22/10/2014
To: All New York Snowmobilers
From: Dominic Jacangelo, NYSSA Executive Director and Jim Rolf, NYSSA Trails Coordinator
Action Alert!
Public comments needed on the Remsen-Lake Placid Unit Management Plan!
Public Hearings: October 28-29 and November 6-7!
Public comments accepted until Dec 15th, 2014
Dear New York Snowmobiler:
C7, the Adk Rail Trail The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the NYS Department of Transportation are now accepting comments on a possible amendment to the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan (UMP), also known as the Adirondack Railroad Corridor.
The corridor is seasonally available to snowmobilers through a Temporary Revocable Permit (TRP) that NYSSA holds on behalf of all the clubs that maintain a portion of this designated snowmobile trail, which runs nearly the entire length of the railroad from Lake Placid to Remsen. Most of the trail is designated as Corridor Trail . This trail is the central spine that connects many of the other snowmobile trails within the Park.
Unfortunately, the trail can only be used when snow is abundant. During times of average snow cover or less, riding on the rails can be less than ideal. Frequently under these conditions, the rails tend to show through the snow and can catch the snowmobile's skis, doing damage to the sled and possible injury to the rider. Clubs' grooming equipment also cannot be used when the rails are showing. Even on cold winter days, the rails showing through the snow attracts any sunlight and melts the snow very quickly...resulting in even less snow available.
The TRP has been in place ever since the original UMP was adopted for the state-owned travel corridor. At the time, it was believed that the rail users would invest heavily in the rail line so that train service would eventually be restored between Old Forge and Saranac Lake. After nearly two decades, only the section between Remsen and Big Moose (near Old Forge) has been improved to the point of being able to carry a passenger train. NYSSA, many other ADK organizations and businesses, along with most of the municipalities along the corridor believe that the corridor should be converted to a 4-season trail from Old Forge to Lake Placid. The conversion would result in many more weeks of the corridor being open for snowmobile use and would result in a bigger (and much-needed) positive economic benefit to the ADK region than the train would. The conversion would provide a benefit to the Adirondack region throughout the year.
In October 2012, the NYSSA Board of Directors adopted a resolution supporting The Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates efforts to remove the rails, which included the following points:
The rails should be removed from Old Forge (Big Moose) to Saranac Lake and that:
Jurisdiction of the RR Corridor shall remain with the NYS Department of Transportation; and
That the railroad corridor notwithstanding any current use remain a transportation corridor under the land classifications of the Adirondack Land Master Plan; and
That the Rail Road Corridor shall always be treated as a separate and distinct land unit classification within the Adirondack Forest Preserve and shall not be merged into any unit management plan administered by another state agency; and
That the NYS Department of Transportation continue to maintain the RR corridor as a transportation corridor in a condition for possible future rail line use if required to be re-established along the corridor; and
That a location for a maintenance/storage facility be researched in the Tri-Lakes area for the equipment operated by the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, and
That no recreational ATV use be allowed.
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad currently operates between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. The hope was that a trail could be constructed alongside the rails within the corridor that would support multiple types of recreational use. A little over a year ago, the Town of North Elba abandoned that plan noting the high cost of engineering to get through the many wetlands that are in the area after the US Army Corps of Engineers released their feasibility study which pointed out those many obstacles. These conditions are found throughout the travel corridor, making rail with trail not a practical alternative. The state is proposing to remove the rails between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid to be able to convert that section to a 4-season recreational trail, with snowmobiles being allowed to use it.
The state is also proposing to explore the possibility of bolstering rail service to Tupper Lake. Along with that proposal, "snow trains" to Tupper Lake from Utica for skiers are planned by rail-supporters which would completely eliminate snowmobile use along that whole corridor from Remsen to Tupper Lake. The businesses along or near the corridor that enjoy the much-needed wintertime economic boost that snowmobilers bring to them will be severely and negatively affected. The 80+ mile corridor would be closed off to snowmobile use, as would the connecting trails that lead snowmobilers to that main corridor trail.
There are various estimates regarding what it would cost to rehabilitate the rails between Big Moose and Saranac Lake. The track is currently in such bad condition, passengers may not be carried over that section of track at any speed. NYSSA believes that the cost to improve the rail to be around $42 million (2008 DOT estimate) would NOT be a wise investment of taxpayers money.
Snowmobilers should submit their comments in support of the 6 points above that are included in the NYSSA resolution as well as to the other noted concerns. Comments should urge that rails be removed from Thendara to Tupper Lake, with no tax-dollars being used to rebuild the rail service north of Thendara. Supporting the state's proposal to remove the rails between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid for trail conversion is another important point that should be made allowing a 4-season, multi-use trail to be built along the entire section of the travel corridor between Thendara and Lake Placid. Snowmobile use MUST REMAIN on the state-owned corridor.
Comments can be sent by email to [email protected],
or mailed to NYS Travel Corridor, NYS DOT Freight and Passenger Rail Bureau, 50 Wolf Road, POD 5-4, Albany NY 12232.
The following is the joint press release from NYS DEC and DOT:
DEC AND DOT ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT ON POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO THE REMSEN TO LAKE PLACID TRAVEL CORRIDOR UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN
State Agencies Holding Four Public Comment Sessions on Possible Amendment to Convert the Tupper Lake to Lake Placid Segment to a Recreational Trail
State Agencies Also Exploring Options to Bolster Rail Service From Utica to Tupper Lake and to Create and Expand Snowmobile Routes, and Other Trails, to Connect Communities between
Old Forge and Tupper Lake
The State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Transportation (DOT) today announced that they are seeking public input through December 15 on a possible amendment to the Unit Management Plan (UMP) for the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor (the Corridor). The UMP governs the use of the 119-mile Corridor. Four public comment sessions on the possible amendment will be held in the coming weeks.
Specifically, DEC and DOT will develop a draft UMP amendment to evaluate the use of the Tupper Lake to Lake Placid segment for a recreational trail. The agencies are also examining opportunities to maintain and realize the full economic potential of rail service from Utica to Tupper Lake, and reviewing options to create and expand alternative snowmobile corridors, and other trails, to connect communities from Old Forge to Tupper Lake on existing state lands and conservation easements.
Public comment on amending the UMP to consider conversion of the Corridor between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid to a recreational trail and realizing the full potential of rail service on the remainder of the Corridor will be accepted until December 15. Comments can be sent by email to [email protected], mailed to NYS Travel Corridor, NYS DOT Freight and Passenger Rail Bureau, 50 Wolf Road, POD 5-4, Albany NY 12232 or provided verbally during four public comment meetings scheduled to take place:
October 28, 2014 6:00-8:00 PM in Utica at the State Office Building
October 29, 2014 1:00-3:00 PM in Old Forge at the View
November 6, 2014 6:00-8:00 PM in Tupper Lake at the Wild Center
November 7, 2014 1:00-3:00 PM in Lake Placid at ORDA[DW1]
"Community input is vital in determining future uses for this unique corridor and we encourage people to attend these public meetings to make their voices heard," DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said. "DOT is partnering with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the public to examine the best course of action to maximize economic, environmental and transportation benefits from the corridor."
"We are taking a comprehensive, careful approach to this major transportation corridor in the middle of the Adirondack Park because we realize how important future uses of this artery are to the people and communities of the Adirondacks," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "The upcoming public comment meetings will give the public and stakeholders a great chance to help the two agencies craft an amended UMP that serves the public good."
Amending the 1996 UMP/EIS will enable DEC and DOT to thoroughly review those aspects of the 1996 UMP/EIS that recommend enhanced recreational opportunities and community connections, and to examine alternatives for the best future use of the Corridor along the Tupper Lake to Lake Placid segment. DEC and DOT will work with the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and public stakeholders, including local officials and residents, to assess alternatives that reflect current realities along the corridor and potential environmental and economic impacts.
The 60-day public comment period will provide a transparent and public means of gathering information for use in a proposed amendment of the 1996 UMP/EIS that would maximize benefits from public use of the corridor and conform with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
Following public comment, DEC and DOT will prepare a Draft UMP Amendment and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement EIS) in 2015, which will explore opportunities to increase recreational use of the rail corridor and ensure it promotes tourism and economic growth in the surrounding communities. Additional public input on a draft UMP Amendment will be conducted by APA, with the goal of completing a final UMP Amendment later in 2015.
Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you with your written comments.
Thank you for taking this important opportunity to comment,
Jim Rolf Dominic Jacangelo
Trails Coordinator Executive Director
New York State Snowmobile Association [email protected]
PO Box 1040 Pine Bush, NY 12566-1040
888-624-3849 Ext. 102
Fax 888-317-2441
PS - the sponsors above and below help pay for this email tool.
The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA), a non-profit corporation, is the largest snowmobile association in the country working on behalf of the 135,000 registered NY snowmobile owners, who cumulatively contribute approximately $868 million to the New York State economy, and 235 snowmobile clubs to improve trails, facilities and services for participants, and defend snowmobilers against discriminatory legislation.
