LYONS, N.Y. — The board of supervisors in Wayne County, N.Y., is set to consider potential transfer of ownership of the county-owned rail lines operated by the Ontario Midland Railroad at a meeting today (Thursday, Feb. 23), the Finger Lakes Times reports.
The county owns 52 miles of rail line in two segments that are leased and maintained by Ontario Midland as part of a group of four railroads in New York and Pennsylvania. The resolution to be considered will ask officials to investigate transferring ownership from the county to the county’s Industrial Development Agency.
Brian Pincelli, the county’s director of economic development and CEO of the Industrial Development Agency, said the suggested change “is about finding the right home for the management of the railroad asset.” He suggested in a development agency meeting that the transfer would lead to better oversight, “which would include regular communication with the rail operator to include revenue reports, economic development opportunities, and hazardous material movement.”
The newspaper says the possible change was spurred in part by ownership changes that saw the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad acquire a controlling stake in Ontario Midland. Other stockholders in the railroad include Wayne County businesses that use the operation.
