In Kingston, Hein proposes tearing up the tracks from midtown Kingston to Chandler Drive to create an “urban walkway.”
Catskill Mountain directors are appalled at that prospect. “We were very shocked to hear that,” Ernie Hunt, recently installed president of the CMRR board, said during an interview. “We spent more than $1.2 million and thousands of hours of volunteer labor on that project, and now they want to disregard all the work we’ve done?” he said.
Hunt and other railroad advocates believe there is sufficient room for both rail and trail operations at the Kingston end.
Maintenance of the track, in the broader sense, has been a chronic issue in Kingston. Midtown neighbors have complained of undesirables congregating under the bridges and along the garbage-strewn tracks. Posted notices and occasional police sweeps have done little to alleviate problems.
“We police the tracks on a quarterly basis,” said former CMRR president Earl Pardini, an assertion challenged by some neighbors. “As for the people who congregate, is that a railroad problem or a social problem?” he asked.
CMRR wants to extend its lease
Relations between the Hein administration and the CMRR have cooled since Hein’s announcement last October and the railroad’s consideration of a suit against the county for alleged abrogation of its lease. Advocates for both sides have addressed the legislature over the past few months, with railroaders far outnumbering rail-trailers.
A December 12 fax from Ossining attorney Walter Zullig, incorrectly addressed to a “Mr. Bernardo, chairperson of the Ulster County Legislature,” was not a threat, but an offer to negotiate, Hunt said.
After examining the lease, Zullig wrote, “CMRR is entitled to possession during the term [of the lease], and neither the county nor anyone else can remove rails or otherwise impair the leased premises without CMRR’s consent. CMRR will pursue all legal remedies and hold the county liable for any damages the premises.”
Zullig recommend that representatives of the county meet with CMRR “to negotiate an amendment to the existing lease prior to any attempt to remove rails from the premises.” CMRR also expressed a desire to negotiate a time extension to the lease.
Hein has made no further comment on the issue.
While CMRR directors say they have scheduled a meeting in mid-April to discuss their issues with the county, it would appear the county’s position has hardened. Hein has applied for a $2-million state grant to implement his plan, which includes ripping up almost 14 miles of track from Phoenicia to Highmount for a walking trail. Hein estimates realizing $700,000 from scrapping the tracks, a figure railroaders, based on their own direct experience, find improbable.
For their part, rail advocates contend their studies indicate it could cost upwards of $20 million to create a walking trail from Kingston to Highmount, with $4 million a year in maintenance costs. Railroaders say they can make substantial improvements to the tracks and expand their routes for considerably less.
Except for the hope of repairing recent storm damage with federal funding, there are no plans to work on the long stretches of deteriorating rail at the Ashokan Reservoir or the Phoenicia-to-Highmount stretch.
Railroad supporters sent something of a peace feeler this week in light of criticism from Democratic members of the legislature over alleged conflict-of-interest issues. Democrats, led by majority leader Dave Donaldson of Kingston, charge that the inclusion of Pardini and Harry Jameson, longtime CMRR directors, to a legislatively appointed railroad advisory committee constituted a conflict of interest.
“No big deal,” responded Hunt. “If they really feel it’s a problem, we’ll just ask them to appoint some other people. We’ll all attend the meetings, anyway.”
After two cancellations of meetings this month, the advisory board is expected to hold its first meeting in 18 months in mid-April.
The statistics cited by Kathy Nolan are suspect, that 80K people use the Hurley walking it just not believable and she does not give the exact report she pulls number from (ie. “A recent state study”). What study?
I have worked in the outdoor community as my occupation for 40 years and it is well know that outdoor participation is on a slow decline, especially with younger people 18-25. When a survey asks a question as to what sport you participate in and includes the option of “Walking for exercise”, this typically is overstated and usually means something other than walking on a straight unending trail as is typical of “rail to trails” inventory.
Lastly, lets say she is right, why isn’t a cooperative agreement being discussed. In other states Scenic rail trains typically have parallel trails that bikers can use, and they coexist nicely.
To take away a fledgling business tourist attraction, where volunteers have poured in much sweat, time and money in an area already hit by the economic downturn is both myopic but just plain dumb./
Fledging tourist attraction? The CMRR, for profit business, has been in control of this corridor for over 20 years and yet have not managed to open it. Time to use it to it’s full potential and bring in tourists who will fill up area hotels and restaurants. As for a pararrel trail, it is not possible on the western end as told to me by Harry Jameson and Earl Pardini, the ROW is too narrow for both. And really, would you want children riding their bicycles next to a smoke spewing, ear deafening train?
Sally,
Why do you think tourists will fill up hotels and restaurants because of a trail? With trails in practically every major community in this country and $3.50 a gallon gas, I doubt very few people will venture more a hour or two away from home for a trail. New York has been a dying state since major railroad abandonments in the 1970s and most industries have left! And by-the-way, most children are fascinated by trains, I would guess you never have taken any children to a Thomas The Tank Engine Day at the Strasburg Railroad were 20,000 plus will ride the train in a given week. And Sally what’s the full potential of a rail corridor if it has no tracks???? No potential for rail freight means no full time jobs in industries in the area. And tourist cannot hold the weight of the entire economy, we need to make things, mine things and exports things!!!! Can’t keep the same dollar floating through an economy without having a trade and current account surplus!!! We have been doing it for 40 years only because we became the world’s reserve currency after the fall of the British Pound in the 1970s because of their socialistic spending. And now we are falling because of the same thing. 10 percent fall in the dollar in just the last three and a half years!!!! Unless you plan a significant usage charge for the trail, you will never recover that money! The fact is that CMRR has opened significant track in Kingston just in the last two years! The hard sweat of those volunteers is underappreciated. We need more of them and less mindless trails, empty factories and half-abandoned towns like those found in rural New York!
Sally,
I am afraid you have no idea what you are speaking about. The trains are not smoke spewing…at least no more so than the cars rolling along nearby…and ear deafening is a bit dramatic too.
The trails will not fill up area hotels or restaurants. I have visited your area…to ride the train…which was a great experience. I live in New England, where we enjoy 100’s of miles of rail/trails, trails, railroad rides…we have it all. I can tell you as an avid hiker…the trails do not fill up area hotels or restaurants. We New Englanders are known for our outdoors activities. We are fortunate that both options exist in our area.
The other thing you should consider is this…at the very best…the Catskill railroad operation operates short, quick rides, and rarely exceeds, if every, 15 mph. The trains are not blowing past at 50 mph. Railroads and their right-of-ways are resources that surely can be used by both.
For further reading…check out the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. The WMSR is a HUGE tourist draw for the community…AND they have trails that run along side their tracks.
A. trains are not smoke spewing, your thinking in the wrong era
B. trains are not ear deafening
C. if you had say, spent 20 years (like they have) planting an entire arboretum and you had just started to see results of all your efforts, would you be happy if someone came in and said, “lets build a nice, large parking lot right here! They have had 20 years to do things and so far haven’t.” The amount of tax payer dollars that will be spent to rip up existing rail, clean up brush, remove grade crossings, and pave the entire path, could easily be put into the railroad and have them build at the very least 3/4’s of the entire route! P.S. pavement deteriorates faster than rail. Think trails to rails, not the other way around!