This week, the Commonwealth Financing Authority approved projects for more than $25 million in Local Share Account proposals in Luzerne, Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe Counties, as well as counties contiguous to Monroe. (Note: these are not the statewide LSA grants.) Projects included road equipment, police cruisers, municipal building projects, paving and other road projects, recreation projects, stormwater projects, and equipment and building projects for emergency responders. Pittston Township, Luzerne County was awarded $294,797 for a first responder training facility and $17,975 for a Hometown Heroes Commemorative Wall. Click here to view the list of approved projects. 

Partnerships with Townships Make Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Possible 

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) reopens the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail for the 2025 season on May 23. The trail offers more than 600 miles of connected roads and trails across Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, and Tioga counties, and will remain open through Sunday, September 28. 

The 600-mile trail includes more than 400 miles of township roads; 167 miles of state forest roads and trails; and 33 miles of PennDOT-administered roads and was made possible through partnerships with local governments and private landowners — particularly townships that voluntarily opened roads to the trail system.  

The trail builds on a successful three-year pilot program and responds to growing demand for legal, long-distance ATV riding opportunities in Pennsylvania. With more than 290,000 ATVs registered across the Commonwealth, the trail helps meet the rising need for well-managed riding areas that also support rural communities and boost local economies. Permits are required to access PennDOT and State Forest Connector Roads. More information is available here.  

Visit DCNR’s website for more information about ATV riding opportunities in state.