Hanover Trolley Trail

Current Status

From June 29 through July 17, 2009, a section of the Hanover Trolley Trail from the Spring Grove parking area near Hosiery Alley to the railroad underpass will be closed to all trail traffic while the borough upgrades its sanitary sewer line. Your cooperation in avoiding this area is appreciated.

June 2008 marked the start of Phase 1 Construction of the Hanover Trolley Trail.

Phase 1 Construction consists of trail development along two sections of the historic York Hanover Trolley Line:

(1) In Spring Grove Borough and Jackson Township, construction includes a parking lot/trailhead at the Jackson Township Sewer Authority plant, approx. 1 mile of trail, and a small parking area near Hosiery Alley in Spring Grove Borough.

(2) In Hanover Borough, constuction consists of approximately 1.5 miles of trail from Moul Avenue in the borough to Cherry Tree Court.

Construction was completed and both sections were opened to the public in the fall 2008.

The trail consists of a 10-foot wide crushed stone surface. In addition, where the width of the corridor permits, an 8-foot wide dirt/grass pathway for horse riders parallels the trail.

A study is being conducted in 2009 to further investigate the development of additional sections of the historic trolley line.

HISTORY:

In July of 2003, the Feasibility Study of the York Hanover Trolley Line was completed by the York engineering firm of C. S. Davidson, Inc. Partial funding for the study was provided by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Parks and Recreation.

The study includes an analysis of the field investigations of the historic trolley route, a comprehensive public input process, an inventory and assessment of the corridor's many features, a summary of legal constraints, and a conceptual plan that proposes development of two sections of the corridor.

Local and state grants were awarded in 2004 and 2005 that allow for the development of a section of the Trolley Trail in Jackson Township and Spring Grove Borough. In addition, Hanover Borough moved forward with funding assistance from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to develop a 1.5 mile section of the historic trolley line as well as a designated on-street bike route and sidewalk walking route to connect to Guthrie Memorial Library: Hanover's Public Library. These sections opened for public use in 2009.

Project Location

York County, PA between West York Borough and Hanover Borough. Proposed trail also passes through West Manchester Township, Spring Grove Borough, Jackson Township, Heidelberg Township, Penn Township.

Participating Agencies

York County Rail Trail Authority, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, York County Planning Commission, York County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Funding Sources

York County Rail Trail Authority, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, York County Convention and Visitors Bureau, York County Community Foundation.

Vision

The York Hanover Trolley Line was operated as a passenger trolley line from 1908 until 1939. Following the decline of trolley service, the corridor was purchased by the Metropolitan Edison Company to use as a right of way for electricity transmission lines.

In 1977, York County adopted a Metropolitan Bike Route Plan that identified corridors throughout the county that offered the potential for development of multi-use recreational trails. This corridor was one of several opportunities for trail development. In that same year, a license agreement was executed between Metropolitan Edison Company and the County of York for the purpose of establishing a non-motorized recreational trail from Hokes Mill Road in West Manchester Township to Wilson Avenue in Penn Township.

The Future

The Feasibility Study of the York Hanover Trolley Line sites an opportunity to develop two sections of the historic route. One section extends 4.5 miles from Bair Station to Menges Mills, and another extends 1.5 miles from the Heidelberg/Penn Township boundary to Moul Recreational Field in Hanover Borough. The study also outlines a management plan that encourages participation from the municipalities, the County of York, and a variety of volunteer groups in the future operations of the Trolley Trail.

Based on these recommendations, the York County Rail Trail Authority began discussions with the municipalities within the sections currently being proposed for development. These include Jackson Township, Spring Grove Borough, Penn Township, and the Borough of Hanover. These discussions focus on identifying funding opportunities, refining trail alignment, and additional reviews of constraints and trail connections.

Through these partnership efforts, the York County Rail Trail Authority and the participating municipalities have established priorities and time frames for engineering, design, and construction of selected sections of the historic trolley route. Communications with other municipalities along the route will also be maintained and encouraged.