Former Brilliant Branch rail line a 'blank canvas' for public trails, economic growth

Pittsburgh will have its own version of Manhattan’s High Line in coming years, providing 3.6 miles of trails, gardens and riverfront access along an antiquated rail corridor near Aspinwall.

The Brilliant Branch, a former railroad line that stretches from the shore at Allegheny RiverTrail Park to Pittsburgh’s Homewood section and beyond, now belongs to the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

It was purchased April 4 from the Allegheny Valley Railroad using $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“Not only will this connection provide a safe, scenic route for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the Allegheny River, it will also help reduce traffic congestion and increase access to parks and trails,” said state Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-North Hills. “Outdoor recreation contributes millions of dollars to our region and investments like this one will pay dividends for generations to come. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Estimated costs for design and construction are about $10 million, said Michael Carroll, public information officer for the county’s economic development office.

Consultant selection will begin this summer, and there will be several robust public engagement opportunities, according to County Executive Sara Innamorato.

“I’m really excited to continue this forward progress,” Innamorato said of the plan, a decade in the making.

“This is when we’re getting to the fun part. We get to craft plans and turn something underutilized into a project informed by the community. This is a blank canvas for us.”

The public will get the chance to weigh in on connectivity between the city and outlying neighborhoods, spaces for outdoor programming, public art and nooks for eating and drinking.

“We’ll come out with this incredible asset, not only for residents, but one that visitors will want to come and see,” she said

The Brilliant Line stretches from Aspinwall to Washington Boulevard past Highland Park, Lincoln-Lemington and Homewood. Some spurs of the trail stretch toward Verona and The Waterworks. The multiuse trail also will connect to the impending Allegheny Shores development in Sharpsburg.

There, the Allegheny Shores initiative will simultaneously bring housing and entertainment to a 1.5-mile stretch of riverfront. The project is a reclamation of a 52-acre brownfield site that for decades operated as a scrapyard.

Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis said the trail project is another huge step forward for her community.

“The Brilliant Line promotes connectivity, accessibility and sustainability,” Portis said. “I’m excited for the economic and community growth that’s to come.”

Spanning the Allegheny River, the trail will add to the county’s network of 200-plus miles and will serve as a link to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, offering new, nonvehicular access routes to Downtown.

When complete, it could help some 300,000 people who live within a 10-minute drive of the Brilliant Line to reduce their carbon footprint by biking to jobs, shopping and more.

It was not immediately clear how many jobs would be created through construction of the path.

Innamorato expects a year of design and engineering. Depending on cost and construction complexities, the trail could open in as few as three years.

Fundraising will start this year from private and public sources.

The trail conversion builds on a decade of community advocacy.

The property initially was pursued by the nonprofit Allegheny RiverTrail Park in 2021. Allegheny Valley Railroad agreed to sell the Brilliant Line to the group, but the agreement was assigned to the Redevelopment Authority for completion in 2023.

“This acquisition represents more than just a purchase,” said Lauren Connelly, county economic development director. “It demonstrates the county’s continued commitment to enhancing the quality of life of our residents.”

The Brilliant Line was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a cutoff to avoid the congestion at Union Station, but was abandoned from 1976 until 1995, when portions of it were repurposed by Allegheny Valley Railroad.

It includes four bridges, one of which is the picturesque steel bridge over the Allegheny River near Aspinwall.

Much like the High Line, built on an elevated freight corridor above Manhattan’s West Side, the Brilliant Line could mimic a public park with gardens, art installations and natural habitat for wildlife.

In New York, the High Line generated $900 million in tax revenue from 2009 to 2023, according to a Fordham University report. It also brought in about $2 billion in new economic activity throughout the High Line district of the city.

Connelly believes the Brilliant Line can be a catalyst for investment and growth in Pittsburgh.

“It’s about creating vibrant spaces that promote health, wellness and connectivity,” Connelly said.