PITTSBURGH, PA — The City of Pittsburgh announced plans to expand its popular riverfront trail network, investing $12 million to connect underserved neighborhoods with scenic walking and cycling paths along the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Officials say the upgrades will improve public health, reduce traffic congestion, and attract tourism to previously overlooked areas of the city.
Construction will begin this spring on three new trail segments totaling nearly eight miles of paved pathway. The projects are expected to create 140 construction jobs and dozens of permanent positions in trail maintenance and local business development.
Community leaders have championed the initiative for years, arguing that access to green space and active transportation options has been uneven across Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. The expansion focuses on the city’s South Side, Hazelwood, and the North Shore, all areas that lack direct river access despite their proximity to waterways.
Mayor Ed Gainey called the investment “a down payment on a more connected Pittsburgh,” noting that the trails will include lighting, benches, and public art installations designed by local artists. The city has partnered with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and several private foundations to fund the project.
The trails are expected to open in phases beginning next spring, with full completion targeted for late 2027. City planners estimate the expanded network could draw more than 500,000 additional visitors annually and support $8 million in new local economic activity each year.
The Pittsburgh Times
editorial@thepittsburghtimes.com
Pittsburgh, PA
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