AMENIA — It’s been a long road (and over a decade) for the “Wassaic Trail to the Train� project, but it looks like all that hard work might finally pay off. Mark Morrison and the Harlem Valley Association prepared a special presentation for the Town Board meeting last Thursday, Nov. 20.
The presentation was accompanied by a report handed out to each Town Board member that outlines the planning and design that Mark K. Morrison Associates, LTD was hired to draw up. The report was funded by a $7,500 Hudson River Valley Greenway Compact Grant.
As explained in the opening acknowledgments, the report “completes phase one of the proposed extension of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail into the historic hamlet� of Wassaic.
Three representatives were on hand Thursday night to present the findings so far, as well as to answer any questions the board or public might have: town grant writer Mike Hagerty, Tonia Shoumatoff, who represents the Housatonic Valley Association, and Mark Morrison, a local architect who volunteered his time years earlier to draft up initial plans for a Rail Trail extension.
“We’ve had over seven meetings with up to 10 people in each meeting,� Shoumatoff said. “We’ve been very lucky to have such wonderful expertise, and we’re lucky to have Mark Morrison on board.�
Enclosed in the report are letters of support from the following: New York Department of Transportation, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association, New York Sate Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Wassaic Auction Barn, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, as well as State Senator Vincent Leibell, State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, Anthony Zunino, co-owner of Maxon Mills, Pawling Corporation and several other organizations and hamlet residents.
“All permitting agencies said that this can happen,� Shoumatoff said before turning the presentation over to Morrison.
Morrison explained that there were currently two proposed paths for the rail trail extension. The preferred scheme runs concurrent to the Metro-North train line before branching off and running alongside Route 22 for the last third of the approximately half-mile extension. The other option runs along the train tracks for the entirety of the extension.
“It’s expensive working along the railroad tracks,� Morrison explained. “There is a steep side slope position that will be difficult to work with.�
Town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard questioned how close the trail would be to Route 22, which is known for its fast drivers along that stretch.
“Are there regulations stopping us from moving it east?� Euvrard asked.
Morrison replied that the only thing that stood in the way was money. A “schematic estimate of probable cost� included in the report put the project’s total cost around $598,500.
“We do have a guard rail set up right now, and we’d love to have vegetation and trees planted. But we’re also mindful of the budget,� he added.
“We’ve been quite successful in dealing with all the groups,� Morrison said. “There was only one property owner to deal with, and it went well. The numbers are pretty good, and concrete accuracy will come in when we have the final survey information.�
The next step in the quest for the rail trail extension is waiting to hear about a $480,000 (with $120,000 matching) grant from the New York State Transportation Enhancement Project (TEP). The rail trail extension has ranked first place among several important listings, and Shoumatoff, Morrison and Hagerty were all hopeful that the grant will be awarded.
The TEP grant recipient will be decided on Dec. 15.
