HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-19
Dryden Rail-Trail Friends and Task Force
Monday, March 19, 2018
7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Varna Community Center
Attendance: David Fogel, David Keifer, Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, Chris Tessaglia-Hymes,
Diann Ziegler, Todd Bittner, Robert O’Malley, Bruno Schickel, Bob Beck, Russ Nelson, Alice
Green, Susan Ashdown, Rick Kugler
Call to order (7:05 p.m.) – Bob Beck
Additions to agenda
David K. asked for discussion of snowmobiles on the Schug trail. It was agreed that signage
prohibiting all motor vehicle (except e-assist and emergency vehicles should be posted
a.s.a.p. along all areas of the rail trail
Approval of minutes was unanimous.
Design Committee report – Diane Tessaglia-Hymes
Diane presented the latest iteration of the Rail Trail logo design for review
She said the design works in four color, gray scale, and single color for etching into wood
signs if needed. Will work on more designs for other sized versions. The logo will appear on
signs for donor recognition recognizing easement granters.
Discussion included suggestions for elements such as the balance of left and right, size of RR
ties in the graphic, and whether or not to feature an individual hiker vs. adding more than
one to connote connecting communities.
Diane said the next immediate design need is for Trail Use Rules signs. She led a further
discussion about rules and placement. The design committee recommended rules signs: at
each entrance from a road crossing, along the trail periodically, and a set of full trail rules at
all trail kiosks. Todd suggested separating trail rules (e.g. No Motorized Vehicles) from trail
etiquette (e.g. Pass on the Left). Further discussion focused on the right of way for horses,
etc. Input from equestrians about appropriate wording for horseback riding rules will be
sought.
A question was raised whether the trail should remain open after dark. Many parks are
open from dawn to dusk, but trails that are used for commuting may need to be open after
dark, especially in late fall, to allow bike commuters to return from work after sunset. Todd
noted that for Natural Area trails, there’s a general rule that they’re closed at night, but
there are exceptions. Chris T-H and others added that there are lots of nature activities that
are appropriate at night, such as owling, full moon nature walks etc. Robert O. expressed
concern about trail users “who don’t have good intentions.” Others said trail users tend to
respect and monitor the property, making it more safe. One suggestion was to omit a rule
about open times, unless nighttime use is problematic.
Russ could find no info on Dryden Trail Rules on the Town website. He suggested adding
the URL for trail website on all signs.
There was talk about declaring the trail smoke free. Public spaces in the Village of Dryden
are already designated smoke free. The hope is to keep smoking off the trail, but such a
prohibition is not included in easement agreements with individual landowners.
Bruno suggested providing some privacy signs along the trail for those landowners who
request them, and encouraging property owners to post them.
Next steps: The Design Committee will continue work on trail signs, kiosks, benches, etc.
including a production timetable. Sign work will also consider interpretive signs, railroad
history etc., identification of individual “stations” wayfaring signs, “You are Here” signs, and
identifying upcoming intersections ahead of each cross road.
Task Force membership update for 2018 Recommendation for appointment by Town
Board – Alice, Bob
The Task Force received two letters of interest, from Susan Ashdown and Steve Winans, in
response to a posting for new members on the Rail Trail list serve. Diann Ziegler agreed to
serve at the meeting. The Task Force members present unanimously voted to recommend
that the Town Board appoint all three.
Request for Event Committee volunteers – Bob
Alice reported on new effort to enlist the Town’s Recreation Department, and members of
the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission (DRYC) to work on the opening ceremony for
the trail section between the Villages of Dryden and Freeville. She said a new hiring has
brought the Rec Department to full staff, and they are eager to plan programs for the Town’s
new recreation resource. Bob noted that the Rail Trail should have a presence again at Dairy
Days (June 9) and the Dryden Lake Festival (July 28). David Keifer volunteered to help with
upcoming events
Begin planning for: Dryden-Freeville trail-opening celebration
There was discussion of dates for the ceremony, sometime after Dryden Dairy Day, June 9.
Bruno said there is still more work to make sure the trail is ready for a full opening,
including signs and street markings at the Springhouse and George Rd. crossings. He
suggested August or even early fall would be a more appropriate opening time.
Russ suggested installing temporary signage that we could use till opening, including an
email for more info. They should look temporary and invite volunteers and donors. Alice
said she has created an email address <DrydenRailTrail@gmail.com> that can be used as
contact, directed to Bob, Bruno and John. Susan offered to laminate the signs Russ proposed.
Bruno said, “You make the signs, we’ll figure out how to put them up.”
Bob said Highway Superintendent Rick Young is willing to put up some already existing “No
Motor Vehicles” signs this spring.
Repeat trail-clearing project at Etna with Dryden youth & Cornell Cooperative
Extension
The Town of Dryden’s Project Lead Program is once again looking for youth projects this
summer. Bob favors continuing trail clearing at the Etna site the students began at last year.
Alice said she would contact Milo Richmond to see if he will head up the volunteer crew.
OPRHP grant implementation
Alice reported that Town Board approved the use of $182,000 from the Recreation Reserve
Fund for Rail Trail expenses, with the expectation that the OPRHP grant and fund raising
will replenish these funds.
Bob said Rick Young is supportive of the project, and able to deploy highway department
staff to work on the trail at off times. They have more availability in spring and fall (before
and after snow). Spring is a messy time on trail, but they could work on installing needed
asphalt millings to keep down dust on the section of the trail also used as a road to the
Cornell Compost station off Stevenson Rd. In the fall, will begin on the trails.
Todd B asked if Bob and John discussed whether the DPW expects to need to add staff to
meet the needs of the trail. BB They feel they can do a lot of work with their existing work
force. He said he’s confident they’re thinking of this as a Town DPW project and will work
on the trail and later maintain it.
Todd: If they’re limited to trail work on their down time, can we complete the trail in two
years? Bruno said he thinks the key is creating distinct projects with time frames Todd said
tasks should be prioritized. He presented a rough overview of the trail construction plan
over two years. He estimated the sections covered in the current grant project will require:
600 in supervision hours required
1720 hours of volunteer donated labor
850 hours of DPW work
All materials will be purchased and documented through the DPW.
Bruno is looking for about $65,000 worth of donated services, trucking, gravel, etc.
Todd asked about obtaining timesheet logs from DPW that can be used to document
volunteer hours such as grant writing, design committee work etc. All volunteers, including
the grant contract managers, should to be keeping these records. Bob said he’s already
working with Kirsten Clapper at DPW to develop appropriate timesheets. He added that he
and John and Alice are involved in continuing coordination w/State Parks, Town Hall, DPW,
and the Town Attorney on grant implementation details.
County Strategic Tourism Implementation Grant Application submitted – Todd, Bob,
John, Judy
Todd said he met the deadline for the grant application for $26,000 for engineering studies
of crossing options at Route 13 and needed work on the Route 366 (FH Fox) Bridge. We
should know something by mid April, possibly before our next Task Force meeting. The
grant request didn’t include the trestlework in the Game Farm because we still don’t have
the Memorandum of Understanding promised by the DEC last year.
Comments requested for draft plan of the County Planning Office and Strategic
Tourism Board for development and promotion of outdoor recreation and tourism,
including trails – Todd
The county did an audience study in 2010 of tourists that come to TC. Outside of trips
related to higher education, 45% of tourists come for gorges and state parks, yet only 10 %
of tourism funding goes to outdoor activities.
This tourism money is generated through the county tax on stays at local hotels, B&B’s etc.
The tourism committee divvies up money for grants to such activities as the Ithaca, Festival,
Hangar Theatre, Scottish Festival, etc. A new white paper based on the study is suggesting
that outdoor recreation should get a greater part of the funding pie because that’s what
tourists want. Trail advocates have to speak up for these funds. The County Tourism
Council sited the success of the DRT in their recent publication asking for comments. The
following is an excerpt: Some of this is due to the inherent complexity of trail development, but with
increased capacity and sustained effort, progress can advance more quickly, as recent successful efforts
of the Dryden Rail Trail Task Force attest. This plan seeks to increase the capacity of local trail
expansion and improvement efforts to support faster progress, which in turn will further assist partner
agencies, including local governments, to advance these projects.
There are two main ways to use the dollars, capital improvements and capacity building
(e.g., funding for grants writers to secure resources for trail expansion.)
Todd urged attendees and friends of the trail to send comments speaking up for the trail
before the 4 pm Monday April 9 deadline.
Mark Witmer (Town of Caroline Supervisor)
Mark reported on separate efforts to extend the South Hill Recreation Way from Burns Rd
through towns of Caroline, Danby Dryden and Ithaca. He said the ownership of a portion of
the rail bed has been at issue. The Caroline Town lawyer did a legal review and title search
and determined that NYSEG owns the rail bed section that was claimed by a Caroline
landowner. NYSEG is willing to let the trail traverse their right of way, but the landowner
opposition persists. Mark said an ill-informed Ithaca College film crew made and posted on
line a documentary presenting some misleading information re: ownership of the trail.
Bob pointed out that the Town of Caroline website has a very clear write up on the trail.
Privacy Hedge request for Freeville Village
Bruno reported that he met with two local families at 7 am the day following their
complaint about lack of follow-up at our last meeting. They were willing to add Forsythia to
some Rose of Sharon that they already planted and didn’t insist on the privacy fence. Idea is
to come in with an augur, fill it will top soil, and mulch around it. This can be a volunteer
project in April. Bruno and Bob will meet with Kathy Perkins who owns the land on the
other side of DPW Drive and a narrow strip on the east side.
Bruno said he walked the Dryden to Freeville trail section recently and much of the surface
has firmed up, but now there’s another soggy section closer to Freeville between the sewer
plant and where last fall’s work stopped. He intends to muster volunteers for more work
this spring.
Work Plan - Bruno
Bruno said that once the final Cornell easement is finalized for a trail section near Stevenson
Rd, he hopes that crews can begin cutting trees on the Lucente trail section, and
Nick Bellasario has offered to donate some machine time. But that has to be done after it
dries out and before busy summer time. Chip Ray has offered machine time. Gary Sloan
plans to build a connector from his proposed complex to the trail.
April tasks will include planting forsythia, posting signs, and clearing trees; in May moving
dirt piles. This will open up the trail from Stevenson all the way to route 13. Todd asked
about the timing for Sun8 solar array project, and whether they might donate some clearing
along the compost trail. Bob said we’re looking into this.
Kiosk Design: Bruno sited the Park Preserve kiosk design (on Irish Settlement Rd.) as a
model we could use. Alice said the Design Committee discussed adapting the Village of
Freeville’s bus shelter design for kiosks. It was noted that kiosk construction might work
well as an Eagle Scouts capital construction project.
Easements update – Bob, Bruno, Dan
Bob reported that Cornell Agriculture officials have agreed to install fence and vegetation if
Town of Dryden would pay for materials. There was negotiation about the costs, and the
parties finally agreed on Town payment of about $ 7,000 for materials.
Bob reiterated that the Town is still waiting to hear from DEC with their promised Game
Farm agreement, and is also waiting on an easement review from the Hall Woods Road
Print Shop’s lawyer.
Bob has been in touch with county transportation planner Fernando de Aragon and wants
to talk with Mark Frechette about DOT’s requirements for a trail down to Route 13, under
the existing bridge, and back to the roadbed.
David Bravo Cullen, architect and friend of the trail, has agreed to provide a stamped plan
for the Game Farm trestles and FH Fox work. Rick Young said David’s volunteer work will
save having to pay for an expensive engineering study.
Bruno said he hopes to hear from NYSEG about their easement this week. He will also again
contact Hansen Aggregates (formerly Saunders Concrete) about their easement.
Gary Sloan development just east of Fox Bridge has agreed to donate the trail section to the
town after his project is done, in the meantime he’ll give an easement to the town.
Bob has researched ownership of a trail section in the Village of Freeville. He said the
Village owns all of the railroad bed except the last 200 feet, which is owned by Kathy
Perkins. The Town already holds an easement on that last 200 feet of DPW drive. That
easement does not specify only utility use, so it is expected that the easement will allow the
trail to traverse that section. It would be helpful to have an easement for a small additional
section of the Perkins property to connect with village parking.
Next Meeting is scheduled for 7 pm Monday, April 16, at a location to be announced.
Adjournment 9:23 pm
Respectfully submitted by Alice Walsh Green