A study by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy concluded that the Delaware and Lehigh Trail injected over $16 million into the local economies.

The 2012 study, performed by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Northeast Regional Office in Camp Hill, PA used a combination of automatic counters and trail survey forms to study visitation, usage and economic activity along portions of the 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh Trail.The study concluded that, "An analysis of data gathered from infrared counters located along the D&L Trail and completed user surveys indicates an estimated 282,796 annual user visits to the trail, resulting in a total economic impact in 2012 of $19,075,921. Of this, $16,358,201 is estimated to have been directly injected into the local economy."The study described the D&L Trail as "a multi-use trail in eastern Pennsylvania, running north to south from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, east of Philadelphia. The trail anchors the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, an area encompassing the historic Delaware and Lehigh Canals and overseen by a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the cultural and natural resources of a five-county region in the eastern part of the state."This study led by Pat Tomes and Carl Knoch of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was typical of a number of trail studies that the organization had previously performed. This study, supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, covered a variety of users and usages of the trail between the boroughs of White Haven and Morrisville.For purposes of this study, the D&L Trail was partitioned into six sections: White Haven to Jim Thorpe, Marvin Gardens (Bowmanstown) to Slatington, Sand Island (Bethlehem) to Hugh Moore (Easton), Lodi, Lock 11 to Yardley, and Morrisville. Survey forms were available from June through October, 2012 at 18 locations along the trail, and at a number of special events; resulting in 862 tabulated survey responses.Survey respondents were primarily from Pennsylvania (77.5 percent), New Jersey (11.5 percent) and New York (7.0 percent). Residents of 27 counties across the state visited the trail. The majority of the Pennsylvania residents were from Bucks County (23.6 percent), Lehigh County (18.3 percent) and Northampton County (12.2 percent) - an additional 4 percent represented 16 other states and three foreign countries.Of the trail users who completed the survey, the majority (71 percent) were 46 years of age and older: 46-55 (26.4 percent), 56-65 (27.8 percent), and 66 and older (16.8 percent). Ages 45 and younger represented 29 percent of the respondents.The primary activities on the trail (72.8 percent) were reported as: walking/hiking (29.7 percent), biking (26.9 percent), jogging/running (8.2 percent), and dog walking (8 percent). Most people spent at least 30 minutes on the trail: 30 minutes to one hour (15.8 percent), 1 to 2 hours (38.6 percent), and more than two hours (44.4 percent).When it came to the economic impact, the first question asked, "Has your use of the trail influenced your purchase of..." bike (20.7 percent), bike supplies (20.2 percent), auto accessories (3.9 percent), footwear (17.1 percent), clothing (15.6 percent), or nothing (22.6 percent).Then the pivotal question, "Approximately how much did you spend on the items above in the past year?" The average for those who indicated they had made a purchase and provided a dollar amount was $425.12 (from 493 persons who responded to that question).When asked, "Where do you typically purchase most of your trail related 'hard goods'?", the response was: local national chain (26.8 percent), local regional chain (10.4 percent), locally owned store (41.0 percent), online national retail (9.9 percent), online regional retail (2.1 percent), and online specialty (9.7 percent).The economic activity also discussed items that were not classified as 'hard goods'. Were a dollar amount was recorded, the average purchase was $33.49 (from 449 persons who responded to that question). These items included: beverages (21.3 percent), candy/snack foods 11.8 percent), sandwiches (8.1 percent), ice cream (5.6 percent), restaurant meals (18.2 percent), bike rental (6.7 percent), other (2.0 percent), and in none-of-these (26.4 percent).Visitors were asked if their trip included an overnight stay. For those who responded, the average number of nights per stay was 2.2 nights, and the average expenditure per night was $132.36 - as reported by 77 persons. The stays were at a: motel/hotel (29.8 percent), bed-and-breakfast (19.4 percent), private home (21.0 percent), campground (20.2 percent), and other (9.7 percent).Based upon infrared counters placed at eight locations along the D&L Trail, the survey was able to estimate usage of the trail. The actual count was taken during the month of June, and adjustments were made to the count to take into effect: visitations for the balance of the year, adjustments for passing multiple counters, adjustments for missing counts, and adjustments for out and back trips.Rails-to-Trail estimated the following annual usage: White Haven 5,791, Glen Onoko 37,003, Jim Thorpe 19,975, Marvin Gardens 8,291, Lehigh Gap Nature Center 13,496, Slatington 10 32,802, Sand Island 20,653, Hugh Moore Park 14,872 Lodi 16,972, Lock 11 47,181 Black Rock 55,890, and Morrisville 9,871, for total estimated annual trail user visits of 282,796."It's time to sit up and take notice," said D&L President/Executive Director, Elissa Garofalo. "The D&L Trail added more than $19 million of direct economic impact to the region last year. The RTC Survey clearly makes the case for completing and sustaining this trail."The D&L Trail 2012 User Survey and Economic Impact Analysis is available online at:

http://bit.ly/10EWiwm.