Trail officials seek $1.2 million grant - The Times Herald

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.