August 29, 2022

Easton/College Hill Escarpment Hike – Bike Trail and Historic Step Refurbishment

Thanks to a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Multimodal Transportation Fund, this project will make substantial improvements to the pedestrian pathway that connects Downtown Easton with the College Hill neighborhood by reconditioning the historic stairs that serve as the primary city-campus transition. 

In addition, we will be constructing a new walking and bicycling trail between the Karl Stirner Arts Trail and South College Drive (near the intersection with McCartney Street). When completed, the project will ensure safe public access throughout the year and reduce reliance on motor vehicles. 

About 1,100 feet of new trail will be constructed as part of this project, providing a 6-foot-wide pathway. About 650 feet of existing trail will be repaired or replaced. Amenities will include better lighting, new seating areas, and locations for displaying artwork. 

As of December 2022, temporary barricades have been installed around the construction area, and we expect the work to finish by July 2023. During construction, the following will be available as alternate means to access downtown:

  • An LCAT Shuttle dedicated to the Arts Campus runs weekdays from 8:32 a.m. to 10 p.m., except for Friday, when it stops at 4:45 p.m.
  • The College has arrangements that enable students to use Lanta Bus free with their College ID. The 214 Lanta Bus route runs up and down College avenue approximately every hour, starting at 6:05 a.m. and stopping at 10:29 p.m. Pickup is under/near 22 overpass, with stops at every block along Cattell Street.
  • The Arts Campus is within walking distance both from the west side of campus—along Sullivan Road past the tennis courts—and on the east side of campus, on the sidewalk along College Avenue. This is also the suggested route when heavy snow results in closure of the Third Street steps.

We are pursuing a crosswalk at the intersection of College Avenue and McCartney Street and working with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for approval, as College Avenue is a state road. In the meantime, we recommend other crossing options, but if a walker must cross at that location, they should take care in looking in all directions before crossing. An alternate option is to take the LCAT Shuttle, which has a stop at McCartney Street and Clinton Terrace.