The Adirondack Railroad Conversation Comes To Utica
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 28, 2012
A possible train running from New York City to Lake Placid with a stop
in Utica has been the talk of the town. Last week we took you to
Boonville when representatives from the Adirondack Railroad and the
Northern Oneida Council discussed the proposal. Tonight, the railroad
conversation has come to Utica.
Some say this train service could provide opportunities in tourism and development for every community along the Adirondack Railway. But others disagree. There was a heated debate in Boonville last week, and tonight, City Hall was a full house as community members from all over the Mohawk Valley voiced their opinions.
"I think it's an opportunity that Utica and the whole region needs to rally behind," says Eugene Falvo, Utica resident.
"And something like this opens a whole new marketplace," says Kelly Blazosky, president of Oneida County Tourism.
Kelly Blazosky is the president of Oneida County Tourism, and she says tourism in our region already generates $1.1 billion dollars. With this possible railway...
"Such a unique rail service would definitely be a great asset because you would be bringing people up from Manhattan, from the NYC environment, hopefully to be able to interface with Utica," says Blazosky.
But others don't think this will be the case.
"You're somehow going to get people from the Adirondacks to come to Utica and use this as a hub is a little silly. We do have vacationers but the truth of the matter is there there on vacation, they're not looking to go elsewhere," says Jim McCulley, Snowmobiling Club.
Jim McCulley is a member of the snowmobiling club, and he says snowmobiling generates nearly $870 million dollars each year.
"In the Adirondacks, 55% of all business is closed in Winter time and this is the most important trail in the Adirondacks because it connects all the trails in the park," says McCulley.
But if this train goes into operation year-round - they'll lose that.
"If they run Winter trains, snowmobiling is done on the corridor," says McCulley.
Still, other Utica residents think the good outweighs the bad.
"As somebody who lives and works in this area, and I want my kids to be able to be here, I want this area to succeed, and this is the way to do it," says Falvo.
The Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society and Iowa Pacific Holdings announced a partnership in the development of this train service. But the president of Adirondack Railroad says this project will take several years. There goal is to have business plans complete by the end of 2012.
Similar Article: http://cnyhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=167252
Some say this train service could provide opportunities in tourism and development for every community along the Adirondack Railway. But others disagree. There was a heated debate in Boonville last week, and tonight, City Hall was a full house as community members from all over the Mohawk Valley voiced their opinions.
"I think it's an opportunity that Utica and the whole region needs to rally behind," says Eugene Falvo, Utica resident.
"And something like this opens a whole new marketplace," says Kelly Blazosky, president of Oneida County Tourism.
Kelly Blazosky is the president of Oneida County Tourism, and she says tourism in our region already generates $1.1 billion dollars. With this possible railway...
"Such a unique rail service would definitely be a great asset because you would be bringing people up from Manhattan, from the NYC environment, hopefully to be able to interface with Utica," says Blazosky.
But others don't think this will be the case.
"You're somehow going to get people from the Adirondacks to come to Utica and use this as a hub is a little silly. We do have vacationers but the truth of the matter is there there on vacation, they're not looking to go elsewhere," says Jim McCulley, Snowmobiling Club.
Jim McCulley is a member of the snowmobiling club, and he says snowmobiling generates nearly $870 million dollars each year.
"In the Adirondacks, 55% of all business is closed in Winter time and this is the most important trail in the Adirondacks because it connects all the trails in the park," says McCulley.
But if this train goes into operation year-round - they'll lose that.
"If they run Winter trains, snowmobiling is done on the corridor," says McCulley.
Still, other Utica residents think the good outweighs the bad.
"As somebody who lives and works in this area, and I want my kids to be able to be here, I want this area to succeed, and this is the way to do it," says Falvo.
The Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society and Iowa Pacific Holdings announced a partnership in the development of this train service. But the president of Adirondack Railroad says this project will take several years. There goal is to have business plans complete by the end of 2012.
Similar Article: http://cnyhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=167252
Comments
"But if this train goes into operation year-round - they'll lose that. 'If they run Winter trains, snowmobiling is done on the corridor,' says McCulley."
This is so typical of ARTA's disingenuous campaign against the railroad. I attended the meeting last night as well as the one in Boonville. NO ONE - repeat, NO ONE - is talking about running trains in the winter. In fact, railroad representatives have specifically stated that they have no intention of kicking the snowmobilers off the ROW, and that Iowa Pacific is planning 20 weekend luxury excursions per year in the SPRING, SUMMER, and FALL only. But McCulley, as well as the New York Snowmobile Assn. rep have now decided to spread this "if winter trains run" misinformation anyway in order to keep the snowmobilers in their camp.
If the snowmobilers lose wintertime use of the corridor, they will have no one to blame but themselves. Reopening the Unit Management Plan for the Remsen-Lake Placid corridor - a big part of ARTA's campaign - would become necessary if the the railroad decided it wanted to run winter trains since that is not currently allowed under the UMP. But given that all the economic development and tourism organizations up and down the line are supporting rail development, ARTA needs to be very careful about what they wish for. There are no guarantees that a new management plan wouldn't accomplish exactly what the snowmobilers so fear: no sleds allowed on the ROW at all.
hguyw h.
November 28, 2012 at 5:41 am
