NYDOT Seeks Input on Remsen-Lake Placid Rail Corridor

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

On December 15, 2014, the independent newspaper Utica Phoenix published an article that reminded readers that the comment period was ending that day: Utica Phoenix - Today Last Day for Adirondack Railroad Commentary

The article listed these key points made by "public advocate Tim Trent":

Quote:

The Adirondack Railroad is a unique, distinctive asset from our past that continues actively in our present to make an important contribution to future economic prosperity.
The Adirondack Railroad aligns and connects with the new NYS “Path Through History” initiative.
Snowmobiles and the Adirondack Railroad already use the corridor through a cooperative arrangement. The Adirondack Railroad, hikers, bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts can all use the railway corridor through similar thoughtful cooperative arrangements.
Through past practice, the Adirondack Railroad has demonstrated the capacity and reliability to fulfill their commitments.
Railway operations similar to the Adirondack Railroad are viable and forceful in driving economic prosperity and tourism in other places across the Unites States.
If Adirondack Railway tracks are torn up and removed anywhere between Utica and Lake Placid, they will not likely be replaced in the future, and they will be lost forever.

thebigham · **Joined:** Sun Jul 14, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 261

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2016/01/58093.html

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2016

APA Flooded With Comments On Rail-Trail Debate
by Phil Brown

The Adirondack Park Agency has received a flood of letters and emails seeking to influence its forthcoming decision on the future of a state-owned rail corridor that extends 119 miles from Remsen to Lake Placid.

At its November meeting, the APA board voted to solicit public comments on whether a plan to split the corridor into a trail segment and a rail segment complies with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. The agency may vote on the matter as early as next month.

Comments were accepted through December 18. Pursuant to a freedom-of-information request, the Adirondack Almanack recently obtained and reviewed the comments. The PDF file provided by the agency comprises 373 pages, but it includes some duplication.

Given the contentiousness of the rail-trail debate, it’s not surprising that the APA received so many comments. Nor is it surprising – based on our review of comments submitted at other points in the debate – that many of the writers rehashed arguments made before or that many comments contained identical language.

In the past, people were asked to comment on the merits of the proposal to bifurcate the rail corridor. In this case, the APA solicited comments on the legal question of “Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance.” Nevertheless, most of the writers delved into the merits of the proposal and ignored or barely touched on the question at hand.

I didn’t keep a tally, but most of the people who commented were in favor of keeping the tracks throughout the corridor. Some rail proponents did address the legal question and contended that the proposal to bifurcate the rail corridor violates the State Land Master Plan...