Thanks to the Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) the Montour Trail Council (MTC) again owns 72 acres of property that once belonged to the bankrupt Montour Railroad. On November 1, 2002, the ALT sold this property to the MTC for $1. These 72 acres are parallel to and include the Montour Trail from mile "0" in Moon Township to "7.3" at the Enlow tunnel. In addition to the ALT, we are proud to have been able to work with other partners in this elongated process. However, we can now finally say that this land will be preserved for future generations to use, view and enjoy.

This process actually started in 1999 and had many players before the ultimate successful property transfer on November 1, 2002. The process, which will be explained below in a timeline, was not easy. Numerous organizations and individuals stepped forward at the appropriate time to assist. Following is the list of our friends and partners who have made this acquisition possible:

• Allegheny Land Trust (ALT)
• Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
• Allegheny County Regional Asset District (ARAD)
• Allegheny Trail Alliance (ATA)
• Regional Trail Corporation (RTC)
• Hollow Oak Land Trust (HOLT)
• Coraopolis and Townships of Moon, Findlay & Robinson
• Montour Trail Council Members & board

Please thank these organizations and their members, if you have the good fortune to cross their paths.

The process time line:

• 1991-Allegheny County obtains a 20 foot easement from the railroad and signs a management agreement with the MTC.
• 1999-HOLT pursues acquisition of the corridor by establishing an option to buy with the bankruptcy court. HOLT is successful in receiving a Growing Greener grant from DCNR. HOLT pays for a survey of the property.
• 1999, December-The HOLT board decides not to pursue this acquisition and turns its focus on other properties to acquire and preserve.
• 2000, January - HOLT's option on the property expires. The MTC felt comfortable with this situation, since an easement was owned. We thought no other respective buyer would ever be interested.
• 2000, Mid-January - An individual representing a contractor took out a forty five (45) day option on the property. We were shocked to hear that the purpose of the acquisition was to strip the land for its coveted topsoil. We strongly felt that this topsoil removal would create an environmental disaster in the Montour Run valley.
• The MTC quickly decided to pursue acquisition.
• 2000, February - Numerous meetings were held with our legal counsel Mr. Dick Wilson and various government representatives. Mr. Wilson guided us in our strategies and helped us to develop a workable plan.
• 2000, June - The MTC applies for a grant from the ARAD board for $99,000. These funds would be the match to the DCNR grant, which is a 50/50 grant.
• 2000, February thru August - Unfortunately the contractors representative renewed his 45 day option on the property another three times. Finally in August he let the option expire. The MTC finally submits its own option in August.
• 2000, February thru August - During this time the MTC was pursuing various funding options. Board member Stan Sattinger lead the charge by starting the process for the transfer of the DCNR Growing Greener grant to the MTC. We accumulated over 20 letters of support from various organizations and the townships. Unfortunately, DCNR informed us that the MTC could not use the Growing Greener funds, because only land trusts were eligible.
• 2000, September - The ALT board agrees to purchase the property and accept the grant transfer from HOLT. The ARAD matching funds would only be available in the spring and the bankruptcy court was not willing to wait that long. Thus, the MTC made a bold decision by agreeing to pursue temporary financing for a purchase before the end of the year. The ATA board agreed to loan the MTC $200,000 along with a 90 day interest free loan. These funds were financed through an account with the Regional Trail Corporation (RTC). (The RTC manages the Yough North portion of the Great Allegheny Passage.)
• 2000, November - The MTC purchases the property for $185,000 on 11/22/2000. ARAD approves our request for $99,000 on 11/29/2000.
• 2001, April - ALT receives permission from DCNR to sell the property back to the MTC after one year.
• 2001, August - The ALT purchases the property from the MTC for $185,000 using the DCNR grant and the ARAD funds as a match.
• 2001. December - The MTC board changes its bylaws to have the additional designation of a land trust.
• 2002, November - The MTC purchases the property back from the ALT for $1.

Thanks again to all of the organizations and individuals involved who have helped us preserve and protect this beautiful corridor. It wasn't easy.

- Dennis Pfeiffer