A second public hearing regarding a proposed amendment to the Unit Manage-ment Plan (UMP) for the Remsen – Lake Placid Travel Corridor (Corridor) has been scheduled for Monday, July 20 in Utica.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens and State Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll announced today.
The public hearing will be held at 4 p.m. at the State Office Building at 207 Genesee Street.
The Draft UMP proposes:
• Removing the rail infrastructure within the Corridor between the Village of Tupper Lake and the Village of Lake Placid and establishing a multiple-use recreational trail;
• Maintaining the existing rail infrastructure and enhancing train service between the Village of Remsen and the Big Moose Station;
• Rehabilitating the rail infrastructure between the Big Moose Station and the Village of Tupper Lake to allow passenger train service to be restored for a contiguous 85 miles; and
• Developing a community connector snowmobile system both within and outside of the Corridor which will attract additional snowmobilers to the Adirondacks and Adirondack communities.
Under the proposal, DOT will also seek to provide a long-term lease for operation of the train service, allowing the train service to make long-term financial investment in the Corridor.
The Draft 2015 UMP Amendment seeks to provide additional access to the community of Beaver River by siting and creating a snowmobile trail outside of the Corridor connecting the community to the regional snowmobile trail system.
The Draft 2015 UMP Amend-ment also serves as a Draft Supplement Environmental Impact Statement.
Hut to hut cross-country skiing opportunities between Beaver River and the Horseshoe Lake Station and train stops in Beaver River, Lake Lila and other interior destinations are also proposed to provide unique outdoor recreational opportunities.
DEC will work with the train service to ensure proper controls for those accessing interior lands and waters to prevent overuse and ensure protection of the natural resources.
The draft Corridor UMP/Environ-mental Impact Statement amendment is posted on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov. Copies of the UMP amendment also are available on CD at the Town of Webb town offices in Old Forge.
DEC and DOT will be accepting written public comments until close of business July 27, 2015.
Written comments may be mailed to either John Schmid, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY, 12233-4254 or Dawn Klemm, NYSDOT Region 2, Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501, or e-mailed to adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov.
