Adirondack Railroad May Have New Train Services & This May Affect YOU
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 20, 2012
An upscale train may soon be running from New York City to Lake Placid,
with a stop in the city of Utica. The Adirondack Railroad Preservation
Society and Iowa Pacific Holdings announced a partnership in the
development of this train service.
The groups involved say this agreement provides tremendous opportunities for every community along the Adirondack Railway; that means tourism, recreation and economic development. But not everyone agrees. The Tug Hill Commission and Northern Oneida Council held a public meeting in Boonville tonight and some community members say there's more than meets the eye.
"The train lovers want it, rail people love it, the rest of the people..(shakes head)" says Tim Treyvas, Boonville resident.
The Northern Oneida County Council held a public hearing for residents to voice their opinions.
"It's a wonderful opportunity," says an advocate.
"We got roads falling apart, bridges falling apart, and you people wanna spend money on this boondaggle?" says an opponent.
"Bringing trains up, even just 1 train a year, it now makes that a working railroad, we can't have a trail on a working railroad, its against New York State law," says Jim Rolf, New York State Snowmobile Association.
Members of the Snowmobile Association say this will hurt tourism.
"$866 million dollars a year is what snowmobiling means to New York State, so this is a vital link into the Adirondacks, its permitted, and we don't want to lose that," says Rolf.
But the President of the Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society says this will mean just the opposite for tourism.
"Bringing new people from out of the area would allow people to enjoy the Adirondacks, the various communities, and all the things that are availble to them in the mountains," says Bill Branson, President of Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society.
And Branson says they've been working on this proposal for quite a while.
"The goal of the state and our railroad is to get a line completed from Utica to Lake Placid. It was operating once in the 1980s and we think it is the epitome of economic development," says Branson.
And some community members agree.
"We been too hesitant to speak and act in our own interests, it seems to me, and this is an opportunity that's begging for us to support it," says Tim Trent, Utica resident.
The groups involved say this agreement provides tremendous opportunities for every community along the Adirondack Railway; that means tourism, recreation and economic development. But not everyone agrees. The Tug Hill Commission and Northern Oneida Council held a public meeting in Boonville tonight and some community members say there's more than meets the eye.
"The train lovers want it, rail people love it, the rest of the people..(shakes head)" says Tim Treyvas, Boonville resident.
The Northern Oneida County Council held a public hearing for residents to voice their opinions.
"It's a wonderful opportunity," says an advocate.
"We got roads falling apart, bridges falling apart, and you people wanna spend money on this boondaggle?" says an opponent.
"Bringing trains up, even just 1 train a year, it now makes that a working railroad, we can't have a trail on a working railroad, its against New York State law," says Jim Rolf, New York State Snowmobile Association.
Members of the Snowmobile Association say this will hurt tourism.
"$866 million dollars a year is what snowmobiling means to New York State, so this is a vital link into the Adirondacks, its permitted, and we don't want to lose that," says Rolf.
But the President of the Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society says this will mean just the opposite for tourism.
"Bringing new people from out of the area would allow people to enjoy the Adirondacks, the various communities, and all the things that are availble to them in the mountains," says Bill Branson, President of Adirondack Railroad Preservation Society.
And Branson says they've been working on this proposal for quite a while.
"The goal of the state and our railroad is to get a line completed from Utica to Lake Placid. It was operating once in the 1980s and we think it is the epitome of economic development," says Branson.
And some community members agree.
"We been too hesitant to speak and act in our own interests, it seems to me, and this is an opportunity that's begging for us to support it," says Tim Trent, Utica resident.
Comments
Larry G. you are a liar. The "folks leading the charge" are snowmobilers. I am a supporter of the trail and the snow machines even though I do not ride. The people you can't trust are the people who would lie and use your money to foster their own selfish interests. I don't see the trail people asking for tax money.
BarbO B.
November 24, 2012 at 2:59 pm
For those pushing for a trail - be careful what you wish for. In the end you may have no tracks, but no trail, either. Right now you have a trail that will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The folks leading the charge to have the rails lifted have a long history as environmentalists who would like nothing better than to see the area returned to wilderness. That means no snowmobiles...
Larry G.
November 21, 2012 at 4:28 pm
LOL... what a joke. It would be funny if it weren't so sad that in this day of debt and over taxation we have people like this who would waste tax dollars just to support their childish obsessions. Honestly, who would spend hundreds of dollars to spend 10 hours on an old train when you can drive for a fraction of the cost and time.
BarbO B.
November 21, 2012 at 12:43 pm
