Ashokan Rail Trail Needs your support

[GG]

Thursday Nov 2 anyone who is available needs to show up to show support for the Ashokan Rail Trail.

Where: Ulster County Legislative Chambers
When: Nov 2 - arrive early (5:30) for session that begins at 6:00 pm
Why: More opportunities to ride our bike on safe, beautiful trails and rail trails

[GG]

We still need to show our support for the Ashokan Rail Trail Please read below and hope to see you on Tuesday!!

Hi Guys!
On behalf of Kevin Smith, I'm reaching out to ask that you help spread the word about the upcoming UC vote on Tuesday (to approve the construction of the Ashokan Rail Trail!!) The anti-trail contingency is playing dirty as part of its last ditch efforts and we want to make sure the county hears how much positive support there is across all fronts. Here's a template you can use to send to your folks. Your help and support is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Let;s Build This Trail!
--hilary

Dear members of ____________ [biking or other group]:

Ulster County is on the verge of constructing a state of the art, 11-mile long, handicapped accessible trail at the Ashokan Reservoir! In addition to opening these lands to the public, without permit or fee, for multiple recreational uses, the trail will return in health and economic benefits more than $3 for every $1 invested. During the construction phase alone, the following benefits will accrue:

- A little over $3 Million from Ulster County is leveraged with grants from NYS and NYC to cover a $10 Million environmental showcase project

- Design and construction dollars are going to local engineers and contractors, Taylor Montgomery, Barton & Loguidice, and A. Servidone, all located within 55 miles of the Reservoir

- Scores of local workers will be employed, some of whom have already been supporting businesses during the pre-construction phase by spending dollars in the Route 28 corridor for food, gas, and supplies

Additional economic, health, and recreational benefits have been projected for the trail once it is open, and top-level environmental designs have been incorporated to protect the Ashokan Reservoir, a gem of the Catskills, and the drinking water source for over 8 million people in New York City.

The initial phase of the project was completed just this week. The rails are out, along with 35,000 decomposing creosote ties; over 2000 dead and dying ash trees have been felled and chipped; and the rail bed has been prepped for constructing the final trail. All done without a single cent of Ulster County money.
Only four more resolutions require approval next week for the project to be fully launched.

We look forward to riding, running and walking this trail, and we support it as a great investment for our community! The 12’-wide trail will have zero cross streets for 11 miles paralleling Route 28. It is the “missing link” to circumnavigating the Reservoir safely without riding the Route 28 shoulder, and the trail will be the “Go-To” for parents and visitors with young children, adults not wanting to ride bikes in traffic, commuters, seniors, people with illnesses & disabilities, Onteora School District sports teams, clubs and community events, you name it. It will truly be “Our Trail.”

Please write or call your legislator (http://ulstercountyny.gov/legislature/legislative-members), or the legislature as a whole (c/o Vicky Fabella, Clerk of the Legislature: [email protected]) in support of constructing the trail, and plan to join us at the Ulster County Office Building (244 Fair Street, Kingston 12401) on Tuesday, July 17th, at 7 pm. And Please do join us after the votes (location TBD) for a party to celebrate the entire trail network being built out in Ulster County.

Let's build this trail!
___________ (signer)

[GG]

Hi Y’all — this it. Pls help us fill the room on Tuesday by attending and getting others there. Arrive 6:30 to reserve a seat and pls sign up to speak even if you don’t plan to.

Thx so much - Kevin



TO ALL ASHOKAN RAIL TRAIL SUPPORTERS

CALL TO ACTION – ATTEND ULSTER COUNTY LEGISLATURE MEETING

WHEN: TUESDAY, JULY 17, 7PM (arrive by 6:30-6:40 to reserve a seat)

WHERE: ULSTER COUNTY BLG, 244 FAIR ST., KINGSTON NY, 6TH FLR

WHAT: After 5 years of preparation, Ulster County is on the verge of approving final construction of a state of the art 11-mile, handicapped accessible trail at the Ashokan Reservoir!

WHY: In addition to opening these lands to the public year-round, without permit or fee, for multiple recreational uses, the trail will return in health and economic benefits more than $3 for every $1 invested. During the construction phase alone, the following benefits will accrue:


- A little over $3 Million from Ulster County is leveraged with $6.6M in grants from NYS and NYCDEP to pay for a $10 Million environmental showcase project


- Design and construction dollars are going to local engineers and contractors, Taylor Montgomery, Barton & Loguidice, and A. Servidone, all located within 55 miles of the Reservoir


- Scores of local workers will be employed, some of whom have already been supporting businesses during the pre-construction phase by spending dollars in the Route 28 corridor for food, gas, and supplies


The initial phase of the project was completed just last week. The rails are out along with 35,000 decomposing creosote ties; over 2000 dead and dying ash trees have been felled and chipped; and the rail bed has been prepped for constructing the final trail – all done without a single cent of Ulster County money. And in two legal decisions at the federal and state level over the last two weeks, Ulster County’s legal position and rights have been upheld including to build the Ashokan Rail Trail. Only four more resolutions require approval this Tuesday night at 7pm for the project to be fully launched. But opposition persists and we can’t let up. We have strong bipartisan support in the Legislature, but we will need every vote, as one of the resolutions requires a 16-vote “super-majority”.


We look forward to riding, running, walking, skiing and strolling along the trail, and we support it as a great investment for our community! The 12’-wide trail will have zero cross streets for 11 miles paralleling Route 28. It is the “missing link” to circumnavigating the Reservoir safely on a bicycle without riding the Route 28 shoulder, and the trail will be the “Go-To” for parents with young children, adults not wanting to ride bikes in traffic, commuters, seniors, visitors, people with illnesses & disabilities, Onteora School District sports teams, clubs and community events, you name it. The Ashokan Rail Trail will truly be “Our Trail”.

Additional economic, health, and recreational benefits have been projected for the trail once it is open, and top-level environmental designs have been incorporated to protect the Ashokan Reservoir, a gem of the Catskills and the drinking water source for over 9 million people in New York City and some in the Hudson Valley. The finished trail will be a model of environmentally responsible trail design.


Please join us at the Ulster County Office Building (244 Fair Street, Kingston 12401) on Tuesday, July 17th, at 7 pm. Let’s thank the Legislature for their strong bipartisan leadership and partnership with the County Executive, and make “ART” a reality!

And if you are not able to attend, please forward this email and these links to trail supporters:

https://www.facebook.com/events/751038418620794/


Please write or call your legislator (http://ulstercountyny.gov/legislature/legislative-members), or the legislature as a whole (c/o Vicky Fabella, Clerk of the Legislature: [email protected]) in support of constructing the trail. And Please do join us after the votes at Santa Fe Kingston for a party to celebrate the entire trail network being built out in Ulster County.


Let's build this trail!

Kevin Smith



Kevin D. Smith, Chairman
Woodstock Land Conservancy
845-481-0068
[email protected]

[jamesframes]

In for the meeting tonight-

Please join us at the Ulster County Office Building (244 Fair Street, Kingston 12401) on Tuesday, July 17th, at 7 pm. Let’s thank the Legislature for their strong bipartisan leadership and partnership with the County Executive, and make “ART” a reality!
_________________
If I can bicycle, I bicycle.
David Attenborough




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