Jeanette Provenzano, left, one of the longest-serving members of the Ulster
Legislature, listens as Richard Parete, standing, other legislators thank her
for more than a decade of service. It was Provenzano’s final meeting.
KINGSTON – What to do with the Delaware Rail Corridor and Catskill
Mountain Railroad has been a point of contention for most of the four-year
existence of the current Ulster County Legislature. Everything came together
during the final meeting, Tuesday night, with unanimous agreement on a
compromise.
That came after several speakers during public comment repeated support for the compromise, including Kevin Smith, co-chairman of the Friends of the Catskill Mountain Rail Trail.
“Helping to restore and renovate the Ulster and Delaware
Corridor, this great transportation corridor, and help repurpose it for
a combination of uses, for our times that fit our needs in this time,”
Smith said.
The legislature voted to approve amending a 2014 resolution establishing a policy for a “Rail with Trail” along the corridor.
Republican Minority Leader Kenneth Ronk was delighted.
“One of the proudest things I’ve been able to work on since I’ve been a legislator,” Ronk proclaimed.
Democrat Jeanette Provenzano, one of the senior members of the legislature, attending her final meeting, was equally ecstatic.
“It’s so exciting, and the prospects are incredible,” Provenzano said. “I think to be able to have a trail from the Walkway on the Hudson to the Ashokan is absolutely the most incredible thing we can do,”
Even County Executive Michael Hein, chimed in, with a statement following the meeting.
“I appreciate the thoughtful deliberations and hard work of the U&D Corridor Advisory Committee over the past six months,” Hein said. “They have shown courage and responsibility in creating a definitive policy.”
The resolution identifies future uses for segments of the 38.6-mile U&D Corridor, which are:
Cornell Street in Kingston to Kingston Plaza- Trail Development
Kingston Plaza to Route 28A in Hurley- Rail with Trail Development
Route 28A in Hurley to Basin Road in West Hurley at Ashokan Reservoir- To Be Determined
Basin Road to Route 28A in Boiceville- Trail Development (NYC DEP Lands)
Boiceville to Phoenicia- Rail Development with Possible Trail Where Feasible
Phoenicia to Highmount- Trail Development with Possible Rail Station Development and Rail Connection to Delaware County at Highmount
