Possible new Catskill rail trail

[Mark Schaefer]

Here is a link to an article on a possible new hike/bike rail trail from Kingston to Highmount (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15985980&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969). I will try to keep my enthusiasm in check, but this really made my day.

The trail would be readily accessible from the Trailways bus station in Kingston and from a commuter parking lot near the Kingston exit on the NYS Thruway. It would link up to a number of hiking trails on Belleayre, Panther, and in the Woodland Valley (the planned Long Path reroute over Romer Mountain). It would also have access to kayak and tubing areas on the Esopus Creek. Several long sections of the railroad run along the shore of the Ashokan Reservoir, the new scenic vistas that this open up will be numerous. A portion of the railroad runs through state land that is part of the Bluestone Wild Forest, so a trail link to Onteora Lake trail system should be possible. Some highlights from the article on an upcoming workshop:
A public workshop is scheduled for Feb. 9 on the feasibility of a trail from Kingston Point Park to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center on the Delaware County line.

The workshop, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Olive Town Meeting Hall on Bostock Road in Shokan, will explore issues associated with the creation of a pedestrian and bicycle trail, said Bill Tobin, the principal transportation planner with the Ulster County Planning Department.

[Iceman]

Mark,

Is there any update on this? From reading the comments it doesn't look like its going to happen. I personally enjoy riding on long rail trails because I don't have to worry about discourteous drivers trying to run me off the road.

Iceman

[Jay H]

Well, you can already see the nice bike path alongside 209 south of Rt 28... As part of, I think the D&H railtrail that is kind of very spotty between northeast PA, Port Jervis and towards Kingston.


I find this statement odd:

The agency is concerned that people might be tempted to swim in the reservoir, he said.

But they are not concerned about fishermen?

Jay

[Mark Schaefer]

A fairly active UCTC - Rail Trail Committee (http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/planning/rtrail.html) has formed and done a lot of study work documented as PDFs on their website. So the concept is not dead. It may be many years before anything is open though. There will be many challenges. The Catskill Mountain Railroad (http://www.catskillmtrailroad.com/) still operates a scenic ride and tuber transportation (Esopus Creek) on a 6 mile section. There is also a section of the railroad near High Street in Phoenicia which is completely washed away -- an area known as the Railroad Rapids where whitewater races are held. All of that means that any rail trail may have some sections on back roads, but I think it would still be feasible. My understanding is that Ulster County owns the entire right of way.

Just a brief note about the Kingston Daily Freeman newspaper's "Reader Comments" section. I have noticed opposition to just about anything there (as is seen from the link in the original post). It is a place where some people vent (which is good), but is often not representative of the general public opinion, nor indicative of what is going to happen.