The TOW board should examine rail/trail issue

To the editor:

The Great Adirondack Rail Trail resolution should be on the agenda for the Town of Webb Board meeting this October. The Town of North Elba (Lake Placid), St Lawrence County, Saranac Lake Town Board, the Saranac Board of Trustees are the first to address this issue and several more towns and villages are poised to follow with resolutions to remove the rail in favor of a Recreational Trial Corridor or at least to review the long over due UMP, Unit Management Plan for the Old Forge Lake Placid Corridor.

Studies sponsored by economic groups, National Rails to Trails and the railroad them selves confirm the greater benefit potential for the trail over the expansion of the railroad.The current expansion to Big Moose being a gross example of the, “The money is available, we have to spend it.” mentality.

We are currently hosting some folks who were heavily involved in creating the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Tioga County, Pa., and the benefits have been astounding: increased real estate value, growth in local business,mixing of the age groups, area esthetics and more information available on the web. Even the skeptics pat them on the back now.

Think of the scope of this attraction, compare other similar projects and insist that our board join the tide of local governments recognizing the need to explore this asset. Governor Cuomo has confirmed that this is a significant effort, but it should be a regional decision and not another mandate from Albany, so let’s join in the process and at least resolve to review the UMP and plan for the future.

Scott Thompson,

Norridgewock III, Beaver River