Back To News/PR Index
|

|
Report Cites Progress In Efforts to “Close the Gaps” In Erie Canalway Trail
|
Completed Trail Would Generate $5 Million Annually In Additional Benefits to Upstate
Report Cites Progress In Efforts to “Close the Gaps” In Erie Canalway Trail

The Erie Canalway Trail is 75% complete and on its way to becoming a premiere international tourist destination for cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. However, the Canalway Trail can neither realize its full potential as a world-class tourism destination nor offer maximum benefit to the more than 200 communities along its length until it is finished from Buffalo to Albany as a continuous offroad trail. The NYS Canal Corporation estimates that closing the five remaining major gaps will result in more than 1.5 million bicycle and pedestrian trips across the Erie Canalway Trail, an increase of 500,000 trail users annually and will generate an estimated additional $5 million in annual mobility, health, recreation and reduced auto use benefits systemwide.

We are convinced that completing the Erie Canalway Trail will result in it becoming a world-class tourism destination. Today we look back at New York State’s early 19th century investment to build the Erie Canal and judge it successful from several perspectives – i.e. financial, transportation, nation building and more. We believe a relatively modest 21st century public investment to build the Erie Canalway Trail will be judged successful because of its positive impacts on tourism, community revitalization and upstate economic development, said Nelson Ronsvalle, CTANY President.

In 2011, significant progress was made in efforts to close the remaining trail gaps although no new trail was built.

Dramatic increase in state, local and regional support
Interest in completing the Erie Canalway Trail among citizens, community leaders, and elected officials at all levels of local, state and federal government was at an all-time high. The campaign to “Close the Gaps,” initiated by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the fall of 2010 with a roundtable in Canajoharie, drew more than 200 persons to additional roundtables in 2011 in Syracuse, Lockport, Utica, and Clyde. Each roundtable has spawned local follow up meetings and a number of working groups focused on discovering “out of the box” solutions to the unique challenges associated with discrete segments within the larger trail gaps.

Progress on identifying a route through Syracuse
The Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC) agreed to complete the Erie Canalway Trail – Syracuse Connector Route project to explore options for a safe and well-marked 12-mile route for the Erie Canalway Trail between Camillus and Dewitt through the City of Syracuse. Presently, cyclists must negotiate heavily travelled, unmarked urban streets.

Two “Close the Gaps” efforts receive NYS Canal Corporation grants
The City of Rome will use its $50,000 grant to construct an additional two miles of on- and off-road trail east of Old Erie Canal State Park. Completion of this trail section along with the two-mile section already under development within the City will result in more than 50 miles of continuous trail from Dewitt to Utica.

Schenectady County was awarded $140,000 toward construction of 1.3 miles of trail as part of a major private-public waterfront development at the site of the former American Locomotive Company in the City of Schenectady. When this trail section is complete, almost all the trail will be off-road within the city limits.

Focus for 2012
CTANY and PTNY will continue to publicize the need to Close the Gaps, seek the support of Senator Gillibrand’s office to enact a federal transportation bill that retains funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects, and help resolve outstanding issues and attract broad based support for completing the five major trail gaps. CTANY and PTNY will also continue to work with Canalway Trail communities and all levels of government, including the regional economic development councils, to support their efforts to close the gaps and to emphasize the importance of the Canalway Trail to tourism, local economies, and the health and the quality of life of Canalway Trail-community residents.

Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks & Trails New York, said, “The Erie Canal Corridor has all the right ingredients to become an international bicycle touring destination: picturesque villages, impressive historic sites and museums, charming B&B’s and inns, ample campgrounds, and country stores and farm stands but what it lacks is a trail that is fully complete. Finishing the Canalway Trail will create jobs while making a valuable investment in the infrastructure of communities Upstate.”

“Securing the funding to complete the gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail will be challenging in these difficult economic times,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “However, I believe it is more important than ever to do so to realize the full economic impact the trail can bring to New York’s canal communities.”

The Canalway Trails Association New York is an all-volunteer organization that works both statewide and locally with citizens, state agencies and municipalities to develop the Erie Canalway Trail as a world-class multi-use recreational trail and international bicycle tourism destination. In partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation, PTNY and others, it encourages the proper maintenance of the trail by coordinating the Adopt-a-Trail Program.

Parks & Trails New York is the state’s leading advocate for parks and trails, working since 1985 to expand, protect and promote a network of parks, trails and open spaces throughout the state for use and enjoyment by all. For 14 years it has worked with the New York State Canal Corporation, CTANY, and Canalway Trail communities to foster development of the trail and oversee the Adopt-A-Trail Program. PTNY promotes the trail through its annual 400-mile Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour and Bicyclists Bring Business community roundtables and it publications including Cycling the Erie Canal: A guide to 400 miles of adventure and history along the Erie Canalway Trail and Bicyclists Bring Business: A Guide for Attracting Bicyclists to New York’s Canal Communities. For more information, visit www.ptny.org or call 518-434-1583. Follow Parks & Trails New York on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr.

Media Contact:
Frances Gotcsik
Director of Programs & Policy
Parks & Trails New York
518-434-1583
|