County Exec. Announces $150,000 to Increase Walking/Biking Pathways
Published on September 14, 2026
Applications for the Active Allegheny Grant Program open September 14 and close December 4
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) today announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP), which makes $150,000 available to help communities across the county plan and design projects that make it safer and easier for residents to walk and bike to the places they go every day.
For more than a decade, Active Allegheny has helped communities turn ideas for safer, more connected transportation networks into actionable plans and projects. The program began in 2016 as part of a public health initiative led by the Allegheny County Health Department and funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the Hillman Foundation. Since 2020, Allegheny County has continued that investment through the County Capital Budget.
To date, more than $1.5 million has been invested into 45 communities through Active Allegheny, supporting active transportation plans, design work for priority multimodal projects, and trail feasibility studies, and other efforts. The program can also help communities position projects for additional funding opportunities, allowing them to build on the County’s initial investment and move projects closer to implementation.
These investments have supported more than 40 projects in communities across the county, from active transportation plans in Sharpsburg and Richland Township to a wayfinding study in Duquesne and trail connector design work along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
“Everyone deserves to live in a community where it’s safe and easy to get around, whether you’re walking to school, biking to work, catching a bus, or heading to a local business,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. “Active Allegheny is about investing in the everyday connections that make our communities better places to live and helping municipalities turn those ideas into real improvements for their residents.”
Who Can Apply
Applications are open to Allegheny County municipalities, councils of governments (COGs) applying on behalf of one or more members, and nonprofit organizations applying on behalf of a municipality. Recognizing that walking and biking connections often extend beyond municipal boundaries, multi-municipal applications are strongly encouraged. Only one application will be considered per municipality, including joint applications.
Applicants may request up to $50,000. ACED will consider requests above $50,000 for projects that significantly improve opportunities for physical activity, connect to major transportation systems, or represent multi-municipal efforts. COGs and non-profit organizations administering a grant on behalf of a municipality may include an administrative fee of up to five percent of the grant amount.
What the Program Funds
Active Allegheny funding can support communities at different stages of project development, from identifying transportation needs to advancing an existing project toward construction. Eligible work falls into two categories:
- Planning: identifying community needs for walking and biking and recommending solutions. This may include an active transportation plan, a study of a specific walking or biking challenge, community walking and bicycling routes, or a wayfinding system.
- Engineering and design: moving an already identified improvement closer to construction through engineering and design work, including projects recommended in a local plan, in Active Allegheny, or the transportation element of Allegheny Places.
“Connecting people to the things that make their communities great, like business districts, parks, schools, transit and trails, is an important part of improving quality of life,”said Economic Development Director Lauren Connelly. “Active Allegheny builds on the work we’re already doing through housing, Main Streets Allegheny and community planning by helping municipalities make streets safer, calm traffic and create better connections between neighborhoods and local amenities. These investments make a real difference in people’s daily lives and help create communities where families want to stay and businesses want to invest.”
How to Apply
Applications open Monday, September 14, 2026 and will be accepted through Friday, December 4, 2026 at 4 pm.
All applications must be submitted through ACED’s application portal at https://funding.alleghenycounty.us.
Full program guidelines, including eligible project types, selection criteria, and municipal match requirements, are available at the Active Allegheny Grant Program.
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