Trail officials seek $1.2 million grant from the
Thursday, July 15, 1999 issue of The Times Herald
By: Rick Jozwiak
The Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails hopes to win a $1.3 million state grant to develop a 12-mile recreation trail between Salamanca and Cattaraugus.
The grant would help pay the estimated $2.1 million cost of transforming the former New York & Lake Erie Railroad bed into a recreational trail that could be used all year. Rails to Trails was founded by the Cattaraugus Local Development Corp., a not-for-profit organization based in the village of Cattaraugus.
The organization founder, Rick LeFeber, expects to hear whether Rails to Trails was awarded the TEA-21 trail grant by early next year.
The organization also has applied for an $80,000 grant from the state Recreational Trails Program.
In the meantime, Rails to Trails is waiting to take possession of the property from the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency. The agency has owned the railroad line since 1980; it provided rail service until 1990.
The Industrial Development Agency accepted a plan in the spring by Rails to Trails to build the line into a trail for bicyclists, hikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. The trail would stretch from the Salamanca city line to New Albion road in Cattaraugus and link with several local, state and national trail systems in the area.
Norman Leyh, the agency's executive director, said the property can be deeded over to Rails to Trails when the OK is given by the state. The Department of Transportation has preferential rights, which means the state is granted the first chance to buy the property or pass.
Mr. Leyh said despite many calls and letters, he has been waiting some time for a response.
"It's very frustrating ... We would like to dispose of it as quickly as possible," he said. "We're waiting on others now."
So the project doesn't lose momentum, Mr. LeFeber said once Rails to Trails takes ownership, work will start in the Little Valley area. The organization is planning a demonstration project along part of the tracks at the east end of Main Street in the village.
At that location, the railroad bed widens and could serve as a small park along the trail where visitors could stop, he said. Once the property is transferred, workers will start clearing the area, and the group plans to welcome visitors with an arch and a turn-of-the-century caboose.
"We need something initially when we take possession of the property that would be very visible, and we thought that would be the place to do it," he said.
Thursday, July 15, 1999
Saturday, July 10, 1999
S.T.A.R.T. Submits Grant Application - County Chronicle
S.T.A.R.T. Submits Grant Application from the
Saturday, July 10, 1999 issue of the County Chronicle
"The Cattaraugus County Rail-to-Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception," stated Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation. "A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast as we did without the support and tireless efforts of our County Legislators, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Development and Agricultural Committee, the Village of Little Valley, our Steering Committee (Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails (S.T.A.R.T.) and all those who supported us through letters and in other ways. I would like to personally thank Elliott Ellis, Jim Ellis, Jim Snyder, Jess Fitzpatric, Pat McCrea, Bonnie Bigelow, John Sayegh, Terry Martin, Brad Walters, Tammy Buchhardt and the rest of our Steering Committee, without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground."
"The S.T.A.R.T. committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. The total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated ad start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the Village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," continued LeFeber.
Brad Walters, chairman of the S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee, added, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has. I know for a fact that we are only here, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our county through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success.
"The Cattaraugus County Rail-to-Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception," stated Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation. "A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast as we did without the support and tireless efforts of our County Legislators, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Development and Agricultural Committee, the Village of Little Valley, our Steering Committee (Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails (S.T.A.R.T.) and all those who supported us through letters and in other ways. I would like to personally thank Elliott Ellis, Jim Ellis, Jim Snyder, Jess Fitzpatric, Pat McCrea, Bonnie Bigelow, John Sayegh, Terry Martin, Brad Walters, Tammy Buchhardt and the rest of our Steering Committee, without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground."
"The S.T.A.R.T. committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. The total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated ad start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the Village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," continued LeFeber.
Brad Walters, chairman of the S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee, added, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has. I know for a fact that we are only here, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our county through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success.
Friday, July 9, 1999
START seeks $1.3 million for recreation trail - The Salamanca Press
START seeks $1.3 million for recreation trail from the Friday, July 9, 1999 issue of The Salamanca Press
By Laura Howard
LITTLE VALLEY - The group working to convert 12.1 miles of abandoned rail line into recreation trail has submitted a grant application to the state and plans to begin its project with a Friendship Arch at the bottom of Main Street.
"The S.T.A.R.T. (Southern Tier Area Rails to Trails) Committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. the total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated and start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," said Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corp.
S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee members are looking at artists renderings for the arch project and hope to select a design and begin work in the fall. The proposed site is in the vicinity of the former Gramco Building and Brook's Market. the committee is considering an elongated design that will appear as an arch from whatever direction it is viewed. The Project will symbolize the friendship of the communities along the trail and equality among trail users.
The rail will run from Salamanca to Cattaraugus, passing through Little Valley and New Albion along the former Erie rail line, which was most recently owned by the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, which acquired it in 1980. the track was used for a short time by the New York and Lake Erie Railroad for an excursion train based in Gowanda.
In May, following a series of public hearings, the CCIDA accepted a proposal from CLDC to turn the line into a four-seasons trail to be used for walking, hiking, rollerblading, jogging, bicycling, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, sleigh rides and snowmobiling.
In the spring, S.T.A.R.T. began looking for trail volunteers to help with conversion and maintenance of the trail.
S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee Chairman Brad Walters observed, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our county through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success."
LeFeber credited Steering committee members and county officials for the support the project has received so far.
" The Cattaraugus County Rail to Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception. A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect it to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast we did the support and ireless efforts of our county legislators; Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism' the Development and Agriculture Committee, our Steering Committee, and all those who supported us through letters and other ways... Without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground," said LeFeber.
By Laura Howard
LITTLE VALLEY - The group working to convert 12.1 miles of abandoned rail line into recreation trail has submitted a grant application to the state and plans to begin its project with a Friendship Arch at the bottom of Main Street.
"The S.T.A.R.T. (Southern Tier Area Rails to Trails) Committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. the total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated and start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," said Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corp.
S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee members are looking at artists renderings for the arch project and hope to select a design and begin work in the fall. The proposed site is in the vicinity of the former Gramco Building and Brook's Market. the committee is considering an elongated design that will appear as an arch from whatever direction it is viewed. The Project will symbolize the friendship of the communities along the trail and equality among trail users.
The rail will run from Salamanca to Cattaraugus, passing through Little Valley and New Albion along the former Erie rail line, which was most recently owned by the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, which acquired it in 1980. the track was used for a short time by the New York and Lake Erie Railroad for an excursion train based in Gowanda.
In May, following a series of public hearings, the CCIDA accepted a proposal from CLDC to turn the line into a four-seasons trail to be used for walking, hiking, rollerblading, jogging, bicycling, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, sleigh rides and snowmobiling.
In the spring, S.T.A.R.T. began looking for trail volunteers to help with conversion and maintenance of the trail.
S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee Chairman Brad Walters observed, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our county through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success."
LeFeber credited Steering committee members and county officials for the support the project has received so far.
" The Cattaraugus County Rail to Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception. A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect it to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast we did the support and ireless efforts of our county legislators; Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism' the Development and Agriculture Committee, our Steering Committee, and all those who supported us through letters and other ways... Without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground," said LeFeber.
Rails-to-Trails - Special-E-Fects
Rails-to-Trails, from the Friday, July 9, 1999 issue of Special-E-Fects
A Project of Great Magnitude Sure to Benefit Cattaraugus County.
"The Cattaraugus County Rail-to-Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception," stated Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation. "A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast as we did without the support and tireless efforts of our County Legislators, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Development and Agriculturally Committee, the Village of Little Valley, and our Steering Committee (Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails( S.T.A.R.T.) and all those who supported us through letters and in other ways. I would like to personally thank Elliot Ellis, Jim Ellis, Jim Snyder, Jess Fitzpatric, Pat McCrea, Bonnie Bigelow, John Sayegh, Terry Martin, Brad Walters, Tammy Buchhardt and the rest of our Steering Committee. Without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground."
The S.T.A.R.T. Committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. The total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated and start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the Village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," continued LeFeber.
Brad Walters, chairman of the S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee, added, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has. I know for a fact that we are only here, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our country through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success.
A Project of Great Magnitude Sure to Benefit Cattaraugus County.
"The Cattaraugus County Rail-to-Trail project has been on the fast track since its inception," stated Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corporation. "A project of this magnitude usually takes seven years to complete. We expect to be completed in two, but we could never have gotten this far and as fast as we did without the support and tireless efforts of our County Legislators, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Development and Agriculturally Committee, the Village of Little Valley, and our Steering Committee (Southern Tier Association for Rails to Trails( S.T.A.R.T.) and all those who supported us through letters and in other ways. I would like to personally thank Elliot Ellis, Jim Ellis, Jim Snyder, Jess Fitzpatric, Pat McCrea, Bonnie Bigelow, John Sayegh, Terry Martin, Brad Walters, Tammy Buchhardt and the rest of our Steering Committee. Without their support this project might never have gotten off the ground."
The S.T.A.R.T. Committee has just submitted its application for a $1.3 million grant in the form of TEA-21 money. The total cost for this project is $2.1 million. We expect to hear from the state early next year, but in the meantime we would like to continue with the momentum we have generated and start by erecting a Friendship Arch at the lower end of Main Street in the Village of Little Valley. This will serve as the beginning of our demonstration project," continued LeFeber.
Brad Walters, chairman of the S.T.A.R.T. Steering Committee, added, "This has been an exceptional project. I have never seen a project move along as smoothly as this one has. I know for a fact that we are only here, at this point, because everyone has pulled together for a common goal. This project will benefit our country through increased tourism dollars, and public awareness as to what our county has to offer. I'm proud to have been a part of it, and of those who have contributed to its success.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)