Adirondack RR: NY State wants to rip up 34 miles of track

jefalcsik · **Joined:** Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 am **Posts:** 84

Hopefully someone who knows the ins-and outs of railbanking can comment.

New York State owns the Remsen-Lake Placid rial corridor in fee. This was purchased from Penn Central in 1973 or 1974, years before the interim trail use laws. If this trail group is successful in forcing a 34 mile trail conversion, will this line qualify for railbanking status? Does the STB have jurisdiction on this tourist railroad? It would if freight were involved, but I am not sure with passenger only (not considered common carrier).

jefalcsik · **Joined:** Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 am **Posts:** 84

AS a reminder, today at 4 PM the DOT-DEC will have a public hearing in Utica on the Remsen-Lake Placid rail corridor. Information posted on the Friends of the Rails-Adirondack Rail Corridor:

NYS will hold the second public hearing regarding a proposed amendment to the unit management plan for the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor has been scheduled for Monday July 20 at 4 p.m. (TODAY) at the State Office Building, 207 Genesee St. Utica NY.
DEC and DOT will accept written public comments until close of business July 27. Written comments may be mailed / e-mailed to either John Schmid or Dawn Klemm.
John Schmid
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4254
-or-
Dawn Klemm
NYSDOT Region 2
Utica State Office Building
207 Genesee St.
Utica, NY 13501,
-or-
e-mailed to adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov.

jefalcsik · **Joined:** Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:42 am **Posts:** 84

AS a reminder, today at 4 PM the DOT-DEC will have a public hearing in Utica on the Remsen-Lake Placid rail corridor. Information posted on the Friends of the Rails-Adirondack Rail Corridor:

NYS will hold the second public hearing regarding a proposed amendment to the unit management plan for the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor has been scheduled for Monday July 20 at 4 p.m. (TODAY) at the State Office Building, 207 Genesee St. Utica NY.
DEC and DOT will accept written public comments until close of business July 27. Written comments may be mailed / e-mailed to either John Schmid or Dawn Klemm.
John Schmid
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4254
-or-
Dawn Klemm
NYSDOT Region 2
Utica State Office Building
207 Genesee St.
Utica, NY 13501,
-or-
e-mailed to adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1027

An article about the public hearing held in Utica on July 14, 2015:
Utica, NY Observer-Dispatch newspaper: Concerns about Adirondack Scenic Railroad addressed at public hearing (July 15, 2015)

An excerpt:

Quote:

A public hearing was held regarding the changes to the Adirondack Scenic Railroad corridor proposed by the state Department of Transportation and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

“This is a major issue of concern in the Mohawk Valley Region,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

Monday's meeting comes after a public hearing was held in Tupper Lake on July 8. Picente advocated with state Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, to have one held in Utica.

Both oppose the state's proposed compromise for the railroad.

The newspaper also published an editorial urging people to attend the hearing:
Utica, NY Observer-Dispatch newspaper - OUR VIEW: Attend state hearing on Adirondack Railroad (July 16, 2015)

An excerpt:

Quote:

Now it’s up to people from the region to attend the hearing Monday and make their views known on the compromise plan that would extend rail service from Big Moose to Tupper Lake — 45 miles — and rip up track to convert the 34-mile stretch from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid to a recreational trail.

The plan is flawed. While it maintains a good portion of the rail line, terminating it at Tupper Lake instead of continuing on to Lake Placid makes no sense. It would be like ending the Boilermaker Road Race at Old Main instead of the brewery. Runners want to finish at the brewery.

And rail riders want to finish at Lake Placid. Tupper Lake has great scenery and the impressive Wild Center, but Lake Placid is an Olympic village, lined with trendy shops, restaurants, pubs and much more. It’s an international destination. And Utica is where it all begins. It’s the perfect connection for Amtrak riders from points east, west and south who want the unique experience of taking an excursion through the Adirondacks by rail. No other city in the state can offer this.

and

Quote:

But then, this isn’t really about hiking and biking. It’s about snowmobiling. Advocates want the tracks ripped up so they can extend the season. We appreciate the snowmobiling community and its impact on the state’s economy, but there are more than 1,800 miles of snowmobile trails on both public and private land in the Adirondack Park. To destroy one of the state’s most unique tourist opportunities to add a few more just doesn’t make sense.

David Notarius · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 5:41 pm

http://adirondackdailyenterprise.com/pa ... l?nav=5005

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Reading T1 2124 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:50 am

Well the public hearing has come and gone. What was the outcome?

Adirondack RR: NY State wants to rip up 34 miles of track

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