/Jermyn
–0.5 miles in Carbondale
â6.  Rail-Trail Council has acquired 43 miles of D&H from Carbondale to New York state line.
â7.  Rail-Trail Council has easement on O&W for 8 miles, from PA Rte. 171 bridge in Simpson to Stillwater Cliffs north of Forest City.
â8.  Pittston Rails with Trails group has funding and easements to develop trail on rail from Pittston to Jenkins Twp.
â9.  City of Scranton will support trail on levee from Mulberry St. bridge to Diamond Ave. in North Scranton.
10. âLackawanna Valley Conservancy has acquired 2 miles of river bank in Taylor, Scranton, Throop, and Jermyn.
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Challenges to Complete the 40-mile Trail

â1.  Acquisition of additional rights-of-way and adjacent properties
â2.  Presence of active railroad corridors
â3.  Need to develop rails with trails and greenways
â4.  Insure that local municipalities support trail
â5.  Coordinate trail route on flood control levees
â6.  Development of alternative routes to insure a continuous trail  with links to other regional and statewide trails and greenways
â7.  Engineering and construction challenges to address fills, debris, replacement of bridges or development of new bridges
â8.  Uniform management and maintenance issues
â9.  Need to reauthorize Stillwater Dam for recreational releases
â10.FUNDING

©2001 LRCA