Verona seeks public input for transportation plan

Verona officials are seeking input from residents on how to make the community more walkable and bikeable.

Borough council will hold a public meeting at from 5 to 7 p.m. March 24 at Railroad Park, 737 E. Railroad Ave., to discuss the upcoming coordination of an active transportation plan, and all Verona residents are invited to attend.

The plan will include an emphasis on repairs around the borough in addition to the expansion of walking, biking and wheeling capabilities, and potential growth of public transportation options.

Verona obtained an $18,000 grant from the Walkworks program through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Walkworks is an initiative designed to support forms of transportation other than driving.

“Making walking and biking safer and more convenient can help social interaction between residents, improve local economies and public health, and reduce air pollution,“ according to the Walkworks website.

Ultimately, Verona officials look to increase accessibility to community- and health-related services, parks, library, churches and residential areas, along with better accommodating events including the Verona Farmer Market, Movies in the Par and Community Day.

The borough has been working with Pennsylvania’s Local Technical Assistance Program, which provides training in transportation technology and the EADS Group, a design consulting firm based in Somerset.

“We’re really trying to maximize this opportunity and get the most out of it,” said Trish Hredzak-Showalter, a Verona council member who is helping to spearhead the program locally.

Following the gathreing of input from Verona residents and businesses, a written plan will be put together based on the top recommendations and then sent to council for a vote. Officials hope to start action on the proposal this year as part of a comprehensive plan that integrates recreation.

Also included in the plan is the 12-mile Verona Oakmont Plum Penn Hills biking and walking trail, proposed to connect the three municipalities with Allegheny County’s Boyce Park. The Verona portion will include 2.25 miles of trail.

“This will hopefully give people the ability to get outside and encourage an active lifestyle, that’s why it’s sponsored by the Department of Health. We need to make sure it’s appealing and safe or people aren’t going to get out and do it,” Hredzak-Showalter said. “We have such a lovely business community here in Verona, and we want people to get out and experience it.”

In addition to the March 24 meeting, the borough will hold guided field tours and will use interactive online mapping and surveys to ensure comprehensive feedback. Residents of Verona and nearby communities are encouraged to complete a survey by April at 30 https://bit.ly/35nkLRR. An interactive map is available at https://bit.ly/3hxJt4K.