THE FACTS ABOUT THE ASHOKAN RAIL-TRAIL AGREEMENT

FALSE TRUE

Rail with trail is an option for the Ashokan section of the countys railroad easement.

NYCDEP has clearly stated its long-term position that rail with trail along its Reservoir property will not be allowed.

Once the rails are removed, the easement could be cancelled and the right of way jeopardized.

The agreement specifically protects the Countys perpetual railroad easement. That perpetual easement is not changed by the removal of the rail.

At any time the Trail can be closed by DEP. This agreement actually opens lands that have been closed to the public for over 100 years. The NYCDEP will only be allowed to close the trail temporarily to protect public health and safety in the event of serious threats to its drinking water supply. DEP can effectively already do this. The Ashokan section of the corridor has not run freight trains since 1976 nor passenger trains since 1954.

Trailhead locations are solely determined and controlled by the NYCDEP.

The trailhead locations, design, and parking capacity will be determined through a community planning process with input from the legislature, local municipalities, area residents, and nearby businesses.

The trail surface will not be high quality or able to accommodate high speed bikes.

A variety of surfaces can be considered in the trail design, including permeable asphalt. Professionally constructed trails & surfaces accommodate a wide range of bicycles including many road bicycles, as well as comply with ADA specifications.

This agreement has not been subject to sufficient review.

The terms of agreement have been discussed publicly since December 2013. The agreement was negotiated, in good faith, after the legislature passed resolution 275 in August 2014. The final contract was submitted to Ulster County on April 20, 2015 and reviewed by its legal counsel. The Legislature regularly approves contracts for revenues and services that are submitted by the prior months resolution deadline, as this contract was.

There is no need to move quickly to secure and obtain the $2.5 million in funding from the NYCDEP

The DEP funding is available in the current City of New York fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2015. There is no guarantee that the (currently unsecured) funding remains available without a signed agreement.