The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission was recently awarded a $21.1 million RAISE grant for the Riverside Drive Multimodal Revitalization Corridor.

A press event that took place Friday, November 19th saw congratulatory talks from U.S Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg, Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild as well as Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell.

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This project is a 3-mile transformation connecting the City of Allentown with Whitehall Township to provide a safe and healthy connection of roadways, transit, sidewalks and trails into a more equitable and sustainable system while improving our environment and creating new housing and employment opportunities. Riverside Drive will redevelop multiple brownfields while improving access to one of the regions most disadvantaged communities.

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.

A link to the project summary can be found here: Executive-Summary-RAISE-Grant-20210809.pdf (raiseriversidedrive.com)