The Adirondack Park Agency has announced a public comment period for Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance on proposals from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to amend the 1996 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan.
The State is planning to tear up part of the historic Adirondack Railroad line between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid for a multi-use trail.
The Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor is a State-owned historic railroad corridor, with its rails extending 119 miles through the Adirondack region. The two termini of the Corridor are the Village of Lake Placid in Essex County, and the Village of Remsen in Oneida County. Other notable villages and hamlets along the corridor include Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, Tupper Lake, Beaver River, Big Moose and Old Forge.
This 2020 Unit Management Plan Amendment/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to the 1996 UMP/EIS would establish rail-and-trail and trail-only segments within the Corridor.
The rails are expected to be retained Remsen to Tupper Lake, and the tracks removed from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid.
The Historic Preservation Plan (Appendix D of the UMP) discusses locations within the Tupper to Placid line to retain railroad features for interpretive purposes.
The 2020 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Proposed Final Amendment is available to view or download from the Adirondack Park Agency’s website.
The Public is encouraged to comment on how the proposal conforms to the guidelines and criteria of the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan is available to view or download from the Adirondack Park Agency’s website.
Address all written comments pertaining to Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance to:
Richard Weber
Deputy Director for Planning
NYS Adirondack Park Agency
P.O. Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Email – [email protected]
Submit all conformance comments to the APA by April 20, 2020.
UMPs are required by the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan for each unit of State land in the Adirondack Park. The plans integrate the goals and objectives of the Master Plan, related legislation, and resource and visitor use information into a single document.
Photo of rail line near Lake Clear Lodge by John Warren.
I think that N.Y. State is very badly mistaken to even consider removing the former NY Central RR Adirondack Branch between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid. The area ( and overall region) has plenty of bicycle and snowmobile trials as well as untold miles of hiking trails. But this is only one of three remaining rail lines that penetrate to the “heart” of the Adirondack Park. And it is the ONLY rail line that serves Lake Placid directly. The tearing up or this historic rail line would indeed be a major mistake and a real tragedy
They tore out a railroad in the Catskills and a major loss of tourism dollars has disappeared. I realize that the folks from New York City think that hiking trails are a good for the region, and many are, but they do little to attract those people that financially support businesses in the area. Most of them are “day trippers” and do little to no benefit to areas where tourism dollars are essential.
I believe this is a huge error in judgment and is being done to satisfy a group of non residents with money and power, not the ordinary residents who are the backbone of the Adirondack Park.
Once you tear it up you can never get it back.This is Adirondack history,just like the great camps.Snowmobile trails are all over,and more trails are being created every year.Leave the tracks alone!
Continue with the State’s plan! Rail to Tupper Lake, then bike trail to Lake Placid. The majority of the people that actually LIVE here want the bike trail. We are well aware of what the dodgy rail service did NOT provide.
Great to see you Boreas!
John,
Although I have never met you, I consider you a friend. Hopefully you are well. Good luck at your new digs and while I am not currently working, I will be reading!
Thanks Boreas. If you tell me how you pronounce Boreas, I’ll tell you how soon that will be, haha.
Just like Boreal, but with an “s”. Boreal is derived from Boreas, god of the North wind.
Ah, so I guess it will be when you return, lol.
Hi John;
Thanks for the link to your new site where it appears the rail/trail debate continues. I will keep it short and just agree with Boreas that 15 years of rail service did nothing to stop the increase in empty storefronts in Saranac Lake while businesses in Lake Placid never noticed whether the train was running or not. The NYC was ready to abandon the entire line in the 1950s because, even without the Northway and today’s “aggressive” winter plowing, people still wouldn’t ride the train to Lake Placid.
Oh boy, thanks Tony!
(Hi John!)
“…the heart of the Adirondacks” isn’t limited to Lake Placid.
Never fear. Tupper Lake will be a perfectly fine landing for visitors (and freight) after enjoying the historic 113-mile railroad excursion from Remson. I loved it as a kid. Rental cars (and local trucking) and lots of other fine services exist in Tupper Lake and other hearts of the Adirondacks too.
Ahhhh … another misleading, misinforming comment from Mr. Goodwin, he of the Adirondack KGB.
other than that, John, glad to know you are still publishing