At her College Park-Nittany Crossing apartment, Sarah Leichliter can enjoy the many advantages of being away from downtown. However, one disadvantage of living in her Patton Township apartment complex is its two-mile distance from campus.

That situation could change.

Supervisors from both Patton and Ferguson townships are attempting to make the commute of students such as Leichliter (junior-psychology) less troublesome.

A joint project is underway between the two townships to develop a bike/hike trail between Vairo Boulevard and Overlook Heights.

Ferguson Township Manager Mark Kunkle said an informal trail now exists that students can take from Nittany Crossing, 601 Vairo Blvd. -- formerly Jefferson Commons -- and University Commons, 201 Vairo Blvd., to reach the University.

"There's an undeveloped trail system that was formed like an Indian trail would be formed," Kunkle said.

The trail will be widened and paved using funds from the two townships and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Kunkle said. Both townships will each pay 25 percent of the cost while the DCNR will pay the remaining 50 percent, said Patton Township Manager Thomas Kurtz. However, contracts between the townships and the DCNR are still being finalized.

The idea for the trail has been around since at least 1979, Kurtz said. He added that a brochure from that time shows a similar proposed trail that led from a former University Drive (now Vairo Boulevard) to East Aaron Drive.

The trail will follow the existing trail, which begins on Vairo Boulevard across from Marjorie Mae Street, and end at East Aaron Drive, which lies on the outskirts of the Overlook Heights housing development.

From there, pedestrians and bicyclists can walk or ride down Curtin Street to the McKee Street trail, which leads to Sunset Park. From the park, they can take McKee Street and reach the north side of the University.

Kunkle said the project may be constructed by township employees or through a local engineering firm. If the project is done through the townships, Kunkle said the 30-day project could begin this fall.