Rostraver Twp. considers request on trail signage

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Rostraver Township and Smithton officials have the same goal in mind, when it comes to the Great Allegheny Passage: they want people to know exactly where the trail is.

Smithton officials last month sent a message to Rostraver officials asking for a letter of support for a grant to get new signage to bring some attention to what is known as the Smithton Beach trailhead at mile marker 107 on the 150-mile-long rail trail that runs between Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh. Prior to taking action on the letter, township officials requested a meeting with members of the Regional Trail Council to see what could be done to make sure people know they are in Rostraver Township. 

That meeting took place Thursday at the Smithton Beach trailhead. Smithton Mayor Christine Tutena and her husband, Councilman Dan Bathels, heard about the meeting and showed up. 

Both Rostraver and Smithton officials agree the meeting got off on the wrong foot  with it said that 30 years ago Rostraver officials wanted nothing to do with the trail.

“I said boards change and this board is interested,” Rostraver Township Manager Jeff Keffer said during Thursday night’s commissioners’ meeting.

Keffer said he told the trail council and Smithton representatives about the improvements the township has made along the trail in Collinsburg and offered the township’s assistance whenever it may be needed. Keffer said none of the trail is actually in Smithton.

“They want to consider that Smithton Beach and Smithton Trailhead,” Keffer said.

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