May 15, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

SCOTTDALE – The Five Star Trail extension from Alverton to Scottdale received a $400,000 grant, thanks to the state Transportation Commission’s approval of $45.4 million in federal funds. PennDOT Secretary Bradley L. Mallory said the federal funds would help support 153 statewide project that will enhance recreational trails, historic transportation properties and landscaping along streets and highways.

Coal and Coke Trail President Rob Ferguson of Scottdale said the Five Star Trail Chapter, which is a separate entity under the Regional Trails Corporation, oversees 6.6 miles of trail from Lynch Field in Greensburg to the Youngwood Train Station.

Ferguson said, “The Five Star Trail Chapter is the group behind the planned extension from the Youngwood Train Station to Scottdale. They are also in charge of the extension that’s being planned from the Youngwood Train Station out through the Westmoreland County Community College area to Armburst.”

Ferguson said the eight-mile extension from the Youngwood Train Station was only originally scheduled to go to Tarrs. However, when the Five Stare Trail Chapter received additional funds in the form of a $250,000 grant about two years ago for the extension they agreed to continue the trail.

“They have the money in place to build it and they own all of the property from Youngwood to Tarrs while the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority owns the railroad tracks,” said Ferguson.

“Their original plan was to end the project at Route 31, but after more funds became available they then decided to continue the trail to Scottdale and eventually take it to the Yough River Trail.”

Ferguson said that’s when the Scottdale-based group decided to get involved and make sure that the trail really came through Scottdale. “The next suggestion that we received was to extend the trail to Mount Pleasant,” said Ferguson. “So that’s what we have been working on.”

Ferguson said funding for the Tarrs/Scottdale extension has come through quicker than funding for the Scottdale/Mount Pleasant route.

“Our problem is that we don’t own all the property from Scottdale to Mount Pleasant,” said Ferguson. “We’re still in the property acquisition phase. The fact that the Five Star Trail Chapter has all their property in place the entire way to Scottdale means that all they needed was the money to build the trail.”

Ferguson said one of the biggest problems that has delayed the start of the trail from Youngwood to Tarrs has been the Hempfield Sewerage Authority because they wanted to put a pipe in from the Youngwood Train Station to Hunker.

“As soon as they put the pipe in they are going to build that part of the trail,” said Ferguson. “So the Five Star Trail Chapter is waiting for them to break ground. That’s another reason the Five Star Trail applied for additional money.”

Ferguson said although he doesn’t know the exact timeline on the project he thinks that the Five Star Trail may break ground on the Youngwood to Scottdale extension project by the end of this year.

Ferguson said the next Coal and Coke Trail Chapter meeting is June 11 at 4:30 p.m. at West Overton Museum.