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Home My WebLink About2016-04-13Friends of Dryden Rail Trails Meeting 4/13/16 DPW—Old Dryden Town Hall The meeting opened with introductions around the circle, with attendees talking about their background and interest in Dryden trails (see attendance list below). Alice Walsh Green served as secretary/notetaker. Summary of Actions • The friends group recommended creation of a Rail to Trails Task Force, which would report directly to the Town of Dryden Board. Its nine members would include one representative each from the Town’s four committees: Recreation and Youth Commission, Conservation, Planning, and Agriculture, and five at large members. • The next meeting of the Friends of Dryden Trails was scheduled for 7 pm Wednesday May 18 at the DPW (“Old” Dryden Town Hall). • Attendees began review of a Rails to Trails FAQ’s sheet. Suggestions for revisions and adaptations for the local route were solicited. Discussion Bob Beck reviewed background of the Dryden Rails to Trails effort, noting that the project to build a trail from Game Farm Rd. to Freeville “has had various fits and starts.” The recession slowed the project down, but now is the time. The Conservation Board engaged Design Connect of Cornell to draft a plan, but the town still needs to designate authority to negotiate easements and get signed agreements. The original proposal was to have the steering committee report to the Conservation Board. Dan Lamb: Although he drafted a resolution that would create the steering group reporting to the Conservation Board, “there was some push-‐back about that” and he’s now recommending that the steering group report directly to the Town Board. However, because the Town Board voted in January that members of committees may not vote on more than one committee, this presents a problem. Several volunteers for the Friends of Dryden Trails already serve on Town Committees, including Bob Beck. Greg Sloan: It makes sense to have the committee report to the Town Board. Suggest a resolution to allow Bob Beck to be a voting member. Fernando de Aragon (County transportation planner), answered question about the leadership for the Waterfront Trail. It was spearheaded by the County Chamber of Commerce. There was a client committee of nine people and also a larger advisory committee. Todd Bittner: Given the stakeholders (including landowners) who may have a problem with perception of the Conservation Board, it makes sense to have it under the jurisdiction of the Town Board. This project is included in the town’s comprehensive plan. Mike Lane: This effort began before the Town Board’s January vote. Members of other boards who want to serve here could be grandfathered in. This is a single purpose group, not like the other Town standing committees. Greg Sloan: Suggested including reps from each of the four town committees, and 5 at large seats. The larger Friends of Dryden Trails group can include all the other people who are interested in supporting the trail. Perhaps meeting regularly with the committee. Todd Bittner: Would Friends members be authorized to speak with landowners? Dan Lamb: Let’s call the nine-‐member group a Task Force. It would develop the method for approaching landowners. We can bring a Rail to Trails Task Force proposal to the Town Board agenda meeting tomorrow night, then it can be formally voted on by the Town Board the following week. He suggested removing “additional destinations” from the authorizing resolution, to avoid antagonizing opponents of other trail sections in the town. Armin Heurich: Suggested adding “promotes tourism” to the resolution. David Bravo-‐Cullen: Perhaps the actual railroad bed is not the best route in all parts of the proposed trail corridor. Fernando de Aragon: Can use the words “generally following” the railroad bed. Review of a draft Trail FAQ’s sheet Issues: • Will the trail will be plowed in the winter.? Answer: No, Winter use would include skiing, snowshoeing etc. • Landowners will be indemnified from trail users lawsuits. Town insurance would cover liability to protect landowners. The New York State “recreational use statute” would relieve them from liability even off the trail—unless the landowner charges a fee for use. • What if landowner’s dog bites a trail user? Answer, dog owners are liable for their dogs’ behavior in any location. • What if the trail goes through a place where hunting is permitted? The trail would include signage to inform visitors where hunting is permitted. There will be a task for the steering group to research specific issues of safety and liability. The Rails to Trails Conservancy has lots of info on line. • What about crime and vandalism along the trail? Mike Lane: 25 years ago we worked on many of these questions on the Schug Trail. None of the fears people expressed actually materialized. In fact, the trail helps keep down crime and there is little vandalism. • Will eminent domain be used? The intent of this project is to get voluntary easements. • What other stakeholders need to be involved? Reps from the William George Agency, TC3 and others. • Mike Lane: Existing easement for town sewer line goes from Dryden Village to Freeville, and there’s a utility easement from under Route 13 to Route 366. These easements already restrict what landowners can do. (Bob Beck noted that landowners did pay for return of rail bed segments when the RR was abandoned, contrary to earlier information.) Funding Dan Lamb asked Fernando de Aragon about the process for DOT funding. Fernando said having ownership of the right of way is critical to receiving funding. The state will require that all easements are in place. There are different pots of DOT funding. The larger pots are for transportation trails, connecting residents with employment, for recreation trips, bike trips etc. This project has no problem making this case. The trail could connect Ithaca workers with employment at the 366/13/NYSEG intersection, for example. Brian Postel: Will it be paved? If it will be transportation, it needs a viable surface. Fernando de Aragon: It will likely be graded and covered with stone dust. David Bravo-‐Cullen: Why not start with a simpler, more basic trail? Todd Bittner: There will still be a need for state capitol for the signage, fences, culverts, etc. Stephanie Mulinos: We need to start with getting the easements, then choices about other aspects of the project can be made. Fernando de Aragon: The town may want to start by hiring a trail planner. It’s possible there may be a window for a proposal in the fall of this year. Todd Bittner: A planner could help cost out the project. And we may want to do it in phases. Bob Beck: Estimated that the Ithaca to Route 13 section involves only a dozen or so easements. This is doable. He received a call from the president of the Cornell Vet School Alumni Association. A possible contribution to the trail project in honor of FH Fox is on the agenda of their next meeting. Fox’s son is director of the Syracuse zoo. Todd Bittner: The state DOT owns the “FH Fox bridge” over Route 366. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm Attendance: Dan Lamb dlamb@dryden.ny.us, Deputy Supervisor, Town Board member, trail user Greg Sloan sloan@isc.astro.cornell.edu, Town Board member, will retire soon from the board, as he is moving Ray Burger rburger@dryden.ny.us, Town Planner Fernando de Aragon fdearagon@tompkins-‐co.org, Director of Ithaca-‐Tompkins County Transportation Council Michael Lane mlane@tompkins-‐co.org, Chair of the County Board of Representatives Bob Beck rmb24@cornell.edu, Chair of Town Conservation Board, convener of the Friends group Todd Bittner todd.bittner@cornell.edu, Director of Natural Areas, Cornell Plantations David Bravo-‐Cullen dsbravoiii@aol.com, Member of Town Recreation and Youth Commission (DRYC) Alice Walsh Green aliceithaca@gmail.com, , Former director Ithaca Youth Bureau; founding member of Town Recreation Committee Armin Heurich aheurich@gmail.com, President of Finger Lakes Cycling Club David Keifer keiferdw@gmail.com, Lives next to Jim Schug Trail John Kiefer jak14@cornell.edu, Member of Town Planning Board James Miner shiggyrunner@gmail.com, Trail runner Stephanie Mulinos s.mulinos@gmail.com, Member of Town Recreation and Youth Commission (DRYC) Nancy Munkenbeck nwm1@cornell.edu, Member of Town Conservation Board Brian Postel brian.postel@me.com, Freeville resident Kathy Servoss kdservoss@gmail.com, Chair of Town Recreation and Youth Commission (DRYC) Chris Tessaglia-‐Hymes cth4@cornell.edu, Etna resident