The Borough of Northampton has given its support to connect the Nor-Bath Trail to the proposed Delaware and Lehigh National Corridor walkway.

The walkway would be extended into North Catasauqua and eventually Allentown.

Borough Planner Victor Rodite met Jan. 8 with Scott Everett of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Brian Cope of the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development, and engineers to examine trail connection options to connect the Nor-Bath Trail to the Delaware-Lehigh Heritage Trail.

"We were able to look at options. I made the point that the trail extension should not be located or adjacent to Lerchenmiller Drive from Clear Springs Drive to Main Street. Instead, the engineers and others should look at locations along the railroad spur line and safe crossings of Main Street," Rodite said.

According to Rodite, the meeting was a fact finding session, with no decisions made.

Although the borough in the past decided not to invest funds into the project, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor was able to secure grants to proceed with the planning.

"There is a window of grants to make things I hope happen in 2015," Everett told borough council previously.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., a supported of the project, said the land proposed for the trail extension is in "a hooligan area, ripe for crime."

Other issues raised by Lopsonzski include lighting, lack of access and poor communications opportunities.

Everett said the design has an 8-foot trail and a bridge over the Dry Run Creek that is designed to support an emergency medical service vehicle. Council was told experience has shown most users on trails govern themselves appropriately and immediately report any actions by vandals.

"Long overdue," Everett said of the pending trail extension, which dates back to 2012.

A connection with the Ironton Rail-Trail that loops Whitehall Township and Coplay is in the works.

Asked by borough Manager Gene Zarayko whether the long abandoned railroad trestle connecting Coplay and Northampton over the river is in the mix, Everett said "no, too expensive."

Everett and Cope recommended the borough take advantage of funding available to close a gap over Dry Run Creek.

Everett said the contractor will have to restore the trail to its original condition once the job is finished.

The trail is an economic tool and will help promote businesses such as the Roxy Theatre..