A proposed trail linking Carbon and Schuylkill counties got a reboot this month, as stakeholders gathered for a kickoff meeting in Tamaqua.

State Sen. Dave Argall said that a study was done 20 years ago for a trail between Tamaqua and Jim Thorpe, but it didn’t materialize.

Other trails took priority — namely the Schuylkill River Corridor, which ends in Tamaqua, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Historic Corridor, which runs through Jim Thorpe, he said.

“Within the last few years, this 9/11 trail has begun from Shanksville to New York to the Pentagon, and damned if our area isn’t in the one of the connectors,” Argall said.

“We saw this as a good way to potentially restart the effort,” he said.

The timing seems right for the proposed Panther Creek Valley Trail, which would link Jim Thorpe, not only to Tamaqua, but extend all the way to Pottsville, Argall said.

The communities that comprise the Panther Valley School District are working together under a Blueprint Communities designation, the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum is expanding its exhibits with the mine fan project, and Summit Hill is working on new ways to attract visitors from Jim Thorpe, he said.

“I think I’m more optimistic this time than last time, but we still have a long way to go,” Argall said.

Last time, possible routes included using Lehigh Anthracite coal lands or going out through Owl Creek, he said.

A consultant for the 9/11 trail commission has brought in a consultant to do a feasibility study and determine the best path for the trail, Christine Verdier, Argall’s chief of staff, said.

A steering committee comprised of people interested in trails and downtown revitalization met with the consultant to hash out where this trail could go, she said.

“We had folks in there from municipal government, from the local trail-type businesses, and others who have some community in mind, like the Blueprint team,” Verdier said. “We had elected officials participating, just to get their buy in.”

Some of the trail is already constructed and in place, but in terrible condition, she said, pointing to a stretch between Tamaqua and Middleport.

The steering committee hopes to work with partners, such as rail lines, PPL, and the 9/11 trail commission, which has a national designation, Verdier said.

“That really gives us the boots on the ground to move this project from a study phase to actually in a phase that we can implement over the coming years,” she said.

Next year is the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and there will be a push to get more of the trail completed, Verdier said

“Overall, it’s a 1,500-mile trail,” she said. “Most of those trail miles are in Pennsylvania. I think that moves us further ahead.”

The new trail connection and amenities in the area could draw some visitors from Jim Thorpe into other areas, such as Lansford, Summit Hill and Tamaqua, Argall said.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and as the steering committee/stakeholder meetings continue and path becomes more certain, they’ll start applying for funding, Verdier said.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which is focused on trail connections, had representation in the kickoff meeting, she said.

“We’re going to start applying for funding this year on some of the pieces that we know we can implement quickly, like updating the 209 trail,” Verdier, saying that could be the first piece looked at.

“The goal is to move this forward,” she said.

Those interested in the trail should reach out to their local leaders or Argall’s office as the process moves forward, Verdier said.