Trail gaps: Lehigh Valley planners reveal top 10 priority connections

Using criteria like shovel readiness and connection to parks and other trails, Lehigh Valley planners have identified a draft list of the area’s most critical local trail gaps.

It’s part of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s first inventory of trails across Lehigh and Northampton counties since 2013, according to environmental planner Christian Martinez.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in the region since then,” he said.

The assessment is being finalized for adoption by the commission in January. Martinez presented a draft look at the report and 10 trail gaps deemed most critical during a meeting Tuesday of the commission’s Environment Committee.

Planners used several criteria to identify these priority gaps, including aligning with statewide trail goals and potential connections between population centers — plus gaps that are on the shorter side.

“We’re looking at trail gaps that are five miles in length or less to really emphasize projects that can be done more quickly and get our trail network developed quicker,” Martinez told the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s committee. “Really there are a lot of opportunities within that five mile or less range. But we do want to identify all of these potential connections because they all are really important.”

The draft list of the 10 most critical Lehigh Valley trail gaps is as follows:

Jordan Creek Greenway from Mauch Chunk Road to Lapp Road.Jordan Creek Greenway from Route 309 to Trexler Nature Preserve’s trail network.Karl Stirner Arts Trail, connecting to the Palmer Bikeway.D&L Trail between Dauphin and Bradford streets.D&L Trail from the Ironton Rail Trail north to the D&L at Cementon and south to Race Street.D&L Trail along Riverside Drive from Jordan Drive to Water Street.MLK Trail Phase 2, connecting the Cedar Creek Path trailhead at West Hamilton Street to the Lehigh Parkway.Stockertown/Tatamy Rail Trail from the southern end of the Stockertown Rail Trail to Two River Trailway at Tatamy.Two Rivers Trailway from the D&L Trail at Glendon Hill Road to Lehigh Drive.Bushkill Township Trail from Route 512 to the Appalachian Trail at Wind Gap.

The goals of the assessment slated for completion next month include creating a database and interactive map to identify funding opportunities for closing these gaps and continued collaboration across the region, Martinez said.

Planning commission officials hope the assessment helps with updates to both municipal and regional plans.