"I'm bringing good news," Scott Everett, of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, recently told Northampton Borough Council of efforts being made to extend the D&L Trail.

The trail is proposed to extend to the Heritage Trail Walkway at Canal Park and south into North Catasauqua.

Everett said North Catasauqua is applying for the construction funding.

He also said Northampton County will allocate $100,000 of its open space funding for the project.

Northampton officials are concerned the trail route will follow Lerchenmiller Drive to Main Street and then to the south end of Canal Park. They would prefer that it follow the Horwith rail spur line.

"I met with the Horwith family. They say they are on board," Everett said.

A survey has been done at 10th and Main streets, he added.

"At the very least, part of the project can move forward this year," Everett said. "I'd like to see it all completed."

He mentioned the trail will follow the railroad tracks, cross the Atlas Sports Field, then proceed east by the rear of the Northampton Borough Municipal Authority grounds, the recreation center, the back of Newhard Pharmacy and across Main Street.

The borough is not expected to bear any costs for the project.

The trail will link North Catasauqua and Catasauqua and continue into Allentown.