Building Impact by Building the System: Ulster County Trails

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Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 1

Trail image here Building Impact by

Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster

County Trails Summit

June 19, 2014

Kingston City Hall

5:30 – 7:00 PM

Join us in thanking our funders


Part 1: Intro

Our agenda Part 1: Introductions from the City of Kingston and Ulster County

Part 2: Craig Della Penna: The Economic Impact of Trails

Part 3: Building a Regional Trail System

Part 4: Update on Local Trail Projects

Part 5: Q&A and Call to Action

Part 6: Networking and Discussion


Welcome and introductions Mayor Shayne Gallo

City of Kingston

Chris White Deputy Director of Planning, Ulster County

Patty Goodwin Chairperson, Woodstock Land Conservancy

Andi Turco-Levin

President-Elect, Ulster County Board of Realtors Chairperson, Kingston Land Trust


Part 1: Intro

What’s the best part of Cleveland?


Part 1: Intro

The Inspiring

Story of How

Trails and Bikes

Helped The

Rust Belt

Bounce Back

June, 2013

http://vimeo.com/67666565

The Economic Impact of Trails

Craig Della Penna is a consultant, a Realtor and, with his wife Kathleen, a B&B operator!

Craig served as a lobbyist for Rails-To-Trails Conservancy and is the author of several books about rail trail conversions

Craig tours the country speaking about his experience and helping communities understand – and capitalize on – the benefits of trails


Part 2: Craig Della Penna


“We have a unique opportunity to create a world-class

tourism destination, directly impact public health, and

improve the overall quality of life in our region.”

-Ulster County Executive Mike Hein

Part 3: Building the System

Urban trail image

We’re Building More Than a Trail


Urban trail image

“NY Builds On Its

Assets by Turning

Trails into Trail

Systems”

“Rail trails spur

economic growth”

by filling gaps and

building the system

A Vision for a

Regional System


The Regional System 1. Ulster County Rail Trail Project

from the Catskills to Kingston

2. D&H Canal Heritage Trail from Sullivan County to Kingston

3. Wallkill Valley Rail Trail from Orange County to Kingston

4. Kingston Greenline connects D&H, UCRT, WVRT and links to the Hudson River via Kingston Point Rail Trail

5. Hudson Valley Rail Trail links from WVRT to Walkway Over the Hudson



1

2

3

4

5

The Growing Importance of Our

Regional Trail System


Walkway over the Hudson (opened 2009) attracted more than 780,000 visitors in first year and now adds more than $24 million annual sales.

Hudson Valley Rail Trail (Highland/Lloyd) receives 670,000 visitors annually and has become New York State’s second-most-popular rail trail.

Hurley (D&H/O&W) Rail Trail receives estimated 81,000 visitors each year.

Wallkill Valley Rail Trail will soon extend more than 33 miles from Gardiner to Kingston now that the Rosendale Trestle is open.

Catskill Mountain Rail Trail is projected to attract 140,000 annual users and add $3.1 million in annual U.C. sales (2013 Economic Impact Analysis)

Hudson Valley Rail Trail

Rosendale Trestle


Local Systems, Too!

Within population centers, trails become the backbone of an enhanced pedestrian and bike system

Complete Streets, linear parks, neighborhood pathways all contribute to a rich trail ecosystem

Connectivity drives increased impact, too!



ROSENDALE

The Kingston Greenline Tim Weidemann

Co-Chair of the Kingston Land Trust Rail Trail Committee

Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County

Trails Summit 13

Part 4: Local Project Update

The Vision for the Kingston

Greenline

An urban trail system, comprising linear parks, bike-ways and complete streets

Serves as a non-motorized, accessible alternative for residents’ enhanced mobility

A hub for the local and regional system, connecting people and supporting our City’s revitalization


Urban trail image

Photo Credit:

Arts Society of Kingston


The Conceptual Plan for the

Kingston Greenline


KingstonGreenline.org


Trolley Tracks Near Kingston Point

The Hasbrouck Tunnel

Span Bridges Along Route 9W

Cross Sections of Proposed

On-Street Connections

Pedestrian bridge over CSX and

public plaza in midtown

In KPRT, Regional and Local

Come Together


The Kingston Point Rail Trail (KPRT) is proposed for the city-owned stretch of the former U&D, from midtown to the Rondout

Connects midtown to the Rondout Creek and the Hudson River

A much needed safe and accessible alternative to on- street options


2014 (so far!)

• Kingston Greenline website and

brochure completed

• KLT receives grants for Greenline

management plan (LTA), signage

(CCE, Greenway)

• NAR awards grant for Greenline

Public Awareness Campaign

• Neighborhood outreach begins in

preparation for construction!

The Momentum Keeps Building!


2013

• KLT completes property

survey, feasibility study

• KLT establishes “Greenline”

brand, partners with City

• City awarded over $4.3M in

grants for related projects

2010 - 2012

• KLT Rail Trail Committee forms

• KPRT identified as priority trail

• City, Greenway fund KPRT study


Ulster County Rail Trail Project William Sheldon

Member of the Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail

Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County

Trails Summit 19


The Ulster County Rail Trail Project


Connect Kingston neighborhoods to Catskill Park & Ashokan Reservoir

Expand tourism business in Ulster County and Hudson Valley region

Increase outdoor recreation opportunities and promote healthy lifestyles

Provide “car-free” transportation options

Create links to the Hurley/ O&W Rail Trail & Wallkill Valley Rail Trail

Project Vision:

A public multi-use recreational trail from the City of Kingston to and along the Ashokan Reservoir that

will link the Walkway over the Hudson to the Catskill Park and create a world-class tourism

destination.

Ashokan Reservoir

Walkway over the Hudson


Ulster & Delaware (U&D) Railroad

Timeline



1866 Railroad construction begins

1900 Railroad extended from Kingston to Oneonta

1913 U&D railroad carries 676,000 passengers to Catskill resorts

1979 Ulster County purchases 38.6-mile section from bankrupt Penn Central

Trans. Corp.

1991 County signs 25-year lease with Catskill Mountain Railroad Company

for tourist railroad

2012 County Exec Mike Hein proposes rail trail from Kingston to Ashokan

Reservoir and Catskills

2013 Governor Cuomo allocates $2M for rail trail in 2013-14 state budget

NYC DEP and County announce Agreement in Principle, $2.5M DEP

grant for trail along reservoir

1976 Last commercial train leaves Kingston

2006 County conducts U&D Trail Feasibility Study

2014 Trail planning begins with funds from OSI, WLC and private donors


Accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly

Open to public use four seasons / 365 days a year

Providing a beautiful and safe linear park for hikers, dog

walkers, bicyclists, and all who seek to enjoy the outdoors

Connecting urban neighborhoods with open spaces

Creating a “Rail Trail Hub” In Kingston

A Path For Us All


Future Linkages to Regional Trails

and Attractions Historic City of Kingston

O&W Rail Trail (Hurley)/D&H

Heritage Trail

Wallkill Valley Rail

Trail/Rosendale Trestle

Belleayre Mountain

Pine Hill Lake Day Use Area

Bluestone Wild Forest

Long Path/ Catskill Park Trails



County Plan Preserves Tourist Rail A “segmented”

corridor with rail west of the reservoir

75% of tourist ridership is in this part of the corridor

Building a new trail alongside the railroad from Kingston is not feasible



Why Can’t We Do Both? Some

Background on “Rail-with-Trail” An existing railroad bed is

converted to use as a trail

Provides an economical (i.e. cheaper) way to construct a trail

Most common situation



Rail-to-Trail

Rail-with-Trail

An existing railroad bed on a double-track corridor is converted to use as a trail

Second track remains active rail

U&D is a single-track corridor!

Rail-with-Trail requires 50-65’ width

Physical Constraints Prevent

“Trail Alongside Rail” Proposal

At points, ROW is only 30’ wide

Bridges, tunnels and underpasses even narrower

Numerous cuts, pinch-points and berms along the route



We Can’t Afford to Wait Any Longer



Camoin Associates studied

potential impact of the Ulster

County Rail Trail Project

Projected 140,000 users

annually

$3.1M in expected new sales

44 new jobs

$112,000 in new tax revenue

for the County

Sign-on to our letter to the Legislature

at the back table to show your support

There’s Strength In Numbers

These efforts are volunteer-led

We’re all still pretty new to this, and we need more committed and capable hands

Next on our agenda:

build awareness

plan to manage the trails

begin design/construction


Part 5: Call to Action

How Can You Get Involved?

Join us for a hike on the Greenline Every 3rd Sunday, 9:30AM

Departing and returning from Kingston Wine Co on lower B’way

Hudson River Valley Ramble, Saturday, September 13, 3PM

Join our mailing list to receive updates

Stay tuned: Ulster County Trails Conference coming this Fall…


Part 5: Call to Action

Thank you! Craig Della Penna and

the Ulster County Board of Realtors

Ulster County and Executive Mike Hein

City of Kingston and Mayor Gallo

All our partners working for a stronger, better system of trails in Ulster County!


You guys

need help?

Are we

pushing?

No, we’re

pulling!

Part 6: Networking

Kingston Rail Trails OR Kingston Greenline

Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail

KingstonGreenline.org for more about the Kingston Greenline

CatskillMountainRailTrail.org for more about the Ulster County Rail Trail Project

Building Impact by Building the System: Ulster County Trails

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Transcript of Building Impact by Building the System: Ulster County Trails