USER SURVEY TO BE CONDUCTED ON THE
ARMSTRONG TRAIL IN ARMSTRONG COUNTY
Kittanning , PA – The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has launched a 6-month survey of people who use the Armstrong Trail. Work on the survey began last month with the help of a $10,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Boxes containing the survey, designed as a postage paid self mailer, will be installed at major trailheads along the trail and trail users are encouraged to fill out a survey and mail it in. The survey is intended to determine trail user characteristics and attitudes, how much money trail users spend because of the trail and their possible impact on local businesses. There is no cost to mail the survey.
The survey forms are mailed to the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy main office in Washington, DC so the data can be tabulated without cost to the trail managers. The data will then be analyzed by staff in the Northeast Regional Office. A final report will be compiled and distributed at the beginning of 2011.
The Armstrong Trail user survey is the fifth in a series of user surveys being done on trails around the state. “We are trying to cover all the geographic zones of the state in order to compile a wide range of comparable data and establish a baseline of information for the trailside communities who work so hard to build and maintain their trails. The surveys provide valuable information for each trail manager, and are very useful tools for community planning in the local area as well as for nearby communities who are trying to build support for trail construction and maintenance,” said Patricia Tomes, Program Manager for the Northeast Regional Office of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The most recent survey completed was on the Ghost Town Trail in Indiana and Cambria County. Those survey results documented over 75,000 users on the Ghost Town Trail contribute 1.7 million dollars in economic impact to the local businesses.
As a trail that is still “under development” the Armstrong Trail doesn’t expect to see the same amount of economic impact but instead will use the survey to provide a base line of data from which to grow.
The Armstrong Trail opened in 1992 with the trail nothing more than rough ballast on an inactive railroad corridor; today over 30 miles of maintained trail exist from the Ford City area in Armstrong County to the East Brady Area in Clarion County. A total of 16 miles have an improved smooth surface for nonmotorized uses such as bicycling and hiking. The Armstrong Trail is a vital link for the Erie-Pittsburgh Trail Corridor which is working toward a connection between the Great Allegheny Passage to the shore of Lake Erie. More information on the Armstrong Trail please visit: www.armstrongtrail.org
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. The Northeast Regional Field office works with projects in ten states of the northeast United States and is located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. For more information on their programs log on to www.railstotrails.org
Additional Rail Corridor Purchased by AVLT
Allegheny Valley Land Trust has purchased a 48 mile railroad corridor that will extend from the Armstrong Trail in Clarion County to Brookville in Jefferson County. This railtrail will be for nonmotorized uses such as bicycling, walking and hiking. This corridor includes 38 miles along Redbank Creek and a 9 mile branch line that connects Lawsoham to the Sligo Area. The trail was railbanked according to the requirements of the Surface Transportation Board and National Trail Act. The Redbank Valley Trails Association, a volunteer organization, has been formed to assist in the trail maintenance and development. This organizations meets the third Monday of each month at 7 PM in the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church at 403 Penn Street, New Bethlehem, PA
Upcoming Events
Directions to the Armstrong Trail Parking Area by Lock and Dam # 8.
Starting at the Kittanning Citizens Bridge on the Allegheny River at Market Street in Kittanning, head east on Market Street past the Armstrong County Courthouse. Make a left on Oak Avenue (one tenth of a mile past the Courthouse). Travel on Oak Avenue for 0.3 mile where Oak Avenue becomes Johnston Avenue. Continue on Johnston Avenue for 4.9 miles and turn left on PA 1033 (sign points towards Lock & Dam #8) This is immediately after passing under the railroad trestle spanning the Allegheny River and passing over Pine Creek. Travel 1.8 miles to the parking area at Lock and Dam 8.
Armstrong Rail to Trail Association (ARTA)
April Meeting Recap
04/05/2010
View a copy of the April Meeting Minutes
Armstrong Rail to Trail Association (ARTA)
December Meeting Recap
12/07/2009
View a copy of the December Meeting Minutes
CHIP’N TRAIL Project
The Armstrong Rails to Trails Association (ARTA) and the Allegheny Valley Land Trust are excited to announce the CHIP’N TRAIL Project. The goal of the CHIP’N TRAIL Project is to provide trail advocates the opportunity to "CHIP IN" to purchase limestone "CHIPS" to "CHIP AWAY" the roughness on the missing links in the Armstrong Trail.
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If you would like to have your photographs of the Armstrong and Cowanshannock Trail posted on this website, please email your photographs to 
.