The Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor is a 119-mile railroad property owned by the State of New York since 1975 and man- aged by the State’s Department of Transportation. Reaching into parts of the Adirondack North Country’s most remote wilder- ness areas, the railway corridor offers opportunities for both transportation and recreation.
Next Stop Tupper Lake believes that the choice isn’t limited to only Rails or only Trails. We support both Rails and Trails for this corridor.
Click here to download the plan.
All aboard for Rails with Trails
Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor
RAILS
About the Plan for the Corridor: After years of inactivity on the railway, the State created a Plan to guide the future of the Corridor. Signed in 1996, the Unit Manage- ment Plan for the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor took more than four years to produce. A task force of NYSDOT and DEC staff worked with a 24-member citizen advisory committee throughout the process, which involved public meetings that more than 500 residents attended. The end result reflected many of the comments made: The best option for the corridor is to have both an active rail line and compatible recreational uses.
In recent years, a small yet vocal minority has been advocating for removing the rails and building a trail directly on the rail bed.
DOT’s Position: In a letter dated Sept. 2, 2010, NYSDOT Regional Director Michael Shamma referred to the management plan, which names the Adirondack Scenic Railroad and the New York State Snowmobile Association as primary per- mit holders for the corridor. The plan is not on any schedule to be revisited, Shamma writes, but if that ever happens, State agencies, permit holders, communities and other interested parties will be invited to comment. A copy of the letter can be found here: www.adirondack.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DOT-letter.pdf.
Historic designation: Since 1993, the entire corridor has been listed on the National and State registers of Historic Places, which includes 23 buildings and 18 structures, as well as the tracks and ties.
Click here to download the plan.
TRAILS
From the Plan: The Corridor’s Unit Management Plan has this summary: “rail uses should be permitted to expand over the full length of the corridor while all compatible recreational trail uses are accommodated and encouraged.”
Rails with Trails: Currently, across the country there are 150 rails-with-trails, with more than 1,400 miles, according to the Rails with Trails Conservancy, which states: “Rails-with-trails offer health, transportation and environmental benefits by utilizing existing re- sources when there may be limited appropriate space for multi-use trails.”
Rails-With-Trails provide important recreational and economic benefits, without taking anything away from anyone.
One such recreational project — a railside trail from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake — fits that description. Once complete, it will allow access for a wide range of outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, bikers, runners, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.
Ready to Build: In addition to other grants received by Town of North Elba, a $1.2 million Federal High- way Administration grant has recently been awarded to allow Phase 1, which has been more than 10 years in the making, to become a reality. For the first phase, which is shovel-ready and has been though all neces- sary permitting processes, a 8-to-10-foot-wide multi- use path will be built along existing rail tracks con- necting the Village of Lake Placid with the hamlet of Ray Brook. Phase II, which already has $1.2 million of funding, will continue the trail to Saranac Lake.
Click here to download the plan
