Study on Amtrak stop near Pa. trail due in July

January 19, 2011 at 1:59p.m.

ROCKWOOD, Pa. (AP) — An Amtrak study of whether to put a bicycle-friendly stop near the Great Allegheny Passage in Somerset County could be finished by July.

The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown is reporting that Somerset County Commissioners are busy raising $60,000 to pay for the study.

Somerset County’s “Rails to Trails” association built a bike path on abandoned railroad tracks on Rockwood four years ago that has become part of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage cycling trail stretching from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.

County officials are hoping trains equipped with bicycle racks would boosting cycling on the path and ridership on Amtrak trains.

Rockwood is about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.