Rails-to-trails still years away?
More money expected for project, but construction won't start until 2011
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Yearning to bike, walk or run on that long-promised trail between Wading River and Port Jefferson?
There's both good news and bad news for you. The good news is more money is expected to be available soon for the project. The bad news is it may be two years before you set foot on the trail.
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told The North Shore Sun last week that he's "very, very confident" he can redirect $7.5 million in federal transportation money from a canceled project on Long Island to the 12-mile rails-to-trails project before Sept. 30, the end of the government's fiscal year. (New York State, which distributes the money, would lose the funds if they aren't reallocated by then.)
The congressman's apparent success in securing the funds drew high praise from prominent supporters of the project. "It's fantastic," said County Legislator Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham), who said he had contacted Mr. Bishop seeking his help in getting money for the project. "We're hopeful it will enable us to complete the lion's share of the project."
It was back in 2001 that Setauket resident Mike Cosel went public with his proposal to create a paved recreational trail on the former Long Island Rail Road right of way, which is now owned by the Long Island Power Authority. But a years-long impasse between the county and LIPA over potential liability for injuries of trail users stalled the project. The two parties finally reached an agreement in January, allowing the project to proceed.
The anticipated $7.5 million would be in addition to $2 million in federal funds previously awarded for design work for the trail. That money was "de-obligated" -- withdrawn -- from the project because it remained unspent during the impasse over liability issues. After it was resolved, the money was reauthorized for the trail.
"We won't even have the engineers on board, even starting design, until much later this year," he said by phone. "If we get the engineers working by the end of the year, I'd be happy. Then we have an 18-month design process -- minimum 18 months."
Mr. Hillman said he doesn't expect actual construction on the project to begin until 2011. And another 12 to 18 months could pass before it's finished -- that's if the money holds out. As a rule, says Mr. Hillman, trails of this kind cost about $1 million a mile. Since the anticipated total federal funding now amounts to only $9.5 million, there may be insufficient funds for all 12 miles of the project, he said.
Mr. Cosel said he's aware of the projected timeline and that he's remaining patient. "From our experience with the Setauket-Port Jefferson trail, the design process and environmental review does take more than a year," he said.
Drew Martin, president of the Rocky Point Civic Association, who calls the trail "probably the greatest thing that's happened to Rocky Point in my 10 years here," said, "Government runs at a glacial pace; nothing would surprise me at this point." He added that the predicted pace of the project allows "a lot more time for community input."
Michael Vitti, president of Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists, or CLIMB, said he would "love" to see the trail completed, since it comes conveniently close to the Rocky Point Conservation Area, where many of his members ride. But, he continued, "these projects usually take a long time. If it's only two years away, that's fine."
Something that could slow the project down is a hurdle the county must clear to obtain the $2 million in federal funds for design work. Under federal law, for the state Department of Transportation to be able to release that money to the county, the two entities must first draw up a contract. That requires the county to prove that it has an easement agreement with LIPA for use of its property. Simple? Not according to Mr. Hillman.
"We need maps for the easement agreement, and we can't get the maps until we do the engineering," said Mr. Hillman. "And we need the contract with DOT to start the engineering. It's a catch-22 that we are caught in."
To extricate itself from this bind, the county has asked the DOT if it can avoid submitting the easement agreement with LIPA and, instead, present the department with a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between itself and the power authority that includes a "schematic" drawing of the trail rather than formal maps. Mr. Hillman conceded that it's "probably uncommon for the state to authorize design funds on the basis of an MOU."
For its part, DOT's Long Island office issued a statement saying the department continues to "work diligently to help Suffolk County advance this project in every practical way. However, exceptions to federal rules and regulations are not permitted."
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1 comments found
Trails in 20 years : 7/27/2009
What happens in 20 years when we're forced to invest back in public transportation and that right of way needs to be reclaimed by LIRR? Can the two co exist?
