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Recently retired, Murray spent his entire career at Praxair and its former parent company, Union Carbide. Following college in 1981, he joined Union Carbide Plastics and Chemicals in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada as a project engineer. After assignments in plant operations and new product production at that facility, he transferred to the gases division in Toronto. This eventually became Praxair Inc. and Murray held assignments in operations, maintenance, plant operations, facilities planning, and sales before becoming Managing Director for Canada in 1999. In 2002, he transferred to the Tonawanda, New York technical center to assume responsibility for North American industrial gas operations. His next assignment in 2005 was President of Praxair Asia, based in Shanghai, China with accountability for the South Korea, China, Thailand, and India regions. He returned to the United States in 2009, again based in Tonawanda, to lead the global operations and procurement groups and, subsequently, to lead the Global Supply Systems (GSS) group that was responsible for the development, design, project management, and construction of the non-hydrogen facilities for Praxair. Murray held this role from 2010 to 2015 until his retirement. Murray received a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from York University (Toronto). < Back Murray Covello Recently retired, Murray spent his entire career at Praxair and its former parent company, Union Carbide. Following college in 1981, he joined Union Carbide Plastics and Chemicals in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada as a project engineer. After assignments in plant operations and new product production at that facility, he transferred to the gases division in Toronto. This eventually became Praxair Inc. and Murray held assignments in operations, maintenance, plant operations, facilities planning, and sales before becoming Managing Director for Canada in 1999. In 2002, he transferred to the Tonawanda, New York technical center to assume responsibility for North American industrial gas operations. His next assignment in 2005 was President of Praxair Asia, based in Shanghai, China with accountability for the South Korea, China, Thailand, and India regions. He returned to the United States in 2009, again based in Tonawanda, to lead the global operations and procurement groups and, subsequently, to lead the Global Supply Systems (GSS) group that was responsible for the development, design, project management, and construction of the non-hydrogen facilities for Praxair. Murray held this role from 2010 to 2015 until his retirement. Murray received a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from York University (Toronto). Previous Next

Partner, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC Environmental/Brownfields, Land/Use Zoning, Energy, Municipal, Administrative and Litigation Attorney < Back Marc Romanowski Partner, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC Environmental/Brownfields, Land/Use Zoning, Energy, Municipal, Administrative and Litigation Attorney Previous Next

Partnership will gather and analyze Community feedback < Back ECRT and UB invite Public input on trail plans Mary Brummer Sep 10, 2024 Partnership will gather and analyze Community feedback As part of its ongoing effort to develop a multiuse recreational trail in the Southtowns, ECRT is specifically targeting input from residents in Orchard Park and Colden for their viewpoints on trail development. “It has been some years since we sat down with residents and formally collected their thoughts on the project. As we consider developing the next sections of trail, we will be guided by the visions of each community”, said ECRT President Mary Brummer. State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning has structured a fall semester graduate course around the process of community engagement. Two free workshop-style meetings will be facilitated by the UB Planning graduate students to gather ideas, dreams, visions, and concerns from residents. UB faculty, Dr. Kelly Gregg, advised, “Engaging community stakeholders will be a critical part of the design process and project development for the ECRT. The students are looking forward to meeting with residents and helping to understand all viewpoints and ultimately assist the ECRT in project development.“ Meetings will be held in two locations and will build on each other, so interested residents are asked to attend both sessions for the full duration. The first meeting will take place at the Orchard Park Community Activity Center on September 25 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm . The second meeting will take place at the Colden Fire Company on October 30 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm . Pre-registration is required and may be found below and at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AA5A62CA5F9CE9-50690046-ecrt#/ . Following the two engagement meetings, the UB students will synthesize the community feedback into future visions for building the trail. These visions will be presented at a summary meeting and public celebration held on December 10 at 6:30 pm at the Orchard Park Community Activity Center . In addition to the community engagement sessions for Orchard Park and Colden a community wide survey is underway to better understand residents’ perspectives of existing and future use of the trail. The survey link is https://sunybuffalo.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6SDQzg4sOV2yB5I?Q_CHL=qr and the QR code is below. About State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning: Embedded in our urban contexts here and around the world, we approach the study and practice of architecture, urban planning and real estate development hands on, full scale, and all in. The University at Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning offers graduate and undergraduate paths of study in architecture, urban planning and real estate development, all within the most comprehensive public research university in the Northeast. Learn more about the life and programs of the school at https://archplan.buffalo.edu/ . Previous Next

Steve has over 32 years of banking industry experience as a Financial / Strategic Planning Consultant to the Banking Industry and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of FinPro Inc. Steve currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Country Bank in MA. Steve is an avid biker and trail rider and has ridden on a wide range of rail trails across 12 states. Steve believes the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a very valuable asset to the Western NY community and is excited by the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated group at ECRT to complete and open the entire 27 miles of trail to public use. < Back Steve Musso Steve has over 32 years of banking industry experience as a Financial / Strategic Planning Consultant to the Banking Industry and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of FinPro Inc. Steve currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Country Bank in MA. Steve is an avid biker and trail rider and has ridden on a wide range of rail trails across 12 states. Steve believes the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a very valuable asset to the Western NY community and is excited by the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated group at ECRT to complete and open the entire 27 miles of trail to public use. Previous Next

A small but keen group got together last week to spruce things up! < Back Volunteers Beautify Orchard Park Depot Grounds Kathleen McCrone Jul 13, 2025 A small but keen group got together last week to spruce things up! A small but keen group got together last week to refresh the mulch around the evergreen trees at the OP Depot. ECRT thanks the volunteers for their labor and the OP Village Department of Public Works for the mulch. We're told that fun was had by all! Previous Next

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

Orchard Park Trail Opening Day Photos from the Grand Opening of the Orchard Park Village Trail section Year: 2023 Previous Next

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.

audio Concept Renderings Springville section of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Click to Enlarge. Orchard Park section of the future Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Jewett-Holmwood Intersection Rendering of trail-head. Adjacent to Deer Run & Curley Drive Ellicott Road conceived trail head Jewett-Holmwood Intersection Rendering of trail-head. 1/4 Current Conditions  T he two-mile section of right-of-way between Jewett Holmwood and Ellicott Road in Orchard Park is a small segment of the 27 mile section of the B&PR in Erie and Cattaraugus counties. In 2010, the corridor was cleared, graded and the rails and ties removed. The right-of-way is 125’ wide at Jewett Holmwood Road and 69’ wide at Ellicott Road. It is accessible from town owned property. It is adjacent to a town park and a Smokes Creek tributary. Today, residents trespass on the right-of-way and use it as an unofficial hiking and x-country ski trail, sharing it with deer and other wildlife. The corridor is also used for dumping, hunting and other activities. The following examples are intended to provide a picture of what the B&PR right-of-way might look like if developed as a rail trail. It is intended as a starting point for a community conversation. The visualization is not the only option or final word on trail development. It remains for the residents to decide what is best for their community. Orchard Park Rendering Click to Zoom Orchard Park Rendering Click to Zoom 1/1

So many ways that YOU can help! < Back Fondo Volunteers Needed Deborah Stellrecht Aug 24, 2023 So many ways that YOU can help! We n eed volunteers to help out with our EA2EVL FONDO 42-mile charity bike ride on September 30th. Volunteer tasks include: Start assistants: Help with registration and Start area of event at 42 North Brewery in East Aurora. Includes handing out registration packets, event giveaways, and associated items. Course Pointers: Help ensure participants remain on-course, particularly in potentially confusing intersections, sometimes calling out instructions in potentially confusing locations along the route. Water stops: Provide water and snacks to riders, answer questions and cheer them on! Finish line assistants: Help in handing out food, water, and Gatorade, answer rider questions and help with clean-up of finish area. As a small token of our appreciation for helping with the ride, you'll receive a ride t-shirt, as well as drink and food tickets to the after ride party at Holiday Valley. Past years' volunteers' tell us that it's also a great time! Please sign up at our website today to help us make the ride a safe and fun one for all riders! https://www.givesignup.org/.../NY/EastAurora/EA2EVLFondo . Can't volunteer? Donate! Every little bit helps! Previous Next

Project will construct a 1.5-mile extension of the trail through West Falls hamlet center < Back ECRT Project in West Falls Awarded NY Forward Funds Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail May 23, 2025 Project will construct a 1.5-mile extension of the trail through West Falls hamlet center ECRT is thrilled to be among the 7 Aurora Projects awarded funding from the recently announced $4.5M NY Forward award!! The projects include: Expand Programming Capacity of the West Falls Center for the Arts ($1,245,000): Enhance the programming services provided through interior and exterior upgrades to the Center for the Arts along with the construction of an art trail and outdoor performance stage and pavilion. Expand Capacity at the Blueberry Treehouse Farm ($784,000): Adaptively reuse a historic general store by converting it into retail space and five apartment units, while improving parking and accessibility to the Blueberry Treehouse Farm. Transform Veterans Park, West Falls-Colden Library and West Falls Community Playground into Local Destinations ($758,000): Enhance three existing public spaces in the hamlet center that will establish new pedestrian connections, expand the total area of green space and create new family-friendly recreation. Reinvent the West Falls Depot ($725,000): Restore a historic 1917 train depot into a mixed-use development with trailside commercial space and short-term lodging. Building Access to West Falls by Converting a Rail Corridor into a Multi-Use Trail ($420,000): Construct a 1.5-mile extension of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail from Jewettville through the West Falls hamlet center. Artist's rendering of ECRT's NY Forward Project to develop the trail through West Falls to the West Falls Historical Train Depot. Preserve the Dog Bar ($392,000): Preserve and enhance the only existing dining establishment in West Falls with upgraded interior and exteriors along with new outdoor dining space. Celebrate Local Flavor at the Florence Market ($176,000): Transform a mixed-use building into a vibrant, go-to spot for fresh produce, artisan goods and daily essentials, featuring a stylish facelift with new siding, lighting and a mural. Full announcement at: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-22-transformational-projects-western-new-york-part-downtown-0 . Previous Next

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