Report Looks At Improving Historic Delaware Canal

A formal vision for sustaining the historic nearly 200-year-old Delaware Canal has been released.

The study, known as the Delaware Canal Vision Study, was funded by the William Penn Foundation and conducted by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc. in partnership with Delaware Canal 21 and in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR.)

The study is the first step in a comprehensive strategy to assist the DCNR with the complexities and opportunities to restoring, maintaining and operating a watered Delaware Canal, which runs from Bristol Borough to Easton, a distance of nearly 60 miles.

Bristol Borough, the southernmost point of the canal, has been an integral aspect of area history; it was the place where local cargo was off-loaded and towed in canal boats that were lashed together and towed down river by steamboat and Mile 1 of the canal was even severely disrupted after World War II with obstructions to the Delaware and Lehigh Trail and a complete obliteration of the waterway between Beaver Street and the lagoon along the Delaware River. According to the study, the area will face unique opportunities since it is one block from the SEPTA regional rail. Priorities for the area will involve removing obstructions and restoring the canal trail, developing the southern approach of the East Coast Greenway trail; upgrading the boat basin area as a visitor portal; creating safe trail crossings at local streets; restoring the towpath as a thru-trail; linking the SEPTA station to the Canal as a major trail head – with public-private partnerships and concessionaires.

An opportunity exists in Bristol Borough, according to the vision study, to clearly brand the area as the terminus “portal” of the canal and the historic spot where local cargo was unloaded. Existing interpretive signage can also reinforce the role the southern end played and also help establish the sense of history as people start their journey along the Canal. Where the waterway has been filled, interpretation and directional signs can lead users to the towpath trace up canal. A portion of the parking lot could also serve as parking space for the South Portal.

The next phase of the canal in Bristol Township features historic Levittown, one of the first successful post-World War II suburban communities. While Delaware and Lehigh Trail users can currently use the Route 13 crosswalks at the new Green Lane intersection to continue travel between open towpath sections, priorities for the canal vision study involve improving Green Lane and canal connections, analyzing the future use of the remnant section of the canal under the Pennsylvania Turnpike overpass, and improving connections and crosswalks at local streets.

Different opportunities lie in the Tullytown section of the canal. According to the vision study, the canal waterway is piped and covered over. In addition, the towpath is not in the original historic character that existed before the existence of the Levittown Shopping Center and has been reduced to a small footpath. Priorities in this section include restoring the waterway and towpath near the shopping center and improving local access to the canal.

“One concept is to feature the open waterway as a catalyst for a redesigned mixed-use development that is pedestrian orientation aligned with the Canal. Many suburban communities are looking at ways to repurpose shopping centers to attract, not just shoppers, but workers and residents as well, who might be inclined to new apartments and offices in redeveloped environments.If the Levittown Town Center was interested in exploring this idea, the daylighted canal can act as a contributing asset to a rebranded development,” the study reads.

Through grant funding, the Tullytown portion of the canal trail could see some work next year with crossing improvements and the addition of a split-rail fence. A second phase would be realign the trail between Levittown Town Center and Levittown Parkway.

The Levittown-area section of the canal exists in Falls Township and travels between a series of lakes in the historic area of Wheat Sheaf and the busy Amtrak Northeast Corridor rail line. On its course, the canal crosses local streets and runs perpendicular to streets which have no direct connection to the canal, and in turn, prevent residents of nearby neighborhoods from easily accessing the towpath. Tyburn Road and its interchange with Old Bristol Pike presents an obstruction to canal users. Canal priorities in Falls include improving local street connections, conducting a study to determine the feasibility of watering the Canal from nearby lakes; and addressing the Tyburn Road obstruction.

The 169-page vision plan includes ideas on how to improve the canal path through Morrisville Borough and all the way up to Easton, Lehigh County.

Click here to read the full vision study

The next steps for the entire canal project, according to the vision report, will focus on feasibility studies to identify technical and cost details, and possible programming and administrative improvements. Actions made throughout 2017 will be pertinent to achieving a sustainable canal by 2031, the Bicentennial anniversary.

The vision study was made up based on input from public meetings held in Bristol, New Hope, Riegelsville and Upper Makefield in addition to stakeholder sessions with business, government, environmental and tourism groups that are impacted by the canal.