Work is underway in the Saranac Lake area to remove the railroad tracks and replace them with a recreation trail.
As many people know, this project has a long and contentious history.
Here’s a look back over some of the discussion, a random sampling of the hundreds of from our archive:
Following the May 13th resignation of Jack Roberson as Executive Director of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, ASR Board of Directors President Bill Branson appointed Justin Gonyo of North Creek as interim Executive Director.
In an email to the Board of Directors, Roberson cited his reason for leaving as a “difference in management styles.” Branson confirmed that our railroad offerings will continue as scheduled, including Polar Express. » Continue Reading.
It is certainly unfortunate that the debate concerning the Adirondack Railroad has continued for as long as it has. One would surely think that adults, objective in their analyses and wishing for the greatest good as an outcome, could have solved this long ago but, no. There is even a renewed attack from the trail advocates.
We had hoped that after the resounding success in the courts and the unambiguous decision of State Supreme Court Justice Robert G. Main, that we could begin talks to successfully implement the 1996 Unit Management Plan and not continue the bickering. So let’s take another look. Several economic studies have been undertaken over the past years using data from Essex County and NYS publications. Assessed by outside, independent consultancies, the conclusions are clear. » Continue Reading.
To date, much of the rail vs. trail debate has touted the potential benefits of the possible uses of the Adirondack Rail Corridor. The supposed benefits of a trail include increased local recreational opportunities both summer and winter plus economic benefits from those who will travel to the area to use the trail with bicyclists and snowmobilers to be the greatest users.
Rail supporters question whether those benefits are greater than the benefits of a fully restored railroad that would supposedly bring greater economic benefits by transporting more visitors to the area.
Mostly left out of the debate is any discussion of just who and in what numbers would actually ride a restored railroad running 140 miles from Utica to Lake Placid. » Continue Reading.
What follows is a statement to the press from the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
“A Freedom of Information filing by the attorney for a supporter of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad provided the public comments received by the APA in response to their DSEIS amendment to the Remsen-Lake Placid travel corridor,” said Bill Branson, President of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. “By a significant majority, the response favored Alternative 1, take no action,” he added. » Continue Reading.
Jack A. Roberson is the new Executive Director of the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society (ARPS). He takes the position effective immediately.
In an announcement sent to the press. President of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Bill Branson said: “Mr. Roberson joins the ARPS continuing a life-long career in the railroad industry. He brings expertise and experience in all aspects of operations, tourism marketing, and finance. His leadership will contribute greatly to implementing the long-term ARPS strategy to expand and improve rail passenger services into the Adirondack region.” » Continue Reading.
The Board of Directors of the Adirondack Rail Preservation Society (ARPS), which operates the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, have announced that long-time Executive Director Bethan Maher has accepted a new post with the American Heritage Railways to head up the Mount Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum in Washington State. » Continue Reading.
I have a history of missing the big picture. When I see that a cleaning product “kills 99.9 percent of household germs,” instead of being comforted I worry about that one tenth of 1 percent. What’s that germ got? And will it destroy us all?
So I might be missing a perfectly logical reason why the Chicago-based Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC would think it a good idea to junk 2,000 flaking old oil tankers in the heart of the Adirondacks, where hikers and fishermen are seeking natural and spiritual repast, not a chain of rolling testaments to a (nearly) bygone era of dirty energy.
You wonder how this is this even possible in a land where, to hear some people tell it, you can’t even look at a spruce sideways, and the regulators sit around just waiting for you to commit some overt act that they can take you to court for. » Continue Reading.
At an address at the Glens Falls Hospital on October 25th concerning a new cancer study by his administration in Warren County and Upstate New York, Governor Cuomo addressed the recent controversy around storing used out-of-service oil tanker rail cars by Iowa Pacific Holdings on a remote line in the central Adirondack Park. The Governor starkly denounced the plan.
The Governor said: “It is unsightly, it is out of character with the Adirondacks, nobody goes to the Adirondacks to look at old trains, they go there to look at the natural beauty. We don’t own the tracks, there is a question as to what legal right we have to oppose it, but we oppose it 100% and we are going to do everything we can do to stop the owner from storing the trains on those tracks.” » Continue Reading.
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its monthly meeting at its headquarters in Ray Brook, on Thursday, September 14th, 2017.
The meeting discuss the Town of Essex’s proposed variance for a municipal water system, a presentation on the Generic Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (which covers 28 state highway travel corridors within the Adirondack Park), and a field trip to the logging and silvaculture operations at Lyme Timber Company’s Colton-Piercefield tract in St. Lawrence County.
What follows is the agenda issued by the APA: » Continue Reading.
The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society, operator of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a variety of activities August 12th, including a vintage steam engine excursion.
The railroad was founded in 1992 by a group of rail enthusiasts that banded together to operate a four-mile section of the line from Thendara south to Minnehaha. Twenty-five years later the line now runs from Utica to Lake Placid and has been declared a National Historic Landmark and placed on the New York State Register of Historic Places. Over 79 miles of track have been returned to operation, and the railroad carries over 70,000 passengers annually, according to a statement sent to the press. » Continue Reading.
A state judge says he needs more information before deciding whether the state should be blocked from removing thirty-four miles of railroad track between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid.
In a February 7 order, acting State Supreme Court Justice Robert G. Main Jr. requested more information on the ownership of the rail corridor and on the state’s plans to comply with historic-preservation law.
Until the judge issues a ruling, the state is barred from removing the tracks. The state hopes to begin the work this year.
The state has identified four parcels along the Adirondack Rail Corridor that it doesn’t own, but officials say that shouldn’t hold up plans to build a controversial 34-mile rail trail between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake.
“As is often the case in projects like this, title questions arise that must be resolved. That is the case here,” Benning DeLaMater, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said in an email to the Almanack.
Three of the parcels are in Saranac Lake and together comprise a 3,000-foot stretch of the corridor. One is owned by North Country Community College, and the other two are jointly owned by Essex County and Franklin County.
The fourth parcel, in Lake Placid, is owned by the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society, which operates a museum at the Lake Placid depot, where the rail line ends.
A stakeholder process to determine the design and operation of the recreational trail between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake on the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Corridor has begun, according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Bob Stegemann.
The core stakeholder groups consist of the executive elected official or designee of the four towns and three villages along the trail, a representative from the Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates and representatives from the three primary user groups – cross country skiers, bicyclist and snowmobilers. » Continue Reading.
The Adirondack Preservation Society, operator of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, has announced the award of a $99,000 grant from The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties for a new repair facility.
This grant will supplement a $791,000 grant awarded by the New York State Department of Transportation, and help the Railroad leverage their “matching funds” obligation. » Continue Reading.
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