filed under: feasibility studies


Connecting Cleveland to Pittsburgh by Trail

Unlocking the Economic Potential of 200+ Miles of Trail

This feasibility study outlines the path forward and the potential in connecting Cleveland and Pittsburgh over 200+ miles of multi-use trails in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The alignment of the 200-miles-plus Cleveland to Pittsburgh (C2P) corridor is primarily made up of existing rail-trails, unused or abandoned rail corridors, and canal corridors.

by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)


C2 P Report Lowres


This feasibility study outlines the vision for the corridor, as well as the opportunities, challenges and costs associated with its completion. The study builds on previous mapping work and other local trail-planning efforts.

Once connected, the C2P corridor will feed into more than 1,500 miles of multiuse trail that stretch across 51 counties in four states: Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York—one of eight mega corridors that comprise the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition’s (IHTC’s) regional vision to leverage a burgeoning trail economy to deliver new opportunities to the people who live along its route. It also contributes 146 miles to the Great American Rail-Trail™, a signature RTC project and the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, creating a route of 3,700+ miles that is separated from vehicle traffic and entirely walkable and bikeable between Washington, D.C., and Washington State.

Published March 2020

About the Author


Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. RTC’s mission, and its value, is magnified in urban areas, where one mile of trail can completely redefine the livability of a community. Where trails are more than just recreational amenities, creating opportunities for active transportation and physical activity—improving our health and wellbeing—as they safely connect us to jobs, schools, businesses, parks, and cultural institutions in our own neighborhoods and beyond.

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