PITTSBURGH, PA — The City of Pittsburgh and CSX have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at closing gaps in the region’s riverfront trail network, including potential land transfers, easements and pedestrian crossings near Duck Hollow, Hazelwood and the Strip District, the city announced Thursday.
The preliminary agreement covers portions of CSX property and access rights that could bring trail segments into city stewardship while preserving safety and railroad operations. Individual transactions still need formal agreements and required approvals; the announcement does not mean the bridges or trail links are already built.
One proposed transfer involves approximately 4.61 acres along the Strip District Trail, with the goal of reconnecting a disrupted riverfront segment to 33rd Street. That plan would require Surface Transportation Board and City Council approval. The agreement also contemplates transferring the existing Duck Hollow trail footprint and land toward the Carrie Furnace redevelopment site, with the city providing safety barriers and fencing.
In addition, the parties outlined a proposed bridge over the CSX corridor at the Duck Hollow trail terminus to link toward Hazelwood. A replacement for the Melanchton Pedestrian Bridge in Hazelwood would be designed to meet accessibility and railroad requirements. The city said surplus property near that bridge could also support future public uses.
Friends of the Riverfront helped coordinate discussions among the city and CSX and will remain involved as plans advance. City officials said the broader effort is intended to connect neighborhoods and destinations along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, including Hazelwood, Glen Hazel, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park and the Strip District.
Featured photo: A representative 2023 view of Duck Hollow and the Monongahela River, not a depiction of the proposed construction. AlexNGray / Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
Official source: City of Pittsburgh announcement, September 24, 2026.
The Pittsburgh Times
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