As of late July, the counties in the Southeast Philadelphia region are leading the nation towards a safer, greener and more connected future. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has made a much-needed landmark investment in the Circuit Trails Network, making it safer and more convenient for us to walk and bike as part of our day-to-day lives. The FY2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania funds a range of regional trail projects, including four major corridors that will create important connectivity for to the region’s active transportation network including: Spring Garden Street Greenway, Cross County Trail, Chester Valley Trail and Route 291 Trail/East Coast Greenway. More than $214 million, including $120 million from the federal Carbon Reduction Program, is heading to our region, with an additional $2 million for the Regional Trail Program.
DVRPC announced they received a record number of comments on the draft TIP, 85% of which were for the Circuit Trails. Thanks to you and hundreds of other people who took action, we emphatically let the DVRPC know that we don’t just want more trails in our region–we demand more accessible, safe, convenient ways to walk and bike to the places we need to go. We are so grateful to have your support as we work towards achieving our goal of completing 500 miles of the Circuit by 2025.
$214 Million Allocated toward the Circuit Trails in the PA TIP
On July 25th, the DVRPC Board voted to adopt the Draft FY2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Pennsylvania. The TIP covers the four years of FY25-FY28, and represents the region’s federally funded transportation improvement priorities.
The TIP includes several large, county-led Circuit Trail projects, largely funded by the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), a new federal formula program created by the BIL/IIJA that provides funding for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions. Trails are listed as eligible for CRP funding – A transportation alternative including but not limited to construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation.
Over the next four years, more than $55 million of funding is allocated to Circuit Trail projects in the the five counties that make up the Southeast Pennsylvania region, a significant increase from previous years. In the twelve-year program, $214 million will be allocated to the Circuit Trails with $120 million in Carbon Reduction Program funds making up a large portion of the total amount.
A number of projects that have been selected to receive the $120 million in CRP funding include:
- North Delaware Riverfront Greenway project, Sec 3 Tacony Holmesburg Trail
- Chester Valley Trail P&T Phase 1
- Cross County Trail East Section A
- Cross County Trail: Wissahickon Trail – SEPTA’s Fort Washington Station
- Cross County Trail East – Section B
- Cross County Trail Extension – Germantown Pike Bridge & Trail to Joshua Rd
- Spring Garden Connector
- PA 291 Complete Streets: Irving St to Ridley Creek
- CRP Funding was also added to The Circuit Line Item
$2 Million for Regional Trails Program
There’s more. The DVRPC Board also approved $2 million for Regional Trails Program Grants. With financial support from the William Penn Foundation, the Regional Trails Program has provided more than $25 million in funding to over 150 trail planning, design and construction projects throughout the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey areas.
The Selected Projects Include:
- Planning for the Kinkora Trail in Burlington County, NJ;
- Design of the Camden County LINK – Segment 3 in Camden County, NJ;
- Planning for the Cross County Connector Trail in Mercer County, NJ;
- Design of the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail – Cleveland Road Segment in Mercer County, NJ;
- Design of the East Coast Greenway in Bristol Township, Bucks County, PA;
- Design of the Chester Valley Trail – Downingtown Trestle in Chester County, PA;
- Design of the Lower Darby Creek Trail in Delaware County, PA;
- Design of the Naylor’s Run Trail – Section 6 in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, PA;
- Planning of the Lafayette Street Trail Gateway Master Plan in Norristown, Montgomery County, PA;
- Design of the Wissahickon Gateway in the City of Philadelphia, PA; and
- Design of the Parkside Cynwyd Trail in the City of Philadelphia, PA
All of the identified projects are shown in the map below.
We encourage you to let your county commissioner know how grateful you are for this investment. Take a moment to send a quick note of thanks here. This year marks an incredible milestone, but we need their ongoing commitment to connect the region by trail as we look ahead.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a founding member of the Circuit Trails Coalition and leads the movement to make every bicycle ride safe, to empower youth and adults to ride, and to foster a ridership that reflects the diversity of the region. Join or renew to continue that advocacy and education work throughout the region. More info here.