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<\/p>\nPublished on September 24, 2026<\/p>\n
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Mayor O\u2019Connor Announces Partnership with CSX to Advance Trail Connectivity and Riverfront Access in Several Neighborhoods<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh, PA \u2013 Today, Mayor Corey O\u2019Connor joined CSX and Friends of the Riverfront to announce a partnership between the City and CSX. The partners have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that includes the transfer of portions of CSX property and easements so that the City can expand public access and close critical gaps in the regional trail network while protecting the safety and operational needs of the CSX rail corridor. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The partnership, which includes coordination through Friends of the Riverfront, reflects a shared commitment to public safety, accessibility, economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and long-term community investment. The MOU outlines potential transactions involving the Duck Hollow Trail, the Strip District Trail corridor, two proposed pedestrian bridge projects, and surplus property adjacent to the Melancthon Pedestrian Bridge. The proposed transactions will be subject to formal agreements and required approvals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an exciting agreement in partnership with CSX to transfer land to the City so that we can invest in our trails and riverfronts for Pittsburgh\u2019s families, commuters, residents, and visitors,\u201d said Mayor O\u2019Connor. \u201cThis has been a long time in the making and we are glad to get this over the finish line. Thank you to CSX for turning infrastructure into new opportunity. I\u2019d also like to thank our partners at Friends of the Riverfront, Allegheny County and County Executive Innamorato, and DCNR for helping to make this vision a reality.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed property transfers, easements, and infrastructure projects would help create a more connected Three Rivers Heritage Trail network, linking neighborhoods, riverfront destinations, major recreation and business districts. The City hopes to improve riverfront trails and pedestrian infrastructure to connect Hazelwood, Glen Hazel, Squirrel Hill, Swisshelm Park and the Strip District.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis agreement represents an important step toward improving trail connectivity while protecting the safety and operational needs of our rail network,\u201d said Rodney Oglesby, Director of State Relations at CSX. \u201cWe appreciate the City and Friends of the Riverfront\u2019s collaboration and look forward to continuing this work.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The MOU outlines preliminary terms for trail connectivity and pedestrian connection projects, including the potential conveyance of interest in:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nApproximately 4.61 acres of the Strip District Trail to the City to reconnect the currently disrupted riverfront trail to a continuous connection to 33rd Street. Plans would have to be approved by the Surface Transportation Board and City Council.\u00a0\u00a0
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\nThe existing footprint in the Duck Hollow segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail as well as the property between Duck Hollow and the Carrie Furnace Redevelopment Site to the City. This will ensure long-term public ownership and stewardship of the existing trail segment and future connectivity to neighboring communities and economic centers, with the City providing safety barrier measures and fencing.\u00a0
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The preliminary terms of the MOU also include proposed pedestrian bridge connections projects in Duck Hollow and Hazelwood, including:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nThe proposed Duck Hollow Terminus Bridge would provide a safe, grade-separated crossing over the CSX rail corridor, connecting the Three Rivers Heritage Trail\u2019s Duck Hollow segment with Hazelwood. This would close a longstanding pedestrian gap in the regional trail network.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
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\nThe upgraded Melanchton Pedestrian Bridge in Hazelwood, will replace the existing bridge to meet ADA standards and railroad design requirements. This would create another important crossing that improves access and connectivity for trail users and the Hazelwood community.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
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The MOU also identifies potential future transfer of surplus property adjacent to the Melanchton Pedestrian Bridge, creating opportunities for public use and project implementation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Friends of the Riverfront helped facilitate discussions between the City and CSX concerning trail connectivity, public access and rail corridor safety. The organization will continue working with the City, CSX, and other partners as the proposed projects are evaluated and advanced. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis agreement is a tremendous opportunity to close critical gaps in Pittsburgh\u2019s riverfront trail network,\u201d said Kelsey Ripper, Executive Director of Friends of the Riverfront. \u201cBy bringing the City and CSX together around a shared vision, we can expand riverfront access, create safer connections between neighborhoods, and move closer to a continuous trail connection through the Strip District, Hazelwood, Duck Hollow, and Carrie Furnace. Friends of the Riverfront is proud to have helped bring the partners together and we\u2019re excited to continue turning this vision into reality.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed projects build on the Hazelwood to Carrie Furnace Feasibility and Planning project, which received support through the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development Trail Development Fund and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Partnership Program. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAllegheny County is proud to have supported Friends of the Riverfront for many, many years as we grow our robust network of trails countywide,\u201d said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. \u201cThrough our Trail Development Fund, we awarded Friends of the Riverfront initial money to help conduct feasibility studies of these critical trail connections. Seeing the ideas from those early studies become reality is a wonderful testament to our partnership and collaboration across municipalities. Together, we\u2019re building a better trail network for all the residents of Allegheny County.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Funding for coordination on this project was provided in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Support for land acquisition was provided by the Open Space Institute (OSI).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOSI is delighted to be part of this partnership,\u201d said Dene Hofheinz Lee, OSI\u2019s Senior Vice President of Land for the Northeast. \u201cThis MOU represents an important step toward connecting communities, strengthening regional trail networks, and creating more opportunities for people of all abilities to experience the outdoors. We are proud to partner with Friends of the Riverfront, the City of Pittsburgh, and CSX to help transform this vision into reality.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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About Friends of the Riverfront\u00a0<\/p>\n
Friends of the Riverfront is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building, stewarding, and promoting the Three Rivers Heritage & Water Trails and advocating for safe, equitable access to Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Through trail development, community partnerships, and public engagement, the organization works to create a connected regional trail system that enhances recreation, transportation, environmental stewardship, and community vitality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
About Open Space Institute\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Open Space Institute is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. OSI’s land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather. For more information, visit openspaceinstitute.org.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Molly Onufer
\nPress Secretary
\nmolly.onufer@pittsburghpa.gov<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published on September 24, 2026
Mayor O\u2019Connor Announces Partnership with CSX to Advance…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":293166,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73,75,74],"class_list":["post-293165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293165"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293165\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/293166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}