On October 19th, 2016 the Bucks County Planning Commission held an open house to provide the public with information on the proposed 3.3-mile Upper Bucks Rail Trail. The event was hosted at Richland Township Fire and Rescue in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Springfield and Richland Townships, as well as Quakertown Borough. The trail is a key section of the 300-mile Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network (PHTN) that is being developed from Riegelsville, Bucks County to Waynesboro, Franklin County. Funded by Bucks County, the engineering plans for the Upper Bucks Rail Trail are being finalized and construction is anticipated to begin in the spring or summer of 2017, and is expected to take 12 to 18
months.
During the three-hour open house, area residents were able to view trail maps, ask questions and provide comments, suggestions and feedback. Representatives from local organizations were also in attendance, including members of Bike Bucks County and the Upper Tohickon Watershed Association.
The Upper Bucks Rail Trail is proposed to extend 3.3 miles south from the northern border of Lehigh and Bucks Counties along an unused railroad right-of-way through Springfield and Richland Townships to California Road. The trail will connect to the Saucon Rail Trail to the north and to Veteran’s Park and existing trails in Richland Township to the south. The PHTN will then continue south through the Borough of Quakertown and in the future will link to the Perkiomen Trail to the west. AMC looks forward to working with a variety of partners, elected officials and the public as it works to complete development of the PHTN.
