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General Questions What is Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail and what is their role? E rie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit volunteer organization formed in 2009 to develop and manage the 27-mile Buffalo & Pittsburgh rail line into a linear park for multiple recreational and educational activities. ECRT is seeking volunteers, supporters, and institutional funding to help make this happen. ECRT goals are: Historic preservation of former railroad corridor for adaptive reuse Build closer, stronger connections within and across communities Improve community well-being Provide a safe place for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy quiet outdoor recreation To encourage economic and community development that is compatible with the rural character of the communities hosting the trail, through trail-related activitie s What is happening along the BP&R rail corridor? I n 2018, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail non-profit organization (ECRT, Inc.) signed a 49-year railbanking lease agreement (with four-10 year extensions) with the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad (B&PRR). Railbanking is a federal program that maintains the railroads federal right-of-way while allowing for interim trail use in lieu of rail traffic for an interim period. Under the terms of the lease agreement, and the federal rail banking program, ECRT was selected as the local trail manager to build a multi-use trail on the 27-mile rail line. ECRT is looking forward to working with local communities to make the necessary safety and aesthetic improvements to the right of way and bring the communities trail vision to a reality. Why did B&PRR want to stop rail traffic? The Buffalo & Pittsburg Railroad filed a request with the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) in September, 2008 to formally cease freight operations for an indeterminate amount of time. During the summer of 2009, A&K Railroad Materials removed the rails and ties. The bridges and culverts remain in place. B&PRR chose to cease rail traffic on the section between Orchard Park and West Valley because it had more challenging grades and crossings than an alternate route through East Aurora. In addition, there was a lack of business along the Orchard Park to West Valley section of railway. However, the STB and B&PRR still see the corridor as a strategic piece of infrastructure and it was determined that the corridor not be allowed to disintegrate or turn forever wild. B&PRR requested to federally railbank the corridor for interim trail use, so they could have the option to reactivate rail service in the future as needed. B&PRR and the STB selected ECRT to be the local trail manager to build this multi-use recreational trail. What happens to real property values adjacent to rail-trails? T here is a great deal of evidence from existing rail-trails that property values either remain the same or increase. Often, buyers seek homes along these corridors for their recreational value. 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. What about liability on the trail? Trail use is preempted from liability due to The Recreational Use Statute of the NYS General Obligations Law. Additionally, ECRT has purchased and maintai ns a comprehensive insurance program for non-recreational liability. Adjacent homeowners have no increased liability or responsibilities. Will the rail-trail be safe? What about my privacy? The trail will be open from dawn to dusk. A well-maintained, community managed trail is safer than an abandoned railroad corridor. 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. Trail surface conditions will allow access by first responders when necessary. Trail users are responsible for their own safety. 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. When will it open and who gets to use it? E CRT is just beginning the design effort, which could take up to a year to complete. We are estimating the entire trail could take anywhere from 5-10 years to complete. The Springville Pop Warner Trail is currently in use and is a model for our ECRT trail development vision. The remaining trail will be built in sections as community funding and planning is completed. Announcements will be made as soon as other sections are ready for public use. Plans for the 27-mile rail trail include conducting a series of meetings with local governments, community residents, adjacent neighbors and other stakeholders along the corridor to encourage community involvement in design, construction and various uses for the trail. Funding will be sought to produce a community-specific, clear visioning plan, which will be integral to the trails development. Outdoor enthusiast, including bikers, hikers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers, bird-watchers, and snowmobilers are envisioned to have access. However, every use may not be allowed on every segment of the trail. ATVs and dirt bikes – considered “wheeled motorized vehicles” will not be permitted on the rail-trail. I'm interested in supporting Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. What can I do to help? Become A Member, donate or become a volunteer. Where can I visit a local trail? In addition to the Springville Pop Warner trail section of ECRT, other regional trails you can visit include: Ch autauqua Rails to Trails, the Allegheny River Valley Trail, the Cattaraugus Pat McGee Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, the Tonawanda Rail Trail, Clarence-Akron-Newstead Bike Path, and Lancaster’s Heritage Trail.

Your support of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is crucial to its progress. < Back Help build Your Trail Mary Brummer Jul 9, 2024 Your support of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is crucial to its progress. Dear Rail Trail Friends, Neighborhoods come to life during a Western New York summer. Kids are outside, their calls echoing all around. Everyone is actively enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, and many are using trails. When fully completed, Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail will serve as a 27-mile multiuse trail connecting many neighborhoods. Following the successful opening of the Orchard Park Village trail in June 2023, ECRT plans the next step: to resurface the trail “Depot to Depot” by improving another several miles of trail in Orchard Park and Aurora to the historic West Falls Train Depot. West Falls Historic Train Depot Imagine beginning a ride at the Orchard Park Train Depot, and enjoying six miles of level, comfortable trail surface all the way into West Falls, arriving at the historic Depot there. While in the neighborhood, you might visit the Blueberry Treehouse Farm for a beverage or take in an event at the West Falls Center for the Arts. Or - start your trip in West Falls and spend the day in Orchard Park at Green Lake Park, enjoying lunch, or celebrating Quaker Days. Orchard Park Historic Train Depot Meanwhile, at the southern end of the trail, several more sculptures are joining Springville’s unique “Sculpture Alley”, and plans are advancing to resurface two more miles of trail south of the Village of Springville. The trail connects neighborhoods throughout the Town of Concord, beckoning trail users through picturesque town and country settings. Sculpture artist J. Brian Pfeiffer and an assistant. Trails connect people and places, and trail use enhances physical and mental well-being. We are working passionately to develop our trail into the Southtowns jewel we envision. Your support of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is crucial to our progress. Please donate today and help propel this worthy effort. And may your neighborhood ring with the sounds of birds and children this summer. Happy trails, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail 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 write “ July Appeal ” in the memo area and mail it to ECRT, PO Box 584, Orchard Park, NY 14127. NYS Charitable Donation Disclosures Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered with New York State and dedicated to building and maintaining a 27-mile multi-use recreational trail from Orchard Park to Ashford, NY on the railbanked Buffalo & Pittsburgh rail corridor. The latest financial report from ECRT may be obtained by request from ECRT at www.ecrailtrail.org or from the Attorney General's Charities Bureau's Website - www.charitiesnys.com . Information about charities may be obtained from the Attorney General at (212) 416-8686. Previous Next

Deb Fenn Harry James Over the past year or more, Harry James has played an integral role in ECRT’s successful bridge redecking and restoration efforts in the Town of Concord. He was named, he tells me, after his father, Harry James, and not in homage to the famous jazz trumpeter and big band leader, Harry James. Both Harrys, however — ours and the jazz legend — share a common key to their shared success on the job: They can improvise! According to ECRT Board member Kathleen McCrone, his improvisational skills and talent as an on-the-spot problem-solver came in handy more than once when critical adjustments in materials and measurements were needed to resolve unforeseen construction problems. “It was amazing watching Harry tackle a problem. First, his eyes would light up, he’d take a step or two back and we could almost see the gears turning in his brain. After a few moments of contemplation, he’d grab some tools, lumber, and a few volunteers and confidently get busy creating a perfect solution.” Harry grew up in Saranac Lake, where his mom ran the corner store and his selfemployed dad had both winter and summer jobs. “When you live in the Adirondacks year-round, you need to be versatile,” he noted, obviously an inherited skill. As a young man, Harry enjoyed venturing on foot or by bike to places not always on any map and sometimes considerable distances from home — “wherever a bike or my feet could take me” — Harry recalls. He loved to fish and was snowmobiling by the age of 14. “And I was always busy building or making things. To this day, I consider ‘creating’ my strongest interest and skill.” Harry attended SUNY@ Canton where he studied engineering. During the course of his career, he applied his skills working for Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Carrier Corporation, Corning Glass Company, and Budweiser. He retired in 2021 after 30 years with the West Valley Nuclear Demonstration Project. Harry is a 30-year member of the Western New York Snowmobile Club of Boston and the organization’s current vice president. Here he met fellow bridge-building partner John Baronich, a former principal and shop teacher. Together, with the able assistance of other retired regulars interested in construction, they were able to successfully redeck and restore a total of seven bridges. “The new decking is basically an even floor with no gaps. The goal was to make these bridges usable for everybody — not just snowmobiles.” Today, Harry remains an avid builder/creator and bicyclist. He owns bikes for every season and surface. To his credit and for pleasure, he participated in both the 2021 and 2022 EA2EVL Fondo events, the non-competitive fundraising bike ride from East Aurora to Ellicottville to benefit the ECRT trail. As far as the trail is concerned, Harry believes, “If you build it, they will come. There are lots of places to explore and enjoy here. It’s great when you see businesses interested and involved in the trial. I think you help communities grow by building and supporting cottage industries. You know, people will drive (or bike) to go to breakfast if the food is good!” February 1, 2023 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

Deb Fenn Liz Birardi I met up with Liz on a Sunday afternoon at Comma Fine Art Gallery in East Aurora where she, a co-curator, is minding the store. The current “Known, Imagined, Experienced ” exhibit includes 38 local artists — among them Liz — and features an eclectic display of mediums and expressions. Liz first studied art at UB and continued later at Empire State College where she pursued a program that included natural sciences and art. Today, her paintings reflect an appreciation for the abstract, science and the natural world. Liz grew up on Long Island where her contact with nature was often limited to a trip to the beach. It wasn’t until she moved to Rochester in the 1980s and met her husband, Rob, that her relationship with the natural world really began to expand. Starting with a trip to Zoar Valley, during the course of their 37-year marriage, the couple explored, camped and canoed. With children Gina and Ian in tow, the family made annual trips to Heart Lake in the Adirondacks. Liz, now a “44 peaker”, is officially an outdoors person. “These experiences opened my eyes to the value of the natural world, which is now intrinsic to my art.” Today, Liz and Rob live in East Aurora. For several years, Liz was affiliated with The Western New York Land Conservancy. “In 2009, I did a hike at Kenneglenn, one of the Conservancy’s first acquisitions and their current headquarters. I liked their mission and subsequently worked to digitize their files. I became familiar with the conservancy’s history, land preservation and conservation from this experience and, from 2012 until 2022, was employed as their office manager.” Through mutual friendships, Liz became aware of Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. She has volunteered at tabling events, National Trails Day celebrations, donor thank-you hikes and at registration for the EA2EVL Fondo. She is also a current and valued member of the ECRT Development Team. “I really like the idea of the trail; that you can walk from town to town and find yourself surrounded by nature. It’s also great that you rarely have to cross a road. It’s also really great for the communities. This is such a wonderful project!” February 1, 2024 Written by: Deb Fenn Previous Next < Back

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When I retired from a delightful 33-year career in veterinary medicine, I yearned to direct my energy toward a project that would enhance our Western NY community. Developing this rail corridor which travels through such spectacular landscapes seems like a perfect fit. The task requires both art and science backgrounds to complete. It also helps to truly enjoy working with and for people. Fortunately, veterinary medicine required similar types of skills, and I feel well-prepared to lead this rail trail effort. < Back Mary Brummer When I retired from a delightful 33-year career in veterinary medicine, I yearned to direct my energy toward a project that would enhance our Western NY community. Developing this rail corridor which travels through such spectacular landscapes seems like a perfect fit. The task requires both art and science backgrounds to complete. It also helps to truly enjoy working with and for people. Fortunately, veterinary medicine required similar types of skills, and I feel well-prepared to lead this rail trail effort. Previous Next

Springville-Concord Friends gathered in person for the first time since the COVID pandemic on Saturday, February 4th - the coldest day yet of the winter season! < Back Springville-Concord Friends Group Gathers Deb Fenn Feb 4, 2023 Springville-Concord Friends gathered in person for the first time since the COVID pandemic on Saturday, February 4th - the coldest day yet of the winter season! Friends leader Mary Carol Dearing offered a warm welcome at 5 Leaf Clover restaurant, located near the Pop Warner section of the Springville trail. The group discussed recent trail updates as well as opportunities for trail-focused events, improvements and community involvement. The Friends then took to the trail for a brisk winter walk from the Depot north past some vibrant trailside murals. Thanks to a grant from the Cullen Foundation in concert with the Springville Center for the Arts, this section will soon feature the first sculpture installation on what is envisioned to become Sculpture Alley along the trail. Look for this and other happenings this spring on this open, active section of trail! Previous Next

Many are getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing < Back Practice Self-care for Your Mental Health National Alliance on Mental Health Jul 11, 2024 Many are getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing Self-care for your mental health, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness ( https://www.nami.org/ ). Summer has officially arrived. It’s supposed to be fun and relaxing. But it can also be stressful. How you take care of yourself — and your mental health — matters. That’s why NAMI launched its NEW Summer of Self-Care project, and they asked their subscribers to upload selfies of themselves enjoying their favorite summer self-care activity. The photos are in, and NAMI’s Summer of Self-Care photo album just went live. Check it out at https://supportnami.org/selfcarealbum/ ! It’s striking how many photos are of folks getting outside to walk, bike or run for their mental wellbeing, many of them on recreational trails near their homes. Practice some self-care for YOU today! #mentalhealthawareness Previous Next

Dale holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Cornell University. He has 40 years of experience in the planning field at the community, town, and county level. Now retired from the position of Director of the Erie County Office of Geographic Information Services. < Back Dale Morris Dale holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Cornell University. He has 40 years of experience in the planning field at the community, town, and county level. Now retired from the position of Director of the Erie County Office of Geographic Information Services. Previous Next

Beth Lasky Jason Engel Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail has enjoyed the benefits of partnering with a variety of community and regional organizations. Biking, hiking, scouting groups, snowmobile clubs, local businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and adjacent municipalities have supported the trail in a variety of ways and have, in turn, enjoyed positive community recognition and economic benefits. Most recently, a new, exciting partnership is in the works between ECRT and the Springville Community Trout Pond . Eight years ago, Jason Engel took on a leadership role with Springville Field and Stream . His background in landscape architecture, business ownership and special projects work with the Amherst Planning Department made him an ideal candidate for the position. The heart of the project required significant dredging from a 1997 “100-year flood” that overwhelmed the popular trout pond, which sits adjacent to the trail, and created major erosion issues. The fish hatchery located at the pond’s north end was rendered inoperable. As Engel explained, “We want to reclaim this popular and ecologically significant resource. To do so, we adopted a 3-phase project. Phase one includes dredging the pond, re-establishing the shoreline, and improving the fish habitat. Phase two , at the south end of the pond, will create an important connection to the adjacent ECRT trail. The new destination trail head is to include a pavilion, parking area, bike rack and an ingress and egress ramp for wheelchair accessibility to a fishing pier. In preparation for this phase, ECRT provided funds for a culvert which sits beneath the trail and connects the pond to Spring Brook, an important outlet for occasional flooding.” Spring Brook, he went on to explain, travels north to East Concord and is one of the few streams in Erie County that is home to native brook trout – a rare find. It also was once an important water source for Springville – ergo, the town’s name. “Phase three of the project includes reconstructing the trout hatchery at the north end of the Pond, with a small classroom where children and adults can learn more about aquaculture and fish habitat – a nice education stop for bikers and hikers along the trail. “It is such an important partnership, and we know so many people, locally and regionally, will enjoy and benefit from the trail, the trout pond, and the unique recreational opportunities our collaboration will bring.” March 1, 2022 Written by: Beth Lasky Previous Next < Back

We're so grateful for your support, donations, and helping hands! < Back ECRT Thanks you Mary Brummer Nov 28, 2024 We're so grateful for your support, donations, and helping hands! Developing 27 miles of railbanked trail is a huge undertaking, but a joy to do when sharing it with friends and family. Each improved section is a thrill to behold and so satisfying when it functions as an asset to the community. Many thanks to you, our ECRT friends, as we make our trail dreams come true! Happy Thanksgiving to you, with our gratitude, Mary Brummer, President Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Previous Next

Did you know ECRT is an important part of the initial NY Forward grant proposal to uplift and stimulate community growth in West Falls? Please consider attending the West Falls NYF Public Workshop #1 on May 20th. The Workshop will be held in the Aurora Waldorf School (525 W Falls Rd, West Falls, NY, 14170) from 6 – 8 pm. < Back NY Forward Grant Committee Invitation for YOU! Deborah Fenn May 13, 2024 Did you know ECRT is an important part of the initial NY Forward grant proposal to uplift and stimulate community growth in West Falls? Please consider attending the West Falls NYF Public Workshop #1 on May 20th. The Workshop will be held in the Aurora Waldorf School (525 W Falls Rd, West Falls, NY, 14170) from 6 – 8 pm. The West Falls NY Forward (NYF) Local Planning Committee (LPC) wants to know your thoughts on how you would like to see the NYF program help revitalize the Hamlet. The LPC will hold an Open Call for Projects from June 12th to July 17th, 2024. However, prior to that call, the LPC will be hosting a Public Workshop to gather insights and feedback from the community on what types of projects you would like to see submitted and how those projects can impact West Falls. We would love for you to see what's being planned and to lend your voice to the conversation , please consider attending the West Falls NYF Public Workshop #1 on May 20th. The Workshop will be held in the Aurora Waldorf School (525 W Falls Rd, West Falls, NY, 14170) from 6 – 8 pm. This workshop is an open house format with various engagement boards and planning exercises, so feel free to stop by at any time during those hours that work for you. If you are unable to attend this event, there will be an online feedback form available as well as a public survey for residents to provide feedback. Until the official website is operational, stay up-to-date with the plans and meetings via the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WestFallsNYForward . Previous Next