Welcome and Sign-In We will begin at 5:30 sharp!
Please sign-in at the table in the back of the room
Emergency exits are indicated by lighted exit signs
Refreshments in the conference room outside the door to your right – do not bring into chambers
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Wifi password is cityhall2001
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 1
Trail image here Building Impact by
Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster
County Trails Summit
June 19, 2014
Kingston City Hall
5:30 – 7:00 PM
Join us in thanking our funders
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 3
Part 1: Intro
Our agenda Part 1: Introductions from the City of Kingston and Ulster County
Part 2: Craig Della Penna: The Economic Impact of Trails
Part 3: Building a Regional Trail System
Part 4: Update on Local Trail Projects
Part 5: Q&A and Call to Action
Part 6: Networking and Discussion
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 4
Welcome and introductions Mayor Shayne Gallo
City of Kingston
Chris White Deputy Director of Planning, Ulster County
Patty Goodwin Chairperson, Woodstock Land Conservancy
Andi Turco-Levin
President-Elect, Ulster County Board of Realtors Chairperson, Kingston Land Trust
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 5
Part 1: Intro
What’s the best part of Cleveland?
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 6
Part 1: Intro
The Inspiring
Story of How
Trails and Bikes
Helped The
Rust Belt
Bounce Back
June, 2013
The Economic Impact of Trails
Craig Della Penna is a consultant, a Realtor and, with his wife Kathleen, a B&B operator!
Craig served as a lobbyist for Rails-To-Trails Conservancy and is the author of several books about rail trail conversions
Craig tours the country speaking about his experience and helping communities understand – and capitalize on – the benefits of trails
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 7
Part 2: Craig Della Penna
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 8
“We have a unique opportunity to create a world-class
tourism destination, directly impact public health, and
improve the overall quality of life in our region.”
-Ulster County Executive Mike Hein
Part 3: Building the System
Urban trail image
We’re Building More Than a Trail
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 9
Urban trail image
“NY Builds On Its
Assets by Turning
Trails into Trail
Systems”
“Rail trails spur
economic growth”
by filling gaps and
building the system
A Vision for a
Regional System
Part 3: Building the System
The Regional System 1. Ulster County Rail Trail Project
from the Catskills to Kingston
2. D&H Canal Heritage Trail from Sullivan County to Kingston
3. Wallkill Valley Rail Trail from Orange County to Kingston
4. Kingston Greenline connects D&H, UCRT, WVRT and links to the Hudson River via Kingston Point Rail Trail
5. Hudson Valley Rail Trail links from WVRT to Walkway Over the Hudson
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 10
Part 3: Building the System
1
2
3
4
5
The Growing Importance of Our
Regional Trail System
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 11
Walkway over the Hudson (opened 2009) attracted more than 780,000 visitors in first year and now adds more than $24 million annual sales.
Hudson Valley Rail Trail (Highland/Lloyd) receives 670,000 visitors annually and has become New York State’s second-most-popular rail trail.
Hurley (D&H/O&W) Rail Trail receives estimated 81,000 visitors each year.
Wallkill Valley Rail Trail will soon extend more than 33 miles from Gardiner to Kingston now that the Rosendale Trestle is open.
Catskill Mountain Rail Trail is projected to attract 140,000 annual users and add $3.1 million in annual U.C. sales (2013 Economic Impact Analysis)
Hudson Valley Rail Trail
Rosendale Trestle
Part 3: Building the System
Local Systems, Too!
Within population centers, trails become the backbone of an enhanced pedestrian and bike system
Complete Streets, linear parks, neighborhood pathways all contribute to a rich trail ecosystem
Connectivity drives increased impact, too!
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 12
Part 3: Building the System
ROSENDALE
The Kingston Greenline Tim Weidemann
Co-Chair of the Kingston Land Trust Rail Trail Committee
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County
Trails Summit 13
Part 4: Local Project Update
The Vision for the Kingston
Greenline
An urban trail system, comprising linear parks, bike-ways and complete streets
Serves as a non-motorized, accessible alternative for residents’ enhanced mobility
A hub for the local and regional system, connecting people and supporting our City’s revitalization
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Urban trail image
Photo Credit:
Arts Society of Kingston
Part 4: Local Project Update
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 15
Part 4: Local Project Update
The Conceptual Plan for the
Kingston Greenline
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KingstonGreenline.org
Part 4: Local Project Update
Trolley Tracks Near Kingston Point
The Hasbrouck Tunnel
Span Bridges Along Route 9W
Cross Sections of Proposed
On-Street Connections
Pedestrian bridge over CSX and
public plaza in midtown
In KPRT, Regional and Local
Come Together
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The Kingston Point Rail Trail (KPRT) is proposed for the city-owned stretch of the former U&D, from midtown to the Rondout
Connects midtown to the Rondout Creek and the Hudson River
A much needed safe and accessible alternative to on- street options
Part 4: Local Project Update
2014 (so far!)
• Kingston Greenline website and
brochure completed
• KLT receives grants for Greenline
management plan (LTA), signage
(CCE, Greenway)
• NAR awards grant for Greenline
Public Awareness Campaign
• Neighborhood outreach begins in
preparation for construction!
The Momentum Keeps Building!
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2013
• KLT completes property
survey, feasibility study
• KLT establishes “Greenline”
brand, partners with City
• City awarded over $4.3M in
grants for related projects
2010 - 2012
• KLT Rail Trail Committee forms
• KPRT identified as priority trail
• City, Greenway fund KPRT study
Part 4: Local Project Update
Ulster County Rail Trail Project William Sheldon
Member of the Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail
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Trails Summit 19
Part 4: Local Project Update
The Ulster County Rail Trail Project
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Connect Kingston neighborhoods to Catskill Park & Ashokan Reservoir
Expand tourism business in Ulster County and Hudson Valley region
Increase outdoor recreation opportunities and promote healthy lifestyles
Provide “car-free” transportation options
Create links to the Hurley/ O&W Rail Trail & Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
Project Vision:
A public multi-use recreational trail from the City of Kingston to and along the Ashokan Reservoir that
will link the Walkway over the Hudson to the Catskill Park and create a world-class tourism
destination.
Ashokan Reservoir
Walkway over the Hudson
Part 4: Local Project Update
Ulster & Delaware (U&D) Railroad
Timeline
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Part 4: Local Project Update
1866 Railroad construction begins
1900 Railroad extended from Kingston to Oneonta
1913 U&D railroad carries 676,000 passengers to Catskill resorts
1979 Ulster County purchases 38.6-mile section from bankrupt Penn Central
Trans. Corp.
1991 County signs 25-year lease with Catskill Mountain Railroad Company
for tourist railroad
2012 County Exec Mike Hein proposes rail trail from Kingston to Ashokan
Reservoir and Catskills
2013 Governor Cuomo allocates $2M for rail trail in 2013-14 state budget
NYC DEP and County announce Agreement in Principle, $2.5M DEP
grant for trail along reservoir
1976 Last commercial train leaves Kingston
2006 County conducts U&D Trail Feasibility Study
2014 Trail planning begins with funds from OSI, WLC and private donors
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 22
Accessible to persons with disabilities and the elderly
Open to public use four seasons / 365 days a year
Providing a beautiful and safe linear park for hikers, dog
walkers, bicyclists, and all who seek to enjoy the outdoors
Connecting urban neighborhoods with open spaces
Creating a “Rail Trail Hub” In Kingston
A Path For Us All
Part 4: Local Project Update
Future Linkages to Regional Trails
and Attractions Historic City of Kingston
O&W Rail Trail (Hurley)/D&H
Heritage Trail
Wallkill Valley Rail
Trail/Rosendale Trestle
Belleayre Mountain
Pine Hill Lake Day Use Area
Bluestone Wild Forest
Long Path/ Catskill Park Trails
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Part 4: Local Project Update
County Plan Preserves Tourist Rail A “segmented”
corridor with rail west of the reservoir
75% of tourist ridership is in this part of the corridor
Building a new trail alongside the railroad from Kingston is not feasible
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Part 4: Local Project Update
Why Can’t We Do Both? Some
Background on “Rail-with-Trail” An existing railroad bed is
converted to use as a trail
Provides an economical (i.e. cheaper) way to construct a trail
Most common situation
Building Impact by Building the System: 2014 Kingston/Ulster County Trails Summit 25
Part 4: Local Project Update
Rail-to-Trail
Rail-with-Trail
An existing railroad bed on a double-track corridor is converted to use as a trail
Second track remains active rail
U&D is a single-track corridor!
Rail-with-Trail requires 50-65’ width
Physical Constraints Prevent
“Trail Alongside Rail” Proposal
At points, ROW is only 30’ wide
Bridges, tunnels and underpasses even narrower
Numerous cuts, pinch-points and berms along the route
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Part 4: Local Project Update
We Can’t Afford to Wait Any Longer
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Part 4: Local Project Update
Camoin Associates studied
potential impact of the Ulster
County Rail Trail Project
Projected 140,000 users
annually
$3.1M in expected new sales
44 new jobs
$112,000 in new tax revenue
for the County
Sign-on to our letter to the Legislature
at the back table to show your support
There’s Strength In Numbers
These efforts are volunteer-led
We’re all still pretty new to this, and we need more committed and capable hands
Next on our agenda:
build awareness
plan to manage the trails
begin design/construction
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Part 5: Call to Action
How Can You Get Involved?
Join us for a hike on the Greenline Every 3rd Sunday, 9:30AM
Departing and returning from Kingston Wine Co on lower B’way
Hudson River Valley Ramble, Saturday, September 13, 3PM
Join our mailing list to receive updates
Stay tuned: Ulster County Trails Conference coming this Fall…
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Part 5: Call to Action
Thank you! Craig Della Penna and
the Ulster County Board of Realtors
Ulster County and Executive Mike Hein
City of Kingston and Mayor Gallo
All our partners working for a stronger, better system of trails in Ulster County!
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You guys
need help?
Are we
pushing?
No, we’re
pulling!
Part 6: Networking
Kingston Rail Trails OR Kingston Greenline
Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail
KingstonGreenline.org for more about the Kingston Greenline
CatskillMountainRailTrail.org for more about the Ulster County Rail Trail Project