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Railroad line or Recreation trail? We deserve both!

9/22/2011

3 Comments

 
In my backyard of the Adirondack Park there has been quite a debate regarding whether we should rip up the rails and use the salvage sales to fund a recreation trail or whether we should continue to use state subsidies to maintain a rail line that many consider a relic of the past. I think we deserve both. Some argue we can’t afford both and others argue that it is environmentally impossible or impractical at least.

My populist rationale may sound a bit whacky but hear me out. We have an economy where sixteen-and-a-half million Americans representing a little over 8% of U.S. households control almost two-thirds of the country's wealth. They get whatever they want. If they want a $40,000 surround sound video system they get it. If they want a $60,000 boxing ring in their New York City apartment they get it. If they want to buy $35,000 purses twice a year they buy them. A $200,000 watch? No problem, just buy it. If these people can waste their money on such absurdities while the federal government is subsidizing their businesses I think the lowly middle class ought to be able to get both a rail line AND a recreation trail. Don’t tell me it costs too much. It is a matter of priorities. I learned a long time ago that if a business, government, or even many a non-profit wants something bad enough they make it a priority and they get it. We have to make BOTH a priority.

There is an argument that the environmental challenges are just too great. Not so, they are just problems to solve. An example was given of the rail line across Lake Colby in Saranac Lake that is narrow and couldn’t possibly be crossed. There are numerous options. We just need to put on our creative thinking hats.

Here are a few suggestions:
  1. Route the trail to the north of the lake - there is already a snowmobile trail that goes around the backside of Camp Colby.
  2. Route the trail to the south of the lake - there is already a trail going to St. Bernard's Cemetery.
  3. If all else fails widen the trail. It can be done.
The same creativity can be used for every obstacle between here and Remson. If a wealthy business tycoon can spend five million dollars on one custom made car why can’t we have a parallel trail. It will only take a little creative thinking and a lot of money. This country has both, we just have to access it.

All the middle class has to do is rise up! You have nothing to lose but your chains!

Source:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/16/style-luxury-rich-forbeslife-cx_nr_0218style.html?feed=rss_forbeslife

3 Comments
Doug
9/22/2011 12:41:11 pm

We need both. This is why; once the rails are gone, the State will be pressured by wilderness advocates to combine NYS land management units and expand the borders of wilderness areas along the tracks. In wilderness areas snowmobiling is not permitted. There is already a move afoot in the DEC to expand the St. Regis Canoe Area south to at least the Floodwood Road. The only thing stopping this is the railroad tracks. I fear that some people supporting track removal have this as their true agenda.

Reply
Lisa
1/19/2012 09:53:39 pm

Why not both? I have been coming to the Adirondacks each and every year for 55 years and keep coming back because I feel the Adirondacks is my second home. Why not give folks the choice to enjoy the wilderness by either means they wish. What about those folks that want to visit the Adirondacks and take in the beautiful scenery that may be elderly, disabled or not have the means to see the sights except for traveling the rails? Years ago, generations of my family had private camps on the Racquette River (leased land) and all of a sudden they wanted it "forever wild" and we lost our camps we've had since the early 30s. Now the camps have been pilfered through, left to rot and one was burned to the ground. We kept care of the land and it was beautiful, now the forever wild looks a mess. While some land was taken back, others were allowed to remain. There is no rhyme or reason to some of the things that are voted on or put up for vote; they obviously are not thinking clearly. I understand the reasoning behind "forever wild", but to keep taking away..... that is just not reasonable. Maintain the beauty and at the same time let others come in to enjoy the beauty and festivities surrounding it.

Reply
Jack Drury
1/20/2012 01:39:03 am

Lisa, Thanks for your comment. I don't want you to mistake my support for both rails and trails as not supporting the Forest Preserve. I'm a big supporting of Forest Preserve and a even bigger supporter of Wilderness. I do believe however in more non-motorized recreational development of Wild Forests and obviously support the rails AND trails concept.
Thanks again for your comment.

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