Aspinwall is eyeing a $20,000 grant from the state to help begin implementing safety upgrades for bikers and pedestrians in the borough.

The money would launch traffic improvements across the borough that would include safer crosswalks, a bike trail and a directional change along Eastern Avenue.

The grant is being sought through the state’s WalkWorks program, which aims to establish and improve walking routes and other transportation avenues. The group aims to boost activity-friendly routes and connectivity to trails and others destinations.

Work would be the beginning stages of a $2 million plan devised by consultants TranSystems, hired by the borough to improve safety and connectivity of roads, sidewalks and trails.

A safety study of PennDOT-owned Freeport Road between Western Avenue and Delafield Road was completed in 2019. It identified at least eight areas to target for improvements.

Included in the key areas are:

• UPMC St. Margaret Hospital exit onto Delafield Road.

• The farmer’s market parking area access driveway.

• Curb cuts and defined driveways at Labriola’s and neighboring dry cleaner.

• Brilliant Avenue intersection and municipal garage access.

• Eastern Avenue intersection.

• General traffic flow through the borough.

• Municipal parking lot reconfiguration.

• Bike path through the borough.

“The objective is traffic calming, accessibility and improving overall safety,” Manager Melissa Lang-O’Malley said.

The project will largely focus on Freeport Road but will consider traffic flow along streets in upper Aspinwall as well, she said.

Quick, and less expensive upgrades, could begin this year in Phase 1 and include sprucing up bus shelters and erecting way-finding signs.

Total costs for the initial phase of the plan would be up to $100,000.

Longer-range plans would look at traffic flow along Eastern Avenue, the Brilliant Avenue intersection and the entrance to Aspinwall Riverfront Park.

Those fixes will require more money and planning.

TranSystems representative Todd Libengood said a reconfiguration of the municipal parking lot is suggested because vehicles currently pull out onto Freeport Road at multiple points.

He also said that work on a bike path could begin this year. The path would follow Delafield Road, where Allegheny County plans a future bike lane, to Second Street, to Brilliant Avenue and on to Aspinwall Riverfront Park. A link to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and beyond would connect residents with regional amenities.

“Aspinwall is a critical link to access to the future connection to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail,” O’Malley said.

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