Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates (ARTA) Proposal for the Adirondack Rail Trail Photo: Lake Colby Causeway, Lee Keet, 2013 Submitted by the Board of Directors of ARTA Tupper Lake: Hope Frenette, Chris Keniston; Maureen Peroza Saranac Lake: Dick Beamish, Lee Keet, Joe Mercurio; Lake Clear: David Banks; Keene: Tony Goodwin; Lake Placid: Jim McCulley; Beaver River: Scott Thompson New York State Snowmobile Association: Jim Rolf WWW.TheARTA.org Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates P.O. Box 1081 Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983 Page 2 This presentation has been prepared by Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates (ARTA), a not-for- profit 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 2011 and dedicated to creating a recreational trail on the largely abandoned and woefully underutilized rail corridor . © 2013, Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates, Inc. Page 3 Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Original UMP Criteria Favor the Rail Trail .................................................................................................. 7 Changing the Status of the Corridor ........................................................................................................... 10 Classification as a Travel Corridor ......................................................................................................... 10 Historic Status ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Rail Corridor History .................................................................................................................................. 10 Recreational Rail-Trails .............................................................................................................................. 12 Economic Impact of a Recreational Trail: Bicyclists ............................................................................ 13 Are there alternative biking paths? ......................................................................................................... 17 Economic Impact of a Recreational Trail, Snowmobiles........................................................................ 18 Objections to increased snowmobiling and ATVs .............................................................................. 20 ATVs and Illegal Trespass .................................................................................................................. 20 Restoring Freight, Passenger, and Excursion Rail Service ......................................................................... 21 Restoration of Infrastructure for Freight Rail Service ............................................................................ 21 Acquisition of Rolling Stock .................................................................................................................. 22 Operational Costs .................................................................................................................................... 23 Summary of Anticipated Costs ............................................................................................................... 24 Business Outlook .................................................................................................................................... 24 Passenger Rail Service ............................................................................................................................ 25 Excursion Rail Service ............................................................................................................................ 26 Summary, Rail Service ........................................................................................................................... 27 Why not rails and a trail? ............................................................................................................................ 27 Why not “go arounds”? ............................................................................................................................... 28 Mountain biking is different ................................................................................................................... 29 A parallel trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake? ............................................................................ 29 Passenger options: fly, take a bus, take a train, or drive ............................................................................. 30 Preserving the History of the Rails ............................................................................................................. 32 Building the Adirondack Rail Trail ............................................................................................................ 33 Management and Maintenance of the Adirondack Rail Trail ..................................................................... 35 Trail Maintenance: 40 miles connecting Lake Placid and Piercefield ................................................... 36 Page 4 Trail Maintenance: 50 miles connecting Piercefield and Old Forge ....................................................... 36 Signage .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Fencing and Gates ................................................................................................................................... 37 Access Points and Parking ...................................................................................................................... 37 Access Control ........................................................................................................................................ 37 Restroom Facilities ................................................................................................................................. 37 Conformance with Relevant Standards ................................................................................................... 37 Trail Inspection and Maintenance ........................................................................................................... 38 Mowing Ditches and Far Shoulders ........................................................................................................ 38 Leaf/ Debris Removal from Lateral Ditches ........................................................................................... 38 Culvert Inspections and Repairs ............................................................................................................. 38 Trail Log ................................................................................................................................................. 38 Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................................... 38 Hours of Operation ................................................................................................................................. 39 Required Facilities .................................................................................................................................. 40 Parking Facilities ................................................................................................................................ 40 Path Connectivity ................................................................................................................................ 40 Conclusion: The Adirondack Rail Trail is Clearly the Best Choice ........................................................... 42 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 44 Appendix A - Businesses In Support of the Recreation Trail ................................................................. 44 Lake Placid: ........................................................................................................................................ 44 Ray Brook: .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Saranac Lake: ...................................................................................................................................... 45 Tupper Lake: ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Points South: ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Points North and East: ........................................................................................................................ 48 Appendix B – Supportive newspaper editorials ...................................................................................... 49 Rail? Trail? Decide, N.Y. Monday, May 13, 2013 by: Times Union Editorial Board ...................... 49 Press-Republican Editorial : Management Plan needs update, January 23, 2013 ............................... 50 Time to deal with the railroad issue, Editorial by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 20, 2012 ...........................................................................................................................................................