Work to nudge Five Star Trail away from rail line to begin this fall

A 1-mile section of the Five Star Trail will gain some distance from an active rail line under a project that could start later this year.

Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation planning coordinator Jeff Richards said the extra few feet of space is needed because the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad is undertaking its own project to improve the rail line. That will allow trains to move faster, which creates a potential safety hazard for trail users.

“There are places where the edge of the trail that’s closest to the tracks is as close as 4 feet away,” Richards said.

Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation and Regional Trail Corp. are seeking bids for the project that will span from the area of Shady Lane in Hempfield to Fairview Avenue in South Greensburg. One bridge in that section will be moved.

The Five Star Trail, a rail-with-trail between Greensburg and Youngwood, is 6 miles long and used by bicyclists, runners and walkers. Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad is operated by Carload Express Inc. A representative from the firm did not respond to messages seeking comment.

The trail project will be funded at least in part by $800,000 in grants from Westmoreland County, the county’s Industrial Development Corp., the county parks’ Citizens Advisory Board and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Richards said. Preparation work started in 2021, and the grants might not cover all of the work. Bids are due June 10.

Trains run occasionally on the targeted section of the shared rail-with-trail.

Currently, the narrowest distance between the trail and rail line in that 1-mile section is 42 inches, Richards said. Other areas have more ample space of 10 feet.

Once the project is complete, the trail will average between 9 and 11 feet of separation from the railroad, he said.

Designing the new section of trail was tricky because of environmental factors such as wetlands and Jacks Run along the narrow corridor. Richards said he anticipates construction could begin in the fall. Signs will be posted in the affected section of trail when work is set to begin.

The Five Star Trail opened in 1996. Its name refers to the number of municipalities through which it passes — Greensburg, Hempfield, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and Youngwood.