Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman

Richard Parete and Legislators Donaldson, Greene, Roberts and Ronk)

The U&D Corridor Advisory Committee (Chairman Tracey Bartels and Legislators

Archer, Belfiglio, Donaldson, Greene, Litts, Maloney, Provenzano and Ronk) offers

the following:

WHEREAS, the County of Ulster purchased the 38.6-mile Ulster and

Delaware Railroad (U&D) corridor in 1979 to promote economic development

through expanded tourism and to provide recreational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature determined that it was critical to

establish a policy for the future uses of the U&D Corridor following the termination

of the current lease on May 31, 2016; and

WHEREAS, via adoption of Resolution No. 275 of 2014 the Ulster County

Legislature established a policy to support a segmented “rail with trail” plan to

convert the U&D corridor to a trail only in the segment between Kingston and

Boiceville, and continue operation of a tourism railroad west of the Ashokan

Reservoir; and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 155 of 2015 established the Ulster & Delaware

Corridor Advisory Committee for the purposes of conducting a thorough

reexamination and study regarding the optimum use of the full U&D Corridor, and to

recommend possible modifications to the existing policy to ensure the Corridor

would be utilized for the greatest benefit to the residents and tourists of Ulster

County; and

WHEREAS, the U&D Corridor Advisory Committee successfully retained the

services of an independent consulting firm, Stone Consulting & Design, P.C., to

advise the Committee on recommendations for the highest and best use for various

segments of the Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee met frequently, completed field visits,

interviewed stakeholders, reviewed existing reports and available data, and vetted the

recommendations of Stone Consulting; and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 387 of November 2015 authorized the U&D

Corridor Advisory Committee to report its findings to the Legislature before

December 31, 2015 and the findings of the Advisory Committee are reported herein;

and

WHEREAS, the Committee has determined that the segmented approach to

the Corridor, which includes railroad only segments , trail only segments, and rail

with trail segments will maximize the public benefits of the Corridor; and

WHEREAS, the Committee recommends several modifications to the

established segmented “rail with trail” policy that would help the County realize the

maximum benefits from the Corridor and accommodate both railroad and

recreational trail uses; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the segmented “rail with trail” policy shall be amended to

convert to trail only on the segment between Cornell Street and the east side of the

Kingston Plaza to enhance quality of life and improve public health in the City of

Kingston, provided sufficient track shall be left to load passengers at Kingston Plaza;

and, be it furt

RESOLVED, within 90 days from the effective date of this Resolution, Ulster

County shall release a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for potential tourism railroad

operators to begin following the expiration of the current U&D lease on May 31,

2016 for the segments designated as railroad segments pursuant to this policy; and,

be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature requests that the County

Executive submit a revised plan outlining projects in compliance with this policy,

including secured funding sources to advance planning and design for the segmented

rail with trail conversion, as well as on-going maintenance,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 23 NOES: 0

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on December 14, 2015

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 15th Day of December in the year Two Thousand

and Fifteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 16th Day of

December in the year Two Thousand and Fifteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature

Submitted to the County Executive this Approved by the County Executive this

16th Day of December, 2015. 22

nd Day of December, 2015.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella |s| Michael P. Hein

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk Michael P. Hein, County Executive

Ulster County Legislature