LEWISBURG — There are a little more than 100,000 trips made annually on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail in Union County, and about 1,100 people visited the trail about 12,000 times just this June.
And the average user spent $238.61 on recreational goods to enjoy the time — just some of the findings of the BVRT Research Team at Bucknell University, which conducted a study between June and July to find information and trends on travel demand and economic impact.
The team presented its findings Tuesday at the Union County Government Building along with officials of the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority, which oversees the trail.
The Union County Planning Commission asked for the study to determine the next step with the trail. The study was funded with about $14,000 left over from a $350,000 grant LARA received from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for design and engineering of the trail.
Lewisburg Borough and East Buffalo Township also kicked in $5,000 each. The trail runs through those municipalities.
Team members are Michelle Oswald, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; Thomas Kinnaman, professor of economics; Kelly Burkhart, a civil and environmental engineering student; and Mike Nicholson, an economics student.
Economically, the 9.2-mile trail between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg has a potential to bring an estimated $280,925 annually in recreational business to the area, the study team found.
“This direct spending increases local incomes which ... are responsible for indirect and induced spending of an estimated $477,572 per year in the Susquehanna Valley and $589,942 per year in Pennsylvania,” according to the study.
Giving a nod to current economics, the survey included a question of a hypothetical tax increase to fund an extension. Values of $1, $10, $100 and $1,000 were provided, and users were asked to either accept or reject each value. Again, there is some bias shown in that some users may be willing to pay these amounts, but are against any tax increase.
Those willing to pay for a trail extension averaged $815.29 per user, according to the study.
The study found the trail had about 400 visits a day in June, with cyclists besting walkers about two to one among trail users. Wednesdays and Sundays are the busiest, and the average trail user is about 49 years old and visits the trail about 10 times a month.
The average user also traveled about five miles to access the trail and was on it about 90 minutes per visit.
The study included automatic infrared and manual counts as well as surveys and interviews with trail users.
News
Rail trail attracts 1,100 visitors in June alone
- News
-
- U.S. war games send signal to Assad
-
PennDOT withholds funding plan from public
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has built a website that compares competing plans to spend billions of dollars in new transportation money, but it’s refusing to release similar information to the public, which will pay for chosen projects.
-
Reputed Mafioso tip triggers new Hoffa body search
The FBI saw enough merit in a reputed Mafia captain’s tip to once again break out the digging equipment to search for the remains of former Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa, last seen alive before a lunch meeting with two mobsters nearly 40 years ago.
-
GSVUW won't use discretionary funds for Scouts
The Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way Board voted Tuesday not to release discretionary funding to the Susquehanna Council of Boy Scouts of America.
-
10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Troopers become teachers at Camp Cadet
SELINSGROVE - More than 50 cadets marched onto the Susquehanna University football practice field and stood at attention while Milton state trooper Matt Burrows explained the importance of self-discipline.
-
Family fears cat killer
Members of a Point Township family don’t feel safe after their pet cat was found dead Friday in the middle of their backyard, shot in the heart.
-
Road stretch reopens
The first phase of the $3.9 million “big dig” in Mifflinburg is over as a reconstructed section of Route 45, or Chestnut Street, will reopen today, PennDOT announced.
-
State Supreme Court upholds the judicial retirement age
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is unanimously rejected a challenge to a portion of the state constitution that requires judges to retire by the end of the year in which they turn 70.
-
Sen. Casey calls on Congress to stop student loan rate increase
PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is calling for legislation to prevent an interest rate increase on federally subsidized student loans.
-
U.S. Military plans would put women in most combat jobs
WASHINGTON — Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in elite special operations forces.
-
Governor signs anti-abortion insurance coverage bill
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is joining about 20 other states in limiting coverage of abortions under health care insurance policies offered in a federally-run insurance marketplace starting next year under a sweeping federal law.
-
Ohio police chief takes criminals to task online
KENT, Ohio — If you’re up to no good in this pocket of northeast Ohio, especially in a witless way, you’re risking not only jail time or a fine but a swifter repercussion with a much larger audience: You’re in for a social media scolding from police Chief David Oliver and some of his small department’s 51,000 Facebook fans.
-
Court Dockets
A roundup of news from local district and county courts.
-
Today in 'Our Valley'
Photo exhibit opens at library's new art gallery
Swimmers unite in record-breaking effort
Captive readers warm to book club at Snyder County prison
Family and fans remember Davy Jones in his beloved Beavertown
-
U.S. Supreme Court: Arizona citizenship proof law is illegal
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled today that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.
-
Route 45 road work in Mifflinburg shifts east on Tuesday
MIFFLINBURG — The contractor reconstructing Route 45 through downtown Mifflinburg will open the first reconstructed section to traffic on Tuesday and close the next section slated for reconstruction.
-
Police Log
A daily roundup of police news from around the region.
- More News Headlines
