BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Just shy of a mile's worth of abandoned rail line lies in the way of joining the South Bethlehem Greenway with the Saucon Rail Trail.
In the final stages of an effort spanning a number of Bethlehem city administrations, City Council last week voted unanimously to buy 11.8 acres from Norfolk Southern Railroad to close that trail gap. The land cost $4.3 million.
The new addition would run down the eastern end of Bethlehem’s Saucon Park and connect just west of Bachman Street in neighboring Hellertown.
"Uniting the trails has 'been piece by piece by piece by many different mayors and many different councils, and it’s unbelievable to see this come to a final solution.'"Councilman Bryan Callahan
The connection's southernmost point would join Saucon Rail Trail, which weaves through the Center Valley area and joins Upper Bucks Rail Trail at the Lehigh-Bucks County line.
The northernmost point would meet with a 1.28-mile stretch of the South Bethlehem Greenway, which travels up to the D&L Trail connection near Daly Avenue and the Minsi Trail Bridge.
From there, the Greenway continues running west across South Bethlehem, where it currently stops at South New Street.
Funding the purchase
Councilman Bryan Callahan said uniting the trails has "been piece by piece by piece by many different mayors and many different councils, and it’s unbelievable to see this come to a final solution.
“So I think it’s going to be a beautiful thing for the city of Bethlehem and the whole Lehigh Valley.”
“I think we all know what a wonderful resource this is. The fact that it runs right through the city just increases its access exponentially, and it’s really very exciting.”Bethlehem City Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm
Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm said, “I think we all know what a wonderful resource this is. The fact that it runs right through the city just increases its access exponentially, and it’s really very exciting.”
The city already has $3.5 million in grants for the land acquisition, and a future vote would determine whether an $800,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant could be used for supplemental funding.
Also, $100,000 from the city’s Recreational Facilities fund could be used to cover associated surveying, appraisal work and other closing costs, pending the proper vote.
Officials also set aside $4,500 for local contractor Christie M. Davies to complete a review and offer an official opinion on an appraisal of the land completed this month.
Davies' review must be completed by Nov. 15 as part of associated grant procedures, according to city documents.
