Timeline

• 1971 – ICC Abandonment Petition by WMRW
• 1973 – Regional Rail Reorganization Act
• 1975 – May 21 – ceremonial train ride on Western Maryland before abandonment
• 1978 – June 9 – First Acquisition, Ramcat Rd. to Bowest Junction (26.75 mi.)
• 1978 – WPC transfers property to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Read the full story 

• 1983 – National Trails Act Amendment creates “Railbanking”
• 1983 – 2 miles, Ramcat to Bidwell Station
• 1985 – 7.4 miles, Bidwell Station to Ohiopyle
• 1986 – Rail-to-Trails Conservancy was formed
• 1986 – Ohiopyle opens first 9 miles
• 1988-93 – Congressman Murtha secures federal funds through America’s Industrial Heritage Project (AIHP)

Fundraising Kicks In:

• 1991 – Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA)
• 1995 – Allegheny Trail Alliance was organized
• 1996 -Teeter Associates is hired to fundraise with individual donors, corporate & local foundations.
• 1997 – $16 Million included in Pennsylvania’s Capital Budget through efforts of Representative Richard “Rick” Geist.
• 1997 – Delta Development is hired to develop & assist with state and federal fundraising strategy.
• 1998 – Federal TEA-21 passes and includes $6 million dollars for the GAP.

• 1990 – 5.6 miles Ohiopyle High Bridge to Bruner Run
• 1993 – 9 miles Bruner Run to Bowest Junction
• 1995 – 0.5 mile Wheeler Bottom & Bowest Bridges
• 1995 – 2 miles Bowest Bridges to Connellsville
• 1998 – 1.5 miles Ramcat Hollow to Ramcat Road
• 1999 – 0.3 mile two bridges: Ohiopyle to Confluence

43 Miles – Yough River Trail North:

• 1991 – Regional Trail Corporation (RTC) was organized
• 1991 – RTC acquired 43 miles of the abandoned Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE)
• 1992 – Trail construction begins Yough River Trail North.
• 1993 – 2.5 miles Adelaide to Dawson
• 1994 – 6.3 miles Cedar Creek Park to Allegheny County line
• 1994 – 6 miles Buena Vista to Greenock
• 1994 – 2 miles Greenock to Boston
• 1995 – 3 miles Connellsville to Adelaide
• 1995 – 2.2 miles Smithton to Cedar Creek Park
• 1995 – 5 miles Allegheny County Line to Buena Vista
• 1997 – 1.3 miles Boston to Dead Man’s Hollow
• 1998 – 13.6 miles Dawson to Smithton 1998 – 1.5 miles 15th Street Bridge to McKeesport: 43-miles completed in 1998.

17 in Miles – Somerset County:

• 1993 – 7 miles Rockwood to Pinkerton Low Bridge
• 1994 – 7 miles Garrett to Rockwood
• 1995 – Harnedsville Bridge
• 1996 – Pinkerton High & Low Bridges
• 1998 – Salisbury Viaduct
• 1998 – 2.7 miles Salisbury Viaduct to Garrett
• 1999 – 2 miles Pinkerton High Bridge to Fort Hill

13 Miles – Somerset Section II:

• 2000 – Two bridges in Confluence
• 2001 – 6.5 miles Fort Hill to Confluence
• 2003 – Big Savage Tunnel
• 2003 – Keystone Viaduct
• 2005 – 4.5 miles Big Savage Tunnel to Sand Patch
• 2005 – 2 miles Meyersdale to Salisbury Viaduct
• 2005 – 1 mile Mason-Dixon Line to Big Savage Tunnel
• 2006 – Dedicated the opening of Big Savage Tunnel & Somerset County completion May 26-27, 2006
• 2007 – Bollman Bridge

8.5 Miles – Allegheny County, PA Sections:

• 2001 – 1.8 Waterfront Trail
• 2002 – 2.2 miles Eliza Furnace Trail
• 2002 – 2 miles Baldwin Trail to Hot Metal Bridge
• 2004 – Hot Metal Bridge 2007 – 0.75 Whitaker Trail
• 2008 – 1.4 miles McKeesport RIDC
• 2008 – 0.3 mile Riverton Bridge
• 2008 – Pittsburgh 250 Ride, DC to Pittsburgh October 4-5, 2008
• 2009 – 0.1 mile Duquesne Underpass

Milestone Events:

• 2001 – Unveiling Event GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE name & logo
• 2001 – 100 Mile Event on August 26, 2001 McKeesport to Meyersdale
• 2006 – Celebrated Big Savage Tunnel, completion of Somerset and Maryland sections and connection to C&O Canal
• 2007 – Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 1st “Hall of Fame” awarded to the GAP
• 2008 – Pittsburgh 250th Anniversary

Yough River Trail North:

• 2001 – 1.5 Durabond Bypass – 15th St. Bridge *Daily American March 28th, 2001

20.5 Miles – The Maryland Section:

• 2004 – 5.2 miles Frostburg to the State Line
• 2005 – 5.5 miles Woodcock Hollow to Frostburg
• 2006 – 9 miles Cumberland to Woodcock Hollow
• 2007 – Connection to the C&O Canal Towpath Event in Cumberland

• 2007-2010 – 1.9 miles Coke-Gas Pipeline, Two Bridges in Two Hours: Port Perry Bridge & Whitaker Bridge
• 2011 – 1.2 mile Duquesne RIDC
• 2011 – 0.7 mile Munhall Bike Lane
• 2012 – 0.4 mile West Homestead sidewalk
• 2013 – 0.5 miles McKeesport City Trail
• 2013 – 1 mile Sandcastle – Keystone Metals/Baldwin
• 2013 – Point Made! Celebration held on June 15, 2013
• 2018 – Mon Wharf – Smithfield Street switchback opened

Realignments in Somerset County:

• 2011 – 0.5 mile Garrett Underpass
• 2014 – 0.16 Pinkerton Tunnel re-opens after rehabilitation