Funding process for trail clears another hurdle from the Friday, October 29, 1999 issue of The Times Herald
By Rick Jozwiak
A $3.1 million grant application for a proposed recreational trail between Salamanca and Cattaraugus has made heartening progress, trail planners said.
The Southern tier Association for Rails to Trails (START) applied earlier this summer for state money to develop a 12-mile recreational trail along the former New York & Lake Erie Railroad bed.
Rick LeFeber, executive director of Cattaraugus Local Development Corp. and founder of Rails to Trails, said the grant application will be reviewed by a state transportation committee. The state commissioner of transportation will decide which projects get money after hearing the committee's recommendations on the 15 remaining grant applications.
Mr. LeFeber said the commissioner is expected to make the decision before the end of the year.
The trail would be available to bicyclists, hikers, horseback riding, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Starting at the Salamanca city line, the trail will stretch to New Albion Road in Cattaraugus and link with several local, state and national trail systems in the area.
Besides advancing the START grant application, the state Department of transportation increased the grant amount by more than $16,000 to ensure there was enough money for bridge maintenance along the trail. That was a heartening sign of the application's prospects, Mr. LeFeber said.
Association for Rails to Trails Chairman brad Walters said, '"This is a major victory on the review path of this grant application. This project has come a tremendous distance since we formed our organization and undertook this project in January of this year".
Mr. LeFeber said the goal is to finish the project within two years. If the goal is realized, the project would serve as a model for future trail projects, he said.
The village of Little Valley is sponsoring the project and will be the site of a recreation area along the trail at the east end of Main Street.
Through a donation of materials, Mr. LeFeber said Rails to Trails has received and is storing the components to build a steel arch across the trail in Little Valley.
The structure would be called the "Friendship Arch" and would stand 40 feet tall and 100 feet across.
Rails to Trails is waiting to take possession of the rail line once the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency receives state approval.
The Friendship Arch will be built shortly after Rails to Trails takes possession of the property, he said.
Friday, October 29, 1999
Thursday, October 28, 1999
Cattaraugus Rails-to-Trails Application Clears Hurdle - The Post Journal
Cattaraugus Rails-to-Trails Application Clears Hurdle from the Thursday, October 28th, 1999 issue of The Post-Journal
By The POST-JOURNAL staff
LITTLE VALLEY - A $1.3 million grant application for the development of 12.4 miles of abandoned rail bed in Cattaraugus County has cleared another hurdle.
Little Valley Mayor Bonnie Bigelow and Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corp., announced Wednesday the Buffalo office of the state Transportation Department has completed its review of 31 projects applications and forwarded the local request to the state for review and possible approval.
Robert J. Russell, regional director for the state Transportation Department, informed Mrs. Bigelow I writing that the project was one of the 15 sent on for more review under the state's Transportation Enhancement Program.
A statewide Transportation Enhancement Advisory Committee will look over the application and the state Transportation Department commissioner is expected to make the final project selections by the end of the year.
The Cattaraugus IDA owns the rail bed and is seeking $1,316,500 to develop the site as a "Rails-to-Trails" facility. The Rails-to-Trails will run from the Salamanca city line to the village of Cattaraugus.
"This is a major victory on the review path of this grant application," said Brad Walters, Southern Tier Rails-to-Trails Association chairman. "This project has come a tremendous distance since we formed our organization and undertook this project in January of this year."
Little Valley is serving as the sponsor for the money request while the Cattaraugus IDA is the applicant.
"We have to be proud of the spirit and dedication that all the community leaders, politicians, civic/private organizations and municipalities have contributed to create a huge momentum to make this project a reality," LeFeber said. "This is a project that will contribute to our area's tourism and economic base."
By The POST-JOURNAL staff
LITTLE VALLEY - A $1.3 million grant application for the development of 12.4 miles of abandoned rail bed in Cattaraugus County has cleared another hurdle.
Little Valley Mayor Bonnie Bigelow and Rick LeFeber, executive director of the Cattaraugus Local Development Corp., announced Wednesday the Buffalo office of the state Transportation Department has completed its review of 31 projects applications and forwarded the local request to the state for review and possible approval.
Robert J. Russell, regional director for the state Transportation Department, informed Mrs. Bigelow I writing that the project was one of the 15 sent on for more review under the state's Transportation Enhancement Program.
A statewide Transportation Enhancement Advisory Committee will look over the application and the state Transportation Department commissioner is expected to make the final project selections by the end of the year.
The Cattaraugus IDA owns the rail bed and is seeking $1,316,500 to develop the site as a "Rails-to-Trails" facility. The Rails-to-Trails will run from the Salamanca city line to the village of Cattaraugus.
"This is a major victory on the review path of this grant application," said Brad Walters, Southern Tier Rails-to-Trails Association chairman. "This project has come a tremendous distance since we formed our organization and undertook this project in January of this year."
Little Valley is serving as the sponsor for the money request while the Cattaraugus IDA is the applicant.
"We have to be proud of the spirit and dedication that all the community leaders, politicians, civic/private organizations and municipalities have contributed to create a huge momentum to make this project a reality," LeFeber said. "This is a project that will contribute to our area's tourism and economic base."
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