Resolution No.

275 August 19, 2014

Establishing A Policy For A Rail !ith "rail# Along "he $ounty%
&'ne( )lster An( *ela'are Railroa( $orri(or
Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning & Transit
Committee (Chairman Briggs and egislators !llen, !rcher, itts, "alone#, "aio,
and $ishnic%&
egislators #nn !rcher, Craig ope', and "ar# Beth "aio, and egislators
(regorius, Proven'ano and $ishnic% offer the follo)ing:
$HERE!*, the Count# of +lster purchased the ,-./0mile +lster and
Dela)are Railroad (+&D& corridor in 1232 to promote economic development
through e4panded tourism and to provide recreational opportunities5 and
$HERE!*, since 12-,, the entire +&D corridor has 6een leased to a private
tourism railroad compan#, )hich entered a 780#ear lease for the +&D corridor in
1221 that e4pires on "a# ,1, 791/5 and
$HERE!*, the +lster Count# egislature has determined that it is critical to
esta6lish a polic# for the future uses of this important pu6lic asset following the
termination of the lease on May 31, 20165 and
$HERE!*, +lster Count#:s adopted ;pen *pace Plan recommends creating
6etter lin%s 6et)een communities, trails, transportation and tourism, and the 799-
+lster Count# Transportation Council:s <on0"otori'ed Transportation Plan and its
ong Range Transportation Plan call for lin%ing regional trail s#stems together to
achieve a seamless non0motori'ed transportation net)or% that )ill improve the
=ualit# of life for local residents through improved )al%a6ilit# and 6i%ea6ilit# and
)ill serve as a tourism resource to mar%et +lster Count# as a destination5 and
$HERE!*, the +lster Count# egislature shares a vision )ith the +lster
Count# E4ecutive to create a )orld0class tourism destination through the
development of a seamless multi0use trail s#stem that closes the gaps in the e4isting
trails and offers su6stantial pu6lic 6enefits, including e4pansion of recreational
opportunities for residents and visitors, improvement of pu6lic health, and promotion
of economic development and tourism in the Cit# of >ingston and throughout +lster
Count#, )hile also promoting and ensuring future railroad tourism operations in a
segment of the +&D corridor 6et)een Boiceville and Phoenicia, )here such
operations have 6een focused for the past three decades5 and
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Resolution No. 275 August 19, 2014
Establishing A Policy For A Rail !ith "rail# Along "he $ounty%
&'ne( )lster An( *ela'are Railroa( $orri(or
$HERE!*, the conversion of sections of the pu6licl#0o)ned +&D corridor
into a rail trail from >ingston to and along the !sho%an Reservoir )ill serve to
connect three of the Count#:s rail trails, the Hudson ?alle# Rail Trail )ith the
planned e4tension to <e) Palt', the $all%ill ?alle# Rail Trail )ith the opening of the
Rosendale Railroad Trestle into >ingston and the ;&$ Rail Trail )ith plans to
connect to >ingston creating an integrated rail trail net)or% )ith access to the
!sho%an Reservoir and the $al%)a# ;ver the Hudson, ma4imi'ing =ualit# of life
and economic development opportunities across the count#5 no), therefore, 6e it
RE*;?ED, that the +lster Count# egislature here6# esta6lishes a polic# to
support a segmented @rail )ith trailA plan to convert the +&D corridor to a rail trail
onl# in the segment 6et)een >ingston and Boiceville5 and 6e it further
RE*;?ED, in the furtherance of this polic# for segmented rail )ith trail, the
+lster Count# egislature also here6# esta6lishes a polic# to support and encourage
the continued operation of a tourism railroad along an appropriate section of the
+&D corridor )est of the !sho%an Reservoir5 and 6e it further
RE*;?ED, that the +lster Count# egislature re=uests the Count#
E4ecutive su6mit a plan outlining proBects and secured funding sources to advance
planning and design for the rail trail conversion and on-going maintenance5 and
develop and solicit a re=uest for proposals for potential tourism railroads to operate
)est of the !sho%an Reservoir in the future, as set forth herein and a6ove5 and, be it
further
RES!"E#, that no railroad trac$s shall be remo%ed in any segment
e&ce't by resolution of the (lster )ounty !egislature,
and move its adoption
!D;PTED BC THE D;;$E<( ?;TE:
!CE*: <;E*:
Passed Committee: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning &
Transit on !ugust 8, 791F
DE<!<CE! E"P!CT:
<;<E
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Resolution No. 275 August 19, 2014
Establishing A Policy For A Rail !ith "rail# Along "he $ounty%
&'ne( )lster An( *ela'are Railroa( $orri(or
egislator !rcher motioned, seconded 6# egislator Ron%, to amend the resolution
6# adding language to the third $HERE!*, adding language to the third
RE*;?ED, and adding an additional RE*;?ED, as indicated a6ove in 6old font.