The plan would include the “removal of rails and ties for the creation of a rail trail along the 34-mile segment of the Corridor from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid, with 85 miles of the Corridor south of Tupper Lake to be upgraded for train service,” according to the document, which also outlines possible benefits and adverse impacts from the work.
The state departments of Environmental Conservation and Transportation are the lead agencies involved. Documents about the project are available online.
An earlier attempt by the state to remove the state-owned tracks came to a halt in 2017 when a lawsuit filed by the railroad resulted in a judge ruling that the land in question was defined as a travel corridor. Under the then state definition, this meant only a railroad or a highway could be located there.
The Adirondack Park Agency, which oversees the land in question, voted in December to amend the definition of travel corridor to include rail trail.
The comment period for the draft scope document is open until Aug. 10.
Comments may be mailed to John Schmid, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4254, or e-mailed to adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov.
An Adirondack Scenic representative declined to comment at this time.
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad people somehow believe that there will be a sustainable number of passengers who want to take a five to six hour rail trip from Utica to Lake Placid. Their business plan touts the possibility of “cross-platform transfers” in Utica, but the proposed timetable in that business plan does not permit any cross-platform transfers. Thus travel to Lake Placid by train would require an overnight stay in Utica – hardly a convenient way to reach that resort area.
Thus whether or not the rail trail provides any economic benefit, it will surely be less of a drain on the taxpayers that a heavily-subsidized rail service that serves very few passengers.
Why in the world New York state can’t seem to understand the concept that it doesn’t have to either/or is beyond me. Northern Central in York County, PA, runs steam trains along a busy rail trail and does just fine.
The lesson from ITM fiasco in Noblesville, is that historic railroads and museums must own their land and right of way. If the government owns it, they can take it back whenever they want.
Carl Welch: I do agree that rail trails have little to no economic value. The major value of them is for resident’s recreational use and that is not economic. I have a rail trail about 3 miles from where I live. It is more of a trail with rails as an abandoned rail line runs along side the trail although there is very little hope that rail service will be returned as the line (ex-Maine Central Lower Line) has been severed in two locations and this being Maine there will not be any customers locating a plant that would require rail service anywhere nearby. I use the trail several times a week running, walking, and riding my bike. There is no economic value to that and almost all the people I see on the trail are locals. Some use it to get to work in downtown Augusta and Hallowell but there can’t be more than a half dozen of them.
The idea of ripping up rails that are being used for a going concern tourist railroad is crazy but this is what government does – crazy stuff and it’s getting worse. Don’t expect to see any rail upgrades on the 85 miles that is to remain in place. Once the trail is built the rest of the money (if there is any left) will disappear. New York is a pay to play state and there are very rich people who don’t want the railroad in the Adirondacks and have the money to send to the “right” places to make their wishes come true. The railroad doesn’t have a chance. New York State government is very corrupt.
Your comment that this will make residents and tourists more reliant on gas- fueled automobiles doesn’t hold water because this was a tourist railroad and not connected to the outside world. Therefor residents need a car to get around and tourists had to arrive by car. The money needed to connect to the national system is not there nor will it ever be.
A continuing trend. Removal of rails limits further development (even tourism) in the area and makes the residents and tourists even more reliant on gas fueled cars. Current foot trails have no economic value, unless they are to be used like the native american trails – as trade routes. Trade at that scale reflects Dark Ages technology. The continuing trend I referred to first is the return of the Dark Ages.
this is terrible they can’t just remove the trackage that’s been used by the adriondack scenic railroad
What a crock. Gov. Cuomo is a jerk.