Referred to: The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chair Nolan and Legislators Donaldson, Kovacs, Litts, and McCollough)

Chair of the Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee, Kathy Nolan, and Legislators Peter Criswell and Abe Uchitelle offer the following:

WHEREAS, the final report of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad Corridor “U & D Rail + Trail” Trail Feasibility Study issued in July 2006 concluded that the Corridor “has the potential to become a unique “Rail + Trail” system providing transportation, economic development, tourism, and recreation benefits for Ulster County and communities along the route”; and

WHEREAS, the development of trails in Ulster County offer important and highly desirable health programs promoting healthy trails and healthy people opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is devoted to improving conditions for physical activity in our communities and for the general public’s health and well- being, and protecting our increasingly at-risk Vulnerable Road Users – pedestrians, bicyclists and people with disabilities – as they move about Ulster County’s communities; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is committed to actions supporting Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, including expanding green human-powered active transportation alternatives as an important component of mitigating the increasingly damaging effects of climate change in our County, and;

WHEREAS, the Rail + Trail Feasibility Study recommends that the County formally establish an ongoing Trails Advisory Committee (TAC); and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Non-Motorized Transportation Plan (NMTP) incorporates the vision of a shared use Rail with Trail Corridor extending east to west across the entire County; and

WHEREAS, the NMTP recommends several actions requiring leadership and coordination at the Ulster County Legislature level which will be facilitated by a Trails Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, in July 2008, the Health Services Committee sponsored Resolution No. 224, which originally established the Trails Advisory Committee – Ulster County Legislature; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section C-16 of the Ulster County Charter, all Advisory committees, commissions and boards shall serve at the pleasure of the Ulster County Legislature; now, therefore be it         

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Trails Advisory Committee is hereby reestablished and shall consist of not more than fourteen (14) Voting Members to be appointed by the Members of the Ulster County Legislature and is hereby created and re-established for the purposes of i) advising the Ulster County Legislature on trail- related issues, and ii) advising the Legislature on the adoption, repeal or amendments to Laws and Regulations as they relate to Ulster County Trails; the members of the Ulster County Trails Advisory Committee appointed by the Members of the Ulster County Legislature for a term expiring December 31, 2025 shall be:

1) Ulster County Legislature (3 members): Legislators Kathy Nolan, Eric Stewart, and TBD

2) Trails Community (2 members): Karl A. Beard and Kevin Smith

3) Historical Community (2 member): David Church and Trey Hotaling

4) Hiking & Biking Communities (2 members): Hank Alicandri and Cara

Gentry

5) Other Non-Motorized Transportation Communities (2 members): Tenny Gravatt and Mary McNamara

6) Local Government Officials (3 members): Mike Baden (Supervisor, Town of Rochester), Kevin VanBlarcum (Town Board Member, Town of Shandaken), and TBD

7) New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)* (1 member): Tom Davidock

8) New York State Department of Transportation (DOT)* (1 member):

Arthur Rose

 9) Liaison to Ulster County Traffic Safety Board* (1 member): Lou Klepner

(*denotes non-voting members); and, be it further

RESOLVED, representatives from the Ulster County government are invited to attend all meetings of the Trails Advisory Committee, and may be asked from time to time to participate and advise the Trails Advisory Committee at the request of said Committee; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the Ulster County Trails Advisory Committee will update and report to the Ulster County Legislature’s Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee as to its findings, conclusions and recommendations on an annual basis by March 1st of the preceding year,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:      

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE