SELECTEER EEN TAAL▼ CONTACT US -A A A+ Text Size HOME LIVE WORK PLAY GOVERNMENT CONTACT US allentownpa.gov » Home » News Archive Home ► Special Events Public Meetings Calendar Applications & Forms Reports & Publications News Archive Categories Homepage (1431) Mayor's Office (40) Fire (52) Health (107) Police (130) Public Works (118) EMS Paramedics (19) Finance (34) Parks & Recreation (416) Human Resources (7) Planning & Zoning (20) Recycling & Solid Waste (98) Streets (326) Water Resources (1) Community and Economic Development (214) Building Standards and Safety (2) Public Safety (9) News Archive November 2021 (16) October 2021 (16) September 2021 (24) August 2021 (22) July 2021 (16) June 2021 (21) May 2021 (17) April 2021 (25) March 2021 (10) February 2021 (26) January 2021 (14) December 2020 (22) November 2020 (11) October 2020 (19) September 2020 (12) August 2020 (20) July 2020 (15) June 2020 (12) May 2020 (16) April 2020 (20) March 2020 (22) February 2020 (11) January 2020 (17) December 2019 (7) November 2019 (8) October 2019 (26) September 2019 (20) August 2019 (16) July 2019 (18) June 2019 (22) May 2019 (16) April 2019 (17) March 2019 (21) February 2019 (12) January 2019 (12) December 2018 (13) November 2018 (16) October 2018 (22) September 2018 (23) August 2018 (23) July 2018 (23) June 2018 (24) May 2018 (32) April 2018 (23) March 2018 (21) February 2018 (15) January 2018 (15) December 2017 (8) November 2017 (23) October 2017 (20) September 2017 (16) August 2017 (21) July 2017 (21) June 2017 (19) May 2017 (23) April 2017 (17) March 2017 (30) February 2017 (10) January 2017 (10) December 2016 (11) November 2016 (8) October 2016 (16) September 2016 (16) August 2016 (17) July 2016 (19) June 2016 (20) May 2016 (16) April 2016 (14) March 2016 (9) February 2016 (14) January 2016 (12) December 2015 (12) November 2015 (10) October 2015 (18) September 2015 (15) August 2015 (12) July 2015 (15) June 2015 (17) May 2015 (12) April 2015 (19) March 2015 (9) February 2015 (4) January 2015 (12) December 2014 (9) November 2014 (12) October 2014 (20) September 2014 (16) August 2014 (9) July 2014 (11) June 2014 (9) May 2014 (14) April 2014 (15) March 2014 (13) February 2014 (23) January 2014 (15) December 2013 (7) November 2013 (13) October 2013 (17) September 2013 (14) August 2013 (12) July 2013 (17) June 2013 (18) May 2013 (11) April 2013 (12) March 2013 (4) Deputy Transportation Secretary Congratulates Partners 11/22/2021 U.S Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg and Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild were in Allentown Friday to congratulate the area on the award to The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission of a $21.1 million grant to build a scenic commuter trail and road from the Allentown’s Lehigh Riverfront into Whitehall Township. The money, awarded through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Transportation Discretionary Grant program, will help fund a $55.6 million project creating a robust multimodal commuting, emergency management, and equitable access corridor connecting urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods along a three-mile stretch from Hamilton Street in Allentown, beyond Route 22, and into Whitehall Township. Mayor Ray O’Connell told the approximately 100 people in attendance at an afternoon news conference that “persistence had indeed paid off.” It was the sixth consecutive year the LVPC has applied for the grant, but the first time the Lehigh Valley was approved for funding in an extremely competitive grant process that often funnels most of the money to larger cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York and San Francisco. The LVPC, with help from dozens of businesses, government and community partners, applied for the federal grant money to be added to the $34.4 million in matching funds which includes money from state grants, the City of Allentown and The Waterfront Development Company, which is owned by Jaindl Enterprises, owns the right-of-way and is building a $425 million business and residential park along Allentown’s riverfront. Riverside Drive would extend from the Hamilton Street bridge in Allentown, through the Waterfront project, beyond Route 22 and north into Whitehall Township. The first roughly milelong section of the project would be a two-lane road, and ten-foot paved path for pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair use, extending from Hamilton Street in Allentown to Wood Street in Whitehall Township. A section extending north of Wood Street would be allow only trail and emergency vehicle access. The section through the Waterfront would include a Riverwalk outside of several proposed office buildings, restaurants and hundreds of riverfront apartments. The Riverwalk will overlook the Lehigh River, connecting two outdoor plazas and an amphitheater, while the corridor connects to other regional trails including the Jordan Creek Greenway Trail, Northern Lehigh Rail Trail, Lehigh River Water Trail, Slate Heritage Trail, 911 Memorial Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Among the biggest advantages is that it would help close the largest gap left in the D&L Trail. Organizers more than 20 years ago began with an ambitious mission to create a 165-mile scenic pathway from Bristol, north of Philadelphia, to just outside Wilkes-Barre. Today, most of the trail is open and passable by foot and bike, and according to the D&L Trail website, only the section that passes through Allentown is listed as “unimproved, open, travel at your own risk.” --30-- Posted in: Homepage, Parks & Recreation, Community and Economic Development | View Count: (150) ALLENTOWNPA.GOV Privacy & Security Terms of Service QUICK LINKS Job Opportunities Voting and Elections Maps Human Relations Complaint CONTACT City Departments Contact Website Support CONNECT Download Center Social Media Center Events News Subscription City of Allentown - 435 Hamilton Street - 610-439-5999 | Login