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Home My WebLink About2022-03-21Dryden Rail Trail Friends and Task Force Minutes of the Monday, March 21, 2022 Meeting Varna Community Center Attendance: Judy Pierpont, Rose Borzik, Diane and Chris Tessaglia-Hymes, Janice and Tony Bretscher, Susan Ashcroft, Mark Anderson, Steve Winans, Jacob Yatsko, Bob Beck, Todd Bittner, Alice Green, Laurie Snyder Call to order at 7:03 pm – Bob Beck Additions to agenda: none Approval of February minutes: Corrections: Susan asked to add her remark during the discussion of a proposal to apply for a grant to pave portions of the trail with asphalt. She said, “we don’t want to install asphalt and encourage faster travel for e-bikes.” Tony asked to add clarification of the meaning of the Town Board’s reported “negative declaration” following the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) of the proposed Route 13 bridge. The action means that the Town Board ruled the bridge would not have negative environmental impact. With those two changes, the minutes were approved unanimously. Sixth Anniversary Celebration: Bob noted that the first meeting of the task force was March 16, 2016. “This month we start our 7th year!” He offered a brief review of progress and a look forward. Highlights of progress: ten grants received, most of the easements have been procured, (including easement through William George agency, and Game Farm agreement, NYSEG license agreement). He noted that the task force knew from the start that one of the biggest challenges would be creating a safe crossing at Route 13. He reminded members that the Department of Transportation (DOT) recommended that the Task Force pursue a bridge or tunnel, and not an at-grade crossing at Route 13. The DRT got a County Tourism grant to study bridge vs. tunnel; it turned out that the bridge was significantly less expensive. And then the DRT got the $1.5 M TAP grant. He said he believes that there will be more good news about the bridge soon. Todd said looking back over the trail development, it’s been really rewarding to hear from people who are trail enthusiasts, about how much they appreciate using the trail. TAP grant/Route 13 pedestrian bridge – Bob, Todd The bridge engineers have completed the final design report and it has been sent to the Department of Transportation. It is probably too late for construction this summer/fall 2022 but it is expected it will happen in 2023. Bob and Todd have worked on an amendment to Cornell’s easement for use of the trail on the west side of the bridge to allow construction of the ramp on that section of the trail. This has now gone to the CU real estate division for approval. This section will also include benches at roughly half-mile intervals between Route 13 and Stevenson Rd. There are several groups who want to contribute for memorial benches, according to Bob. One will be a memorial to the former owner of the trophy shop adjacent to the Village of Dryden kiosk. There’s a suggestion to put bike racks at strategic locations. Broadband fiber backbone – Bob The Town of Dryden intends to use the former railroad/Rail Trail corridor to lay the broadband fiber between the Village of Dryden and Varna. Bob has made the broadband committee aware of certain areas along the rail bed that will need special care: including a row of spruce near Hall Woods Rd, and a section near there at the edge of a wetland. There is a large washout east of Pinckney Rd on the NYSEG property. It’s about 40 feet wide, 15 feet deep; there was once a RR trestle there. This clearing of the overgrown rail bed may provide a head start for the Rail Trail TF to build the trail. There’s a plan for a demonstration broadband project from the Route 13 crossing and along Pinckney Rd., including the business area there. Judy asked how they will cross Route 13. The plan is to lay the cable under roadways and creeks by horizontal drilling. Todd noted that the TF should make sure the fiber is laid at the edge of the trail. Care is needed to keep trail drainage in mind as the construction goes on. Todd suggested discussion is needed on section-by-section basis, because the trail has different drainage considerations. There are both sewer and water lines in some sections, and these require standard distance separations. If the broadband project happens before the trail is created, it’s fine. But we don’t want to have the work be detrimental to the trail surface. Game Farm Rd crossing – Bob, Todd B&L plan, parking signs, parking lot proposal, trail opening? At the Town Board meeting last week, Dan said they’d hoped to get the Barton and Loguidice report shortly, but they haven’t yet delivered it. He believes that the new plan still won’t satisfy the County Highway Department. Bob said that it’s been known for years that the bump in the Road north of the crossing, partially obscures drivers’ sightlines to the Game Farm Rd. trail crossing. During a stakeholders’ meeting in May 2019, the county highway director agreed to remove the bump the next time Game Farm Rd. needs repaving. However, this hasn’t happened yet. Recently, NYS declined the Towns’ request to reduce the speed limit, but Dan plans to ask DOT officials if there could be a temporary lower speed zone, near the crossing, requested until the trail is in place. DOT must approve any change. The DOT didn’t count the trail crossing on the last speed limit reduction request. That took two years. DPW chief Rick Young has been asked to install signage, directing people to parking off Stevenson Rd. Todd suggested that taking this to the County Legislature to encourage them to establish a safe Game Farm Road crossing as a priority. Chris suggested that an elected official should make a public statement indicating that this situation is setting up the County and municipalities for responsibility for a death at the crossing. Another approach would be articles in the Ithaca Voice, etc. explaining that the public is not being served by this stalling. Chris asked if a petition would be useful. Varna Community Association could be asked to write a letter of support to make a safe Game Farm Rd. crossing. At this point, the Town will still wait for the B & L study, see the County response, and then decide on the next steps. Todd noted the Town waited for a long time for any response to the first study from the county. Bob circulated a map proposing a new parking area on the east side of the Compost Driveway with an entrance off Stevenson Road. Earlier there was talk about a possible lot on the DEC land at Game Farm Rd, but it was decided to focus on the east side at Stevenson Rd. DEC is planting native grasses in some field areas near the rail trail. F.H. Fox Bridge – Bob Bob shared a proposal for the memorial bridge. Jerry Bertoldo had called earlier today to say that the four offspring of FH Fox are now in agreement that they want to move forward with donating the $50K to make the bridge a memorial to their father, in the name of their mother. The bridge will not be sand blasted to remove the graffiti; it will remain. There is an option to add names to the adjacent interpretive signage, for donors who wish to give more. The donors are interested in providing stories and photos that could be included in the interpretive sign. Project Lead Summer Youth Program – Alice, Bob Alice and Bob met with Patrick Lynch about the potential trail work this summer, but the broadband project may mean that the overgrown rail bed near Etna may be already cleared by the broadband crew. Chris had a conversation with someone from ICSD about youth from there helping with the project. However, because of the uncertainty about the timing for the broadband project, the Project Lead team plans to do work at the Nature Conservancy’s O.D. von Engeln Preserve at Malloryville. Laurie reported that Varna Community Center would like some help with their summer program, and they want to make a connector trail from the center to the rail trail through Cornell land. Todd noted that this area is part of a CU deer management program. Alice offered to put the Varna group in touch with the Project Lead director so they can consider helping with the Varna connector trail. April meeting was scheduled for 7 pm Monday, April 18. Adjournment at 8:28 pm. Respectfully submitted Alice Walsh Green