What is the Project? Briefly, what are you planning to do, and how will it benefit the trail system?

Effective January 1, 2020, Armstrong Rails to Trails Association (ARTA) is merging with the Allegheny Valley Land Trust (AVLT). ARTA historically has been the volunteers working on the trail and AVLT owned the trail. AVLT and ARTA decided a merger was a way to combine our resources. Our new name is Armstrong Trails. Armstrong Trails will also have volunteers dedicated to the betterment of Armstrong Trails. I can’t but WE can, is our mantra. Together, we can accomplish many projects. Time is a resource that you cannot make more of and acquiring tools to save time and do projects efficiently is an important piece of the partnership.

Within the past year volunteers have helped with many BIG projects and the BIG project continue in 2020. In 2019, volunteers put in over 4,000 hours in to the Armstrong Trail.

While working on Crooked Creek Bridge (partially funded by the Volunteer Fund) rehab project, we rented a trailer to lock our tools in each night and had done so for a couple of months. In October, volunteers ready to work for the day found the lock had been cut and all of the tools had been stolen. While the Allegheny Valley Land Trust has insurance for such an incident, the deductible is high ($1,000). Replacement of $1,000 worth of tools in not within our budget to replace.

While assessing the trail, we have chosen new locations for gate systems, directional signage, and benches. Digging holes in ballast is very time-consuming. An air compressor/gas tank/toolbox will also allow us to save time and to operate/secure day to day tools so that we do not have another theft.

What Are You Asking the Fund to Provide?

Be specific about what you're asking the Fund to support and how that fits into the overall project. Give an approximate budget for the project that shows what you’re asking the fund to provide and any other funds you’re planning

on. Budget attached 2020 Projects volunteers will assist with: Brady Tunnel Phase II, Mahoning Bridge, Poseytown Bridge, Scenic Bridge, Whiskey Run Bridge, Pine Creek Bridge, new gates/bollards, mowing, brush hogging, bench installation, rehabilitation of the Phillipston Turntable, and scout projects just to name a few.

What Will Volunteers Do? Be clear about how much volunteer effort will be involved, along with the value of that effort compared to the materials you are asking the Fund to provide.

As an example of the value of volunteers. Brady Tunnel Phase I, included 400 hours of volunteer time, the Crooked Creek Bridge rehab over 2,000 hours of volunteer time, not mentioning routine maintenance.

The amount of time these tools will give and save volunteers is exponential over the life of their usefulness.