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Grant awarded to assess the historic, high trestle Cascade Bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek between the Towns of Concord and Ashford, and determine a cost estimate for a new decking design. < Back Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Awarded $278,800 EPF Grant through NYS Parks Deborah Stellrecht Dec 21, 2023 Grant awarded to assess the historic, high trestle Cascade Bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek between the Towns of Concord and Ashford, and determine a cost estimate for a new decking design. (December 21, 2023) Orchard Park, N.Y.: In the latest round of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Initiative awards, Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Inc. has been awarded an Environmental Protection Fund - Parks, Preservation and Heritage Grant of $278,800 through NYS Parks. These funds, along with a grant from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation , as well as ECRT funds, will be used to assess the historic, high trestle Cascade Bridge spanning Cattaraugus Creek between the Towns of Concord and Ashford, and determine a cost estimate for a new decking design incorporating features based on public and stakeholder input. ECRT will also design and construct a trail approaching from the north to the bridge. This key bridge will be a highlight of the ECRT and future Southern Tier Trail. This award is the result of ECRT’s successful Cascade Bridge Planning and Trail Development Environmental Protection Fund grant application made to NYS through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) . ECRT President Mary Brummer announced the award, stating, “This grant presents an exciting opportunity. The historic and architectural features of the Cascade Bridge provide a unique foundation on which to build. We look forward to working with the residents and elected officials in the Towns of Concord and Ashford to create a bridge design that our entire region will enjoy.” NYS Senator Partick M. Gallivan (R-C, Elma) announced , “This funding represents an investment in our regional assets and will enhance the experience for residents and visitors alike. I applaud the municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, and others for working in collaboration to identify these projects, which will promote growth, tourism and economic development.” “We are excited about the collaboration that has resulted in an amazing opportunity to reimagine the Cascade Bridge. We are thankful for the work of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to support this effort to create new opportunities for recreation, tourism, and economic development. This historic bridge and beautiful natural setting will provide an amazing connection between Erie and Cattaraugus Counties along the Southern Tier Trail,” said JJ Tighe, Director of Parks & Trails for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. From the 1850s through the 1870s, the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad (BPRR) provided a direct route to and from the Pennsylvania coal mines. Passenger service began in the Buffalo division in 1883, and the railroad named some of its locomotives after the towns along its route; e.g. Ashford, Glenwood, Orchard Park, Springville, and West Valley. Passenger service became so popular, the railroad started offering multiple excursions to the Southern Tier. Cascade Park was known for its beautiful, natural setting. The bridge is 185 feet high and 780 feet long. Its 200-foot-high banks, caves, and waterfalls made it the perfect location for picnics and parties in the early 1900s. Passenger service came to an end on the division in 1955. Freight service continued into the 1960s. BPRR officially ceased service in 2008 and applied to the federal Surface Transportation Board for the ability to railbank 27 miles of the corridor from Orchard Park to Ashford. In 2018, ECRT acquired a long-term rail-banking lease which calls for the creation of a multiuse recreational trail along this former rail corridor. Previous Next

An archive of ECRT News articles prior to 2023. News Archive 2023 01.01.2023 Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Welcomes New Board President 2022 10.18.2022 Riders in Charity Event Raise $50,000 for Rail Trail 06.16.2022 Town Issues Support for Rail to Trail Efforts in Aurora 06.16.2022 Volunteers Clean Rail Trail on National Trails Day 04.13.2022 ECRT Inc. Retains Local Design Firm for Rail Trail Plan: Nussbaumer & Clarke to Develop Plan for 3.5 mile Orchard Park Section 2021 11.01.2021 Newsletter 10.14.2021 Inaugural Bike Ride Raises $50,000 For Nonprofit 07.29.2021 Girl Scouts community Project Benefits Rail Trail in Orchard Park 06.17.2021 ECRT volunteers clean up trail on National Trails Day 06.05.2021 National Trails Day 05.13.2021 Fundraising Event to Benefit Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail 04.01.2021 Key Orchard Park benefactors of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Gather in Springville 2020 10.08.2020 Bike Raffle Winners Announced 08.27.2020 ECRT Fundraiser Set for Sept. 12 08.13.2020 OP Section Opening 2019 01.23.19 Rails to Trail Conservancy 01.15.19 Buffalo News Everybody's Column: Linear Park is Beneficial to Our Region 01.07.19 Buffalo News Editorial: Trails are Safer Than Abandoned Rail Beds 2018 12.20.18 Orchard Park Bee: Editorial 09.13.18 Springville Times: Rail Trail Development Gets Boost Following Agreement Signing 09.10.18 Springville Journal: Erie Catt Rail Trail Secures Agreement 09.06.18 Erie County Legislator John Mills Support Rail Banking Agreement 08.30.18 East Aurora Advertiser: Local Rail Trail Secures Agreement 08.26.18 Buffalo News Editorial: Rail-to-Trail Projects Benefit Communities 08.23.18 Orchard Park Bee: Rail Banking Agreement Paves Way for 27-mile Southtowns Trail 08.17.18 WBFO FM-88: Work to Begin On WNY'S Longest Rail Trail 08.17.18 Buffalo News: 27-mile Trail On Old Rail Line to Link Ashford, Orchard Park 08.06.18 ECRT, Inc., Secures Long-Term Rail Banking Agreement With Buffalo Pittsburgh Railroad 2017 01.15.17 WBFO FM 88.7 ECRT Co-Chair Interviewed Regarding Gov. Cuomo's Proposed NYS Trail Syste m 2016 11.25.16 The Buffalo News endorses the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail 09.14.16 Springville Section of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail to Open October 5 2015 07.09.15 Change of Leadership at ECRT Sees Group Rolling Ahead on Trail Development 2014 03.05.14 ECRT Awarded Mini-Grant from Parks and Trails New York 2013 11.09.13 ECRT is Featured on WGRZ Channel 2, Buffalo 02.15.13 ECRT Awarded grant from Parks & Trails New York 01.15.13 ECRT Awarded Mini-grant from Parks and Trails New York 2012 01.15.12 Annual Newsletter Released 2011  06.02.11 Is this Springville's Own Golden Tourism Opportunity? 05.30.11 Trail Use Benefits Even Harshest Critics 05.24.11 Trails Deserve Support Because of Many Public Benefits 02.06.11 Springville Winter Trail Walk to be Held Sat. Feb. 19, 2011 2010 02.18.10 ECRT Awarded Grants from Parks and Trails New York 2009 10.01.09 Famed Timpanist Shares Trail Success Story with ECRT 05.20.09 Orchard Park Residents Show Strong Trail Support 02.06.09 Orchard Park Press: OP Better Off with 'Official' Rail Trail 02.02.09 Village of Springville Passes Resolution in Favor of Trail

Volunteers are Always Welcomed and Needed Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) is gaining momentum in our mission to create "A scenic Southtowns Rail-Trail for enjoying nature and connecting communities." Through months of pandemic and beyond, hundreds of people have walked, run, skied and snowshoed the beautiful tree-lined natural surface trail on the 2-mile Orchard Park town section as well as the newly completed and opened 1.3-mile section from the Orchard Park Depot to Jewett-Holmwood Road in the Orchard Park Village. Another 8 mil es of trail are open to the public in Springville and Concord NY, allowing hundreds access to picturesque land for winter sports and summer walks, runs and bike rides. Development of this scenic 27-mile recreational trail is well underway. To make the leap into major improvements, requires strategic planning, financing and qualified, dedicated individuals to join our energetic, creative, and talented team. Let us pool our talents to create the Southtowns community treasure we envision. Could this be your moment? If you are passionate about developing the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, and want to help build a legacy for years to come, we have several exciting opportunities to get involved with our volunteer organization: Development Leadership: Work to identify and cultivate relationships with institutional benefactors, corporate sponsors, and individual philanthropists Grants Writer: Identify and apply to relevant public and private funders Fundraising Leadership: Formulate community fundraising activities and annual campaign Event Planner: Assist in planning, logistics, and execution of local ECRT events Paralegal/Contracts Attorney: Assist in preparing contracts and formal correspondence to ECRT stakeholders Communication/Public Relations: Advocate for the trail, and keep our supporters informed through various media and events; p hotography, especially at events; Social media and newsletter content creation Community Engagement: Plan and execute meetings to update the public and to receive feedback Recruitment: Recruit enthusiastic trail supporters to join the team Trail Maintenance: Install signs, clean up fallen limbs, record/report trail maintenance problems, identify maintenance needs If you'd like to volunteer, we would like to meet you! Please fill out and complete our Volunteer Form below to start the conversation. Volunteer Sign-up First name Last name Email Phone Multi-line address Country/Region Address City Zip / Postal code Yes, I want to receive ECRT News and Updates via email. What volunteer areas would you like to assist with? Check all that apply: Multi choice Trail Maintenance Social Media Event Planner Event Volunteer Board Member Graphic Designer Marketing Public/Community Relations Grant Writer/Administrator Recruitment Communications Writer/Editor Legal/Paralegal Finance/Accounting Other Photographer/Videographer Please sign your name here to verify that you are 18 years of age or older. Drawing mode selected. Drawing requires a mouse or touchpad. For keyboard accessibility, select Type or Upload. Submit Meet Our Volunteers

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Jim Slominski ECRT relies on board member Jim Slominski for his deep knowledge and dedication to preserving railroad history. A current trustee of the Western New York Railroad Historical Society and chair of the Orchard Park Depot Committee, Jim became involved with ECRT due to a primary interest in preserving the integrity of the former Buffalo-Pittsburg Railroad right-of-way. He recalls what happened in Hamburg when the Buffalo & Susquehanna line was discontinued: “The right-of-way was completely obliterated. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find any intact sections of original corridor.” A lifelong resident of Orchard Park, from a very early age, Jim grew up near train tracks. “I was fascinated with anything that had to do with trains. When we lived on Liberty Drive off Taylor Road, I could watch trains come and go from our family room.” The Orchard Park Depot Committee was formed by like-minded railroad buffs in 1980 with a common desire to restore the depot and its storied surroundings. Jim joined in 1981 and has been an active member ever since. The hard work of restoration began in the early 1980s when then depot owner, Ed Burke, expressed interest in donating the site to the organization. In the decades following, everything from new wiring and plumbing to exterior restoration projects were undertaken with support from generous individual donations and from the efforts of local legislators. Most recently, Scott Bieler, CEO of West Herr Automotive Group, provided funds enabling significant renovations to both the interior and exterior of the site. The depot is now dedicated to his family. One very large project remains: restoring and retiling the roof, a project that could cost up to $1,000,000. “We also need to find a company with the skills and the will to undertake this hands-on, labor-intensive project.” Jim graduated from Canisius College with a degree in accounting. Prior to graduation, he participated in a work-study cooperative program with the IRS. Upon graduation, he began a 34-year career with the IRS advancing from a revenue agent to that of an appeals officer and finally as a liaison to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. During the course of his career, Jim was a member of the IRS instructor cadre, worked closely with the IRS litigation division, served on a number of task forces and authored various training books and procedural manuals. An ECRT board member since 2012, Jim is delighted with the trail’s noticeable, significant progress over the past four years or so. “I can’t wait for the new section to open up connecting the trail to the depot. It will have an enormous, positive effect on the Village. You’ll see people using the trail on a regular basis to come to the Village to visit the library, to shop or to attend events. I predict we’ll see a lot more interest in and activity around depot which, of course, we welcome!” The Orchard Park Depot Committee is always looking for people interested in volunteering. “My wish list would include new members willing to help with events and interact with visitors to the depot. And if you have a background in construction, maintenance or any of the trades, we’d welcome your time, skills and support!” More volunteers

Contact Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Contact Please feel free to contact us with questions, membership requests, or for general information Phone: 716-771-BIKE (716-771-2453) Email: info@ecattrail.org Address: PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127 Your details were sent successfully! Send

There are many ways you can give to the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Here are some of the many ways that you can contribute to building the trail. Give generously to help us build YOUR trail! Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered with New York State. Your financial support is greatly appreciated, and every dollar goes into improving the rail trail. Please give if you’re able to. How to Give Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail uses Zeffy to process online donations securely and with no fees. To give, simply fill out the simple donation form below. Make your gift go further: Does your employer match employees’ charitable donations? You might be able to double your gift to ECRT! Prefer to send a check? Please mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. NYS Charitable Donation Disclosures ECRT is an all-volunteer charitable organization. All funds received are dedicated to promotion, design, and construction of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. The latest financial report from ECRT may be obtained from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau's Website - www.charitiesnys.com , or by written request to Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. Information about charities may be obtained by calling the NYS Attorney General at (212) 416-8686. More Ways to Give

Our Board of Directors Future Trail

Aerial tour of the future trail via drone! Enjoy this Virtual Tour of the ECRT Trail! The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is over 27 miles long and runs from Orchard Park to Ashford, crossing through five municipalities and joining two counties. While the ECRT Board is wo rking with key partners and funders to build the blueprint for the trail, we invite you to enjoy a virtual tour of the trail built from drone footage of the following sections: Springville E. Concord Colden West Falls Orchard Park Springville Section is Open Now is a great time to get outside and reconnect with nature, a constant throughout this COVID-19 crisis. And the perfect place to do that safely is on a trail. That includes the open section of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Pop Warner trail in Springville. It’s a great resource for the whole family!

Volunteer spotlight on Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail neighbors and volunteers, Tim and Lisa Scheidel. Tim and Lisa Scheidel Tim and Lisa Scheidel have spent the past 38 years enjoying their beautiful Sharp Street home in the Town of Concord, in large part due to its proximity to what is now the ECRT trail. Their property features an expansive lawn with magnificent, mature trees. The backyard perimeter slopes about 5’ to meet the trail. Access is made easy, as the Scheidels installed and maintain a convenient stairway that they and their dog Torque use on a regular basis. “We were using the corridor even back when it was still an active railroad,” admits Lisa. “It’s a great place to see all kinds of wildlife. It’s like having a park in your own backyard.” Tim, a construction worker with Ingall’s Site Development, does extensive mowing on the trail, generally from Middle Road to Genesee, and often cleans up storm damage, such as felled branches and trees. Lisa, a school bus driver, enjoys long walks on the trail where she encounters all kinds of people–from horseback riders to joggers. Both keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report incidents promptly to the ECRT maintenance team. “We see all kinds of people using the trail. We see walkers and bikers of all ages. It’s the perfect place for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, when the weather allows, and a great place for kids to get outdoors and exercise year-round. And you can get from one place to another without using the roads,” notes Lisa. The couple looks forward to some surface improvements in places where the ballast is prominent, as then even more cyclists and walkers could then use and enjoy the trail. They also realize how important the trail is for local business. Tim, an avid snowmobiler, noted how his sport brings significant income to the area. For the Scheidels, every season brings a different kind of beauty to their section of the trail. Tim shared several fall and winter trailscapes with me, captured on his cell phone. The trail has become such an integral part of their daily lives and has clearly brought them great joy and pleasure. Thanks for all the support and trail work, Tim and Lisa, and keep enjoying “your trail!” More volunteers

Trail Neighbors "Without this trail, my son would not have learned to inline skate at such an early age, nor bicycled on his own over to his grandmother's house, who lives near the other end of the trail. Without this trail my neighbor and I wouldn't have taken up our early morning walks. Without this trail people wouldn't be able to link up as quickly or easily or safely with other trails in communities next to ours." - Kristine Poelzer, Former Trail Opponent If you live adjacent to the proposed trail, chances are you have questions and concerns. Rest assured, trails make better neighbors than trains! Numerous studies have shown that trails do not negatively affect property values or safety. Here are just a few studies: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: Trail Benefits Report University of Nebraska at Omaha: Trail Neighbors Study Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: Safety Study of 372 Trails Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: Economic Impact Study Trail Neighbors: Before and After the Trail  As part of our community outreach initiative, it is our goal to address your questions and concerns. Many of you enthusiastically support the proposed trail conversion, including several property owners adjacent to the trail who are eager to begin using it. However, if you have concerns, here are answers to frequently asked questions: 01 Doesn't the railroad want to abandon the corridor? Why are you interfering? Can't we just let them abandon it? Abandonment is a technical term used by the Surface Transportation Board. It refers to abandonment of rail service fro m the line, not abandonment of the railroad's ownership of the line. If the Surface Transportation Board allows a rail line to be abandoned, the railroad still owns it until it officially liquidates the property through a real property sale. In 1983, Congress enacted legis lation aimed at preserving our nation's disappearing rail infrastructure through railbanking and interim trail use. This legislation allows railroads to transfer title and easements to a private or public organization to use the line as an interim trail. At the same time, the corridor is preserved should there ever need to reinstate rail traffic in the future. 02 Can't I buy the rail property behind my house or have the railroad deed it to me? A railroad's core business and primary source of revenue is moving goods from Point A to Point B. Railroads are not in the real estate business. Like any business though, a railroad will desire to liquidate and divest underutilized assets, however it is impractical and financially prohibitive for a railroad to engage in hundreds of real property transactions each time it wishes to divest a line. Additionally, Congressional enacted legislation is aimed at railbanking unused rail corridors to preserve our nation's valuable infrastructure for future use. If a railroad sells part of the line, the corridor is forever broken. Moreover, it is unrealistic to think that each of the hundreds of landowners bordering the line would be interested in purchasing it. Therefore, the railroad would still be left with ownership interests in an underutilized asset. Even if the railroad deeded the property to all adjacent landowners, some would not want it. Therefore, railroads often desire to divest a line via one transaction: either through railbanking or sale to a utility company. 03 What effect will a trail have on my property value? Numerous studies show that trails have neutral to positive effects on neighboring property values. Some realtors have reported that homes near trails sell faster and at a premium vs. those homes that are not located near the trail. You can read one such study here . Trails are among the top five amenities homebuyers look for when deciding where to move. Homes near trails sell faster, and home values increase the closer they are to the trail. 04 What about safety? Won't a trail invite criminals into my yard? Trails have excellent safety records. Statistics show that trails have significantly lower crime rates than the communities they are located in. In fact, a utilized trail is less of a "crime magnet" than an abandoned rail corridor. Consider that criminals and vandals are more likely to use an abandon rail corridor as a "dark alley" or escape route vs. a trail that is actively used by citizens with eyes, ears, and cell phones. You can read a study on the safety record of 372 trails here . The ECRT trail will be open from dawn to dusk. Signage with rules and a local telephone contact number will be posted along the trail. Besides employing a proven volunteer "neighborhood watch/patrol", the ECRT will coordinate with local police and first responders to ensure community safety is maintained and concerns are addressed. ECRT will work with adjacent property owners to ensure privacy and safety. Design, good trail management and regulation enforcement can mitigate privacy and safety concerns. Who will police the trail? Just as the local authorities would respond to an emergency on the corridor now, they will in the future as well. Moreover, the trail will also have the benefit of having more eyes, ears, and cellphones on the corridor than it does now. Besides employing a proven volunteer "neighborhood watch/patrol", the ECRT will coordinate with local police and first responders to ensure community safety is maintained and concerns are addressed. Trail surface conditions will allow access by first responders when necessary. 05 06 What about liability? The New York State General Obligations Law, Recreational Use Statute § 9-103, removes liability from use of the trail for recreational purposes. Moreover, homeowners are not liable to a trespasser or anyone who entered an adjacent property without permission. Additionally, ECRT has purchased our own comprehensive insurance program for the trail system. 07 What's this going to cost? Will my taxes go up? The trail may be funded by a combination of private endowments, and/or appropriated State and Federal grants. These grants are earmarked for trail development and recreation and will be spent elsewhere if not spent on this trail, therefore use of thes e grants will not add to your tax burden. Additionally, converting the rail corridor to a trail will not create a significant loss of tax revenue for the communities through which the trail passes. Due to the age of the rail corridor, tax assessments are very low. Most communities have their portion of the line assessed for only a few thousand dollars: the equivalent tax revenue from one single family home. Increases in home values and additional sales tax revenue from trail visitors will help offset any minor losses. 08 What about noise and snowmobiles? A trail is a much better neighbor than a train. While many neighbors can remember being awoken at 2 am by a passing freight train, a trail is much quieter than a train. In some areas, snowmobiles may only be permitted to use the trail under low power as a way for local residents to access connecting snowmobile trails, but not for through travel. Consider that if snowmobiles are allowed on portions of the trail, they are strictly regulated. NYS requires that snowmobiles adhere to specific decibel restrictions (often quieter than your neighbor's snowblower). Additionally, snowmobiles must have at least 6 inches of snow on top of frozen ground to travel. This limits the days in the year to which they can travel to only a dozen or so. Note, based on feedback from the Erie County Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, and community feedback, it has been determined that snowmobiling will not be a permitted trail activity in the Village and Town of Orchard Park. 09 Will ATVs and dirt bikes be allowed on the corridor? No. These types of motorized vehicles are prohibited.

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