Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-28 Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force Minutes of the Monday, January 28, 2019 Meeting 7 – 9 p.m. Dryden Town DPW Attendance: Bob Beck, Chuck Geisler, Steve Winans, Mark Vallely, David Fogel, Marie McRae, Judy Pierpont, Bruno Schickel, Diane and Chris Tessaglia-Hymes, Todd Bittner, Alice Green, Nancy Munkenbeck Pre-meeting: Chris and Diane brought for discussion two booklets they found at Autumn Leaves Bookstore: A History of Railroads in Tompkins County 1977, with their folded maps. Bob mentioned that the maps can be purchased separately at The History Center. This was followed by more talk about railroad history in the area. Call to order (7:05 p.m.) – Bob Beck December Meeting Minutes were approved. Additions to the agenda: none Right of Way Updates – Bruno, Bob State Parks Grant sections- Bob • The rights of way are complete for the portions of the trail covered by the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (Game Farm Rd to Route 13 and Freeville to Dryden). • This afternoon Bob received finished letter of the review of easements from the Town Attorney’s office: Opinion of Municipal Counsel. He sent it to Kathleen McIsaac of the State Parks. She has requested more info including maps showing the easement parcels (Todd is producing the maps) and copies of the County Clerk recorded easement documents (all of which Bob is providing). She will send them to Albany for their review. Kirk Rd to Freeville -Bruno • Bob has drafted easements for five property owners in this section and Bruno has provided them to the owners. Bruno said that Bernie Cornelius’s attorney is reviewing his document. • Because the Cornelius business at the site receives fill from various construction sites, he has available enough clean fill to build the trail bed along the entire length of his property. Bruno said Bernie has agreed to make this substantial donation with a value of $20-35,000. • Bruno is optimistic that the other property owners in this section are on board, too. He said he would love to get a rough start on clearing this section in the spring, when DPW has extra capacity before paving season. Pinckney Road to Etna – Bob • County Planning is working on getting a preservation agreement that would include a last critical easement. Bob said the washout on the NYSEG section in this area could be worked on this summer. A youth group started clearing in this section (the Adkins parcel) in summer 2017. Dryden’s Trail Maintenance Guidelines (see attached) – Todd, Bruno, Bob • In 2015, the Town Conservation Board created guidelines, coordinating with Rick Young and Rick Case. The Task Force wants to revisit these now that there will be more town trail/parkland to be maintained. • Todd noted that the experience people have on the trails is foundational; we need to have a shared vision of what we want these trails to look like in the future. He said that, having dealt with lots of trail construction activities at CU, guidelines are really helpful. We’re ramping up now to open up new sections this summer so now is good time to get on the same script. The 2015 guidelines are a good start as blueprint for the future. • Bruno said the guidelines should be more concise. Key is getting together with experts, identifying trees and habitat that should be protected, and marking this well before construction and ongoing maintenance begin. • Last year DPW went in with big shredder to clear some areas of the trail. Bruno said it’s important to accept that during the construction phase it will be a mess, but it’s possible to preserve trees if they’re well identified. • Judy cautioned against lopping trees in half, if possible. Bruno said the trail needs to be open enough for a ten wheeler. He thinks 10 feet is needed for trail, with 10 feet on each side, and that it’s also necessary to grade and crown the center of the trail. This is less expensive if you take material from the side to crown it up, he said • Todd said that often an articulated mower (sometimes called a shredder on a stick) is used for these projects, but this will likely allow fungal infections in the future of a tree cut that way. It’s necessary to have clear symbols about trees that are valuable. Clear honeysuckle and buckthorn but not more valuable trees. Trail clearing needs to be more nuanced than clearcut. • Bruno noted that the crews did cut a smaller swath near George Rd to preserve locusts, and will also do root protection by keeping fill from being loaded too deep. • Todd brought up the immediate need for guidelines to deal with the washout at Fox Bridge, which will require some site-specific planning. He said it’s a big project. The ground under the former tracks was entirely washed away, and it’s a fairly wooded area. Bringing a truck on the narrow remaining stretch could cause it to erode further. • Todd recommended that an ad hoc committee work out simple guidelines, and bring them back to the Task Force. Then that group can schedule individual meetings with DPW crews on each trail section to clarify goals for clearing before work commences. Task Force members agreed that it’s important that DPW doesn’t begin clearing any sections until the committee walks it and develops a clearing plan. Trestle inspection report and FH Fox Bridge DOT application: next steps – Bob, Bruno, John • Bob said that Town Engineers TG Miller took from October till now to do the Game Farm trestle inspections and complete their report. Next step is to see how to proceed with the repairs. Bruno shared the report showing some pillars and beams are partially rotted. DPW chief Rick said repairs or replacement depends on how far the rotting extends. It’s possible rotted sections could be lopped off, since these trestles were overbuilt for trains. Bruno said they will look to see if it would be possible to reinforce what’s there, rather than replace the problematic columns. The vertical posts at the ends are also critical in holding back the embankment dirt. • Steve wondered if it would be possible to put reinforcement right next to them on the earth side rather than along the waterline. • Bruno will bring in a structural engineer to help assess this question. • Todd noted that the work will need DEC approval; and that bridge construction will be precluded during spawning season for trout. • Bob said the Fox Bridge report has been submitted for a DEC work permit, recommending wooden railings high enough for equestrians and for signs. Final report for County Tourism (STI) grant – Bob The report has been submitted. This grant included the costs for a study of the route 13 crossing by Barton and Loguidice; a plan for the spur trails along route 13, by TG Miller and requests for DOT work permits at the Fox Bridge site. Costs came in just under the $26,000 award. Now that the Task Force has submitted final reports to the county, the second grant installment, $13,000 should be forthcoming. Plan for new County Tourism parks & trails grant for municipalities and upcoming County Tourism capital grant – Bob, Todd Two County Planning Department grants have been announced for 2019: 1) Parks and Trails This grant offers municipalities up to $5,000 each, with rolling deadlines beginning in March. Projects must be completed within six months of the grant award. Bob suggested the Rail Trail Project could apply for two critical trail crossing studies: for the NYS Route 13 crossing near Agway in Dryden Village and the NYS Route 366 crossing at Etna. The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) requires detailed drawings for scope of work for permits and to determine costs. Todd suggested reaching out to the Village and the Town to see if they might contribute to the difference between what the work would cost and the amount of the grant. That would make the project discrete and finish able. 2) Capital Grant from County Tourism This is potentially a larger grant pool, with an application deadline March 18. County tourism officials have encouraged the Rail Trail project to apply for a trail capital project, following their award of the STI grant for planning studies. The potential capital improvement funding was listed as a possible source for local match for the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant that the Task Force applied for last summer. That TAP grant, if approved, would cover the route 13 crossing, and a stone dust surface for the Game Farm to Route 13 section of the trail. There’s still no word about TAP grant awards. Todd said county transportation planners are surprised by the delay, and it looks like the TAP grant announcement awaits the governor’s release. He thinks there should be news in enough time to finalize the County capital project request. If the Trail doesn’t receive a TAP grant, then it will be important to discuss a “Plan B” for the County grant application Chuck asked for background about County support for this project. Todd explained two main sources of County funding: • Strategic Tourism Implementation (STI) are meant for planning and events, not for physical enhancements. The Trail received $26,000 in this category in 2018. It can apply again for other planning related items but in alternating grant cycles years • Capital Tourism Grants are for physical improvements. David F explained that these cover one third of the total capital costs of a project. Last year’s grants were $25-50,000 each. They can be dispersed over a 3-year period. He said these grants require a fair amount of data collection to document who will use the trail and where they come from. Discussion about trail use data collection methods followed. Todd mentioned that CU Natural Areas owns an infrared data logger with time stamps to document use of trails on campus and they could lone this out and deploy it on the Rail Trail to get some counts. Ithaca Children’s Garden uses counters embedded underground at the entrance. County tourism dollars funded the creation of IthacaTrails.org. which allows documentation of how many hits each trail gets, using Google analytics. This website will now be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. DPW (Rick Young) application for pedestrian-operated solar crossing sets – Bob The DPW is applying for transportation improvement monies that can buy several sets of crossing lights that can be used by the trail. Bench donation(s) – Bob • Nancy Kleinrock donated $1,000 toward a memorial bench, preferably to be installed toward the western end of the trail. • Rachel and Ross Adkins, donors of an easement west of Etna, want to donate toward a bench for their section. • Two memorial benches are already installed west of Springhouse Rd • There are still three benches let to install from the last other. More should be ordered soon. Kiosk graphics and trail signage update – Diane The Design Committee met Jan 9 and set production goals for signs. With goal of opening ceremony on May 11 at the Freeville Dryden section, they would like to have signs up by April. The Committee will meet to finalize the design in February in order to get the material approved and to the printer. Kiosk signs will be created in sections. Left panels will list rules and regulations; middle panels will feature maps; right side panels will display local information. At each trail entry from the road will be a welcome sign on the street side and a stop sign on the other. Comments on the latest sign iteration: • How will water elements be shown on the maps? Right now the graphics program includes every ditch, so it looks like there are way more water elements than are active. The program is set up to do all or no waterways. Solution could be to make the water lines narrower and a lighter color blue. • Dryden Lake needs to be named. • In the locator map, incomplete parts of the trail should be shown by different color and should be labeled “proposed.” • Bruno suggested changing the relative size of the logos. Increase the size of the town logo, reduce AARP and NYS Parks? • Font choice for the signboard? Revisit a more RR oriented style? • Chuck reminded the group that lots of photos could be included on a Trail website. He wonders if there are funding opportunities trail for website development. Todd suggested talking with county tourism planners about this; but the first priority is to funding to build the trail. Planning for Dryden-to-Freeville trail celebration – Diane, Bob (for Susan) Led by Susan Ashdown, the Trail Events subcommittee has tentatively set the opening for the Dryden to Freeville section for May 11. The idea is to focus the event on George Rd. so participants could walk or ride over from either village to experience the trail. Bob said the William George Agency has given permission to use their open-sided building near the George Rd intersection, as pavilion to host the event. There could also be a shuttle service. The event experience would include visiting stations along the trail where people could get points or tickets for prizes. Local businesses would be solicited to offer prizes, food, drink, etc., and the Dryden High Jazz Band could be invited to perform. Next meeting – Feb. 18 in Varna Community Center. Adjourn at 9:25 pm Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines – 31 March 2015 Page 1 of 5 Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines 31 March 2015 Prepared by an Ad Hoc Committee of the Town of Dryden Conservation Board Bob Beck, Bard Prentiss (Chair), Milo Richmond, Craig Schutt, and C.R. Smith, and approved by unanimous vote of the Conservation Board. BACKGROUND: The Jim Schug Trail is a major asset to the Town of Dryden. It attracts a steady stream of visitors from the immediate area and the wider region. Uses include, but are not limited to: family strolling, fishing, courting, bird-watching, nature study, nature photography, exercise walking and running, horseback and bicycle riding, dog walking, and cross- country skiing. An informal count of users of the Schug Trail over several years has produced an average of 9 users per hour. This average has held up at all times of the day and for all sections of the trail. It is possible that more than 25,000 individuals per year, including repeat users, visit the Schug Trail. The Schug Trail illustrates the value of public trails and is a good example for the Town of Dryden to follow when it expands and extends its system of public recreational trails. In effect, public trails are linear parks and should be managed accordingly. The over- arching consideration for maintenance of parks, trails, and natural areas (e.g. Campbell Meadow) managed by the Town of Dryden should be to preserve and enhance, within safety limits, the natural diversity that makes these places the special attractions that they are. GENERAL GUIDELINES: Although some cutting and clearing of trail sides is necessary to allow for passage of emergency vehicles, in the case of anything beyond the recommended width of roughly 12 feet, less cutting is better. Clearing trail sides and ditching exposes the view and may improve drainage, but such efforts are often at the cost of wildlife cover and food, valued and protected plant populations, or shade for runners and other trail users. Serious consideration should be given to the overall, long-term implications before any major widening or ditching of trails is undertaken. Extensive pruning and scraping of trees by heavy equipment damages them, leading to disease and death, and is unattractive, especially in a park or trail setting. Heavy pruning has the additional drawback of removing branches at or near eye level that could be used by outdoor educators for Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines – 31 March 2015 Page 2 of 5 teaching tree identification. It’s worth noting that the trails and parks are used as outdoor classrooms by formal and informal educational groups of all ages. Native flowering and fruiting trees provide wildlife food and are attractive to trail users. There are some Conservation Board members who know plants well and who could mark these and other special plants, as well as unique habitat along the trail, such as the Spring Pools that support populations of the Wood Frog. This could be done yearly, prior to regular trail maintenance. Although beavers do dam watercourses along the trail, and at times require judicious management, they rarely, if ever, flood the trail. They provide great enjoyment to human visitors and should be allowed to remain whenever possible. Special devices, called “beaver deceivers,” can be built and maintained to discourage beavers from blocking drainage pipes along the trail. Designs for beaver deceivers, e.g., provided by the U.S. Forest Service, may be found on the Web. Although fill is necessary in persistent wet areas, large stone, crusher run, or bank run gravel makes walking, running, riding horseback, and bicycle riding difficult, and can be a hazard to both horses and people. When possible, fine crushed gravel is recommended to be used instead. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: A) Each year, prior to executing park and trail maintenance plans for that year, the DPW will inform the Conservation Board of planned park and trail maintenance. It then falls to the Conservation Board to identify, mark, map or otherwise inform the DPW of environmentally sensitive plants, habitats and other natural phenomena and special areas of concern, and to make appropriate recommendations for their protection and management. At the same time recommendations could be offered regarding the control of invasive species such as swallowwort, Japanese knotweed, phragmites, and non-native bush honeysuckles. Potentially contentious issues, such as ditching and brush removal, also should be reviewed and discussed. B) When the DPW has completed its work for the season, representatives from both the Conservation Board and the DPW should meet and review the season’s efforts. This would allow for an exchange of ideas and aid in refining these guidelines in the future. C) Tree cutting and damage to trees by heavy equipment should be kept to a minimum; whenever possible likely den trees should be preserved for use by birds (e.g. Eastern Screech-Owl) and other wildlife. Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines – 31 March 2015 Page 3 of 5 D) Ditching unnecessarily drains wet areas that serve as habitat for a variety plants, amphibians, insects and birds, including ducks. In the spirit of maintaining the trail as a nature trail and public park, these wet areas should instead be maintained and even increased where possible. E) Brush removal should be kept to a minimum, again in the spirit of a nature trail. Brush provides nesting habitat for birds and small mammals, shade for shade loving plants, and cover for larger mammals. It also often includes valued species of flowering and fruiting shrubs and trees. F) At Dryden Lake Park, the field on East Lake Road should be mowed every year after grassland birds have completed nesting and before goldenrod has set seed. The same applies to the fields at the Virgil Creek Flood Control Dam. In most years, the last 2 weeks in August or the first 2 weeks of September would be a suitable time. NYSDEC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have identified many different kinds of grassland birds as needing conservation attention. It also is against both state and federal laws to destroy nests, eggs, young, or adults of any migratory birds. After goldenrod has set its seed, mowing only distributes the goldenrod seed and makes cleaning of air filters and radiators on equipment difficult. Though attractive, goldenrod tends to exclude other plants once it is established, and the value of the fields to grassland birds and other wildlife is lost. G) Trails on the north side of Dryden Lake, northeast of the dam, should only be cleared to +/- 4 - 6 feet, because they are used only occasionally for fishing access and bird study. H) An advisory committee on management of parks, trails, and natural areas in the Town of Dryden (Parks and Trails Management Committee) shall serve to advise the Superintendent of Public Works and the Town Board. This committee will be a standing committee of the Conservation Board and will include at least the following members: Conservation Board Chair (who also will serve as Chair of the advisory committee), one member selected from the Recreation & Youth Commission, one additional member from the Conservation Board, and two at large members selected by the Conservation Board from interested citizens of the town, for a total of 5 voting members. One or more members of this committee should have substantial, demonstrable, in-depth knowledge in identification of local plants and animals in the field, in their broadest sense (i.e. natural history). SPECIFIC LONG-TERM GOALS FOR MAINTENANCE OF TOWN OF DRYDEN TRAILS: Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines – 31 March 2015 Page 4 of 5 The primary purpose of this maintenance and management policy is to provide guidance for having trails that are safe and satisfying for all users. The following goals are listed in order of priority and their importance to maintaining the Schug Trail and all other Town of Dryden trails. Implementation of the recommendations should be carried out with this priority preference in mind. These goals and objectives are based, in part, upon a trail maintenance plan adopted and implemented by DuPage County, Illinois, in October 2003. It is expected that guidance can be provided by the Conservation Board in meeting the goals and objectives which follow. Goal 1: Provide safe trails for all users. The purpose of this goal is to be sure that the Schug Trail, and all other trails, are safe for all trail users. The Schug Trail, at present, is a multi-purpose pathway enjoyed by thousands of local residents and visitors annually. The mix of trail users includes walkers, joggers, bicyclists, equestrians, birdwatchers, botanists, naturalists, and photographers. Future Town of Dryden trails might be expected to be similar. Important objectives for meeting Goal 1 include at least the following: • Maintaining trails that comply with trail accessibility guidelines • Maintaining safe trail surfaces • Maintaining clearances at roadway intersections • Improving roadway crossings • Minimizing the Town’s liability in providing trail facilities • Maintaining unmowed trail buffer areas, within the original railroad right-of-way, either side of the trail • Improving safety through signage and public education • Developing a volunteer safety watch program by trail users Goal 2: Protect and enhance our natural environment. The purpose of this goal is to recognize, protect, and promote the function of the Schug Trail, and all other trails, as greenways, wildlife habitat, and park-like corridors. This includes providing ways to maintain and improve wildlife habitat and the natural variety of plant species. While not the primary purpose of trails, this goal is intended to recognize the role trails have in improving the natural environment of the Village and Town of Dryden. At the same time, efforts to achieve this goal need to include a public education component that informs trail users of work activities and management projects designed to meet this end, and ensures that the Town remains a good neighbor to surrounding property owners. Important objectives for meeting Goal 2 include at least the following: Town of Dryden Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines – 31 March 2015 Page 5 of 5 • Removing dead and diseased trees and shrubs that may be hazardous or infect other plants • Maintaining a naturalistic look, that includes wetland and woodland remnants along the trail • Removing non-native invasive species, such as European Buckthorn and bush honeysuckles, in selected areas, where effects on residential areas will be minimal, and with Conservation Board guidance • Implementing recommendations in a cost-effective manner Goal 3: Provide a pleasing trail experience. The purpose of this goal is to be sure that users enjoy the Schug Trail and all other trails. This goal recognizes the attraction of trails as a way to experience our natural environment and provide connections to unique natural areas and open spaces adjacent to trails. Important objectives for meeting Goal 3 include at least the following: • Maintaining clean, well-kept, and comfortable trails (litter-free, vandalism-free, with comfortable benches for resting or observing Nature) • Maintaining a mix of viewscapes that provide color and variety • Encouraging stewardship efforts to increase clean-up, planting, and beautification projects, with guidance from the Conservation Board • Maintaining and enhancing opportunities for viewing wildlife and plant life along trails Goa1 4: Accommodate multiple uses and users along the Schug Trail and all other trails. The purpose of this goal is to ensure that trails serve the multiple uses and users they have had over time. In addition to the various uses and users named above, the trails serve as wildlife habitat, greenway corridors, drainage facilities, fishing access, and utility corridors (in some places). Important objectives for meeting Goal 4 include at least the following: • Providing sufficient and uniform trail widths • Providing and maintaining signage to educate trail users about multiple uses and users • Maintaining trail rights-of-way for utility and drainage purposes Town of Dryden Conservation Board 31 March 2015 Resolution to Town Board Proposed that the Town of Dryden adopt the attached document, "Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines," and facilitate the recommendations contained therein Whereas, Trails, such as Dryden's popular Jim Schug Trail, are highly valued by residents and visitors for many activities such as family outings, nature study and enjoyment, walking, jogging, bicycling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding, Whereas, Maintenance objectives of mowing, brush and tree trimming, surface repair and drainage ditching for trails and parks differ significantly from the maintenance and safety requirements for motor-vehicle roadways, Whereas, It is appropriate and useful to view our current and future trails as multi-use, off-road "linear parks," Whereas, An overarching maintenance goal for parks and trails is to preserve the natural diversity that makes them the special places that they are, Whereas, Discussion between Conservation Board members and the Superintendent of Highway & Public Works has identified issues of concern and has produced agreement on maintenance goals as well as plans for ongoing annual communication and recommendations, Now, therefore, be it resolved that, The Conservation Board recommends that the Town Board approve the attached document entitled, "Parks and Trails Maintenance Guidelines," and facilitate its implementation through the Department of Public Works. Approved: 6–0 by the Conservation Board on 31 March 2015