06/14/2026
This is a very good article about how our Northern Wayne County neighbors are making ATV riding safer and benefiting local small businesses. Thanks to recent changes in Pennsylvania, PennDot's recent ATV Connector Request Policy now makes it possible to improve the safety of ATV riding on our emerging NEPA Regional ATV Trail System (aka O&W Trail). For example, PennDOT sent Preston Township a request, during January 2026, to allow PennDOT to proceed with a highway safety survey to make the 1,000 ft. of RT 370, in front of Lake Lorain Golf Course, a Dual Use highway section that without question will improve safety awareness and limit the township's liability on what has been used by ATV and snowmobiler riders for over 50 years.... Still waiting.....
This PennDOT ATV Connector Request Policy has a second, very encouraging aspect, which allows State roads to be used as connections to businesses. This is why Walton and other small communities in New York are now pursuing this. In our case, this is the common sense step to take to make ATV's traveling to local retail establishments safe and legal. Which businesses will this help?
B & E Scoops ! An ATV Connector Request to PennDOT, followed by a township ordinance, which re-defines ATV's traveling this section as "Motor Vehicles" under the PA Vehicle Code, would allow connection of the O&W Rail Trail to this business using Rt 370. It's only a couple hundred of yards, but very important this be done to make the highway and business access safe and legal, under the PA Vehicle Code. This Request application cannot happen until Preston Township approves the "in hand" application it has from PennDOT to proceed with highway traffic study to connect the Trail in front of Lake Lorain Golf Course.
Preston Country Market An ATV Connector Request to PennDOT, followed by a township ordinance, which re-defines ATV's traveling this section as "Motor Vehicles" under the PA Vehicle Code, would allow connection of the O&W Rail Trail to this business using Shehawken Road. This is the only business in Northern Wayne County for O&W Rail Trail ATV riders to purchase fuel. This Request application cannot happen until Preston Township approves the "in hand" application it has from PennDOT to proceed with a highway traffic study to connect the Trail, using 1,000 ft of Rt 370 in front of Lake Lorain Golf Course. Once that happens, either the same Township ordinance, or a separate one needs to be done to achieve the "Motor Vehicle" definition on the minority portions of the Trail used as regular and low maintenance roads.
Backwoods Dogs & Beverage
An ATV Connector Request to PennDOT, followed by a township ordinance, which re-defines ATV's traveling this section as "Motor Vehicles" under the PA Vehicle Code, would allow connection of the O&W Rail Trail to this business using Winterdale Road and SR 191. It also makes sense to include SR 191 from the Winterdale Road intersection to the Hancock NY Bridge, to the West Branch River PA/NY boundry. Just like Walton has/is improving ATV public safety and legal access to small businesses, we've had discussions with colleagues in Hancock who believe this is a very possible next step there, expanding the selecton of retailers and fuel stations legally available. Preceeding this being able to happen, Preston and Buckingham Townships need to pass separate ordinances to allow Dual Use of the "on road" sections of the O&W Trail.
Crosstown Tavern
All the above under Backwoods Dogs & Beverage applies; using Winterdale Road to SR 191, then SR 191 to this location.
The major point of all of this: In Pennsylvania, our legislative and government leaders see the unquestionable benefits of encouraging the development of ATV trails, especially for the economically challenged area of Northern Wayne County. Many of our out of state customers have dreams to relocate here, and many have. AND they want to live on or by the O&W Trail.... This could only help property values here. Residents and small business owners who support the idea of the North East Regional ATV Trail that's been evolving here for the past 6 years, need to make this support known at your local township meetings. For our working ATV rider community, this is difficult in Preston Township, as a 9:00 AM Monthly Township Meeting excludes 99% of residents.
