The Voorheesville Community and School Foundation has given a significant donation to help open the next section of the Albany County Rail Trail.
The group has awarded the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy a $10,000 grant to help open another section of the trail within Voorheesville and the Town of New Scotland. Most of the improvements needed to open the new trail section will be done by Friends of the Rail Trail members, a committee within the Conservancy.
“Opening this 2.4-mile trail will provide access from the center of the Village of Voorheesville through the town to Upper Font Grove Road for passive recreational use such as walking, jogging, wildlife observation, fishing access, snowshoeing and cross country skiing,” said Nancy Rucks, president of the Voorheesville Community and School Foundation, in a statement.
Rucks said her group was founded in 1999 to help “enhance the educational, cultural, athletic and organizational opportunities for the students and communities of the Voorheesville Central School District.” She said many people have spoken up to ask that money be provided for the Rail Trail and Foundation members felt it was a worthy project.
The funding will mostly be used to purchase materials needed for safety improvements, including decking and railing over Vly Creek. Protective chain-link fencing will also be welded onto the bridge spanning Route 155.
“This project is something we felt the community really wanted to see happen,” Rucks said. “It provides the community with additional recreational amenities and connects us with Slingerlands and eventually Delmar.”
New Scotland Town Supervisor Tom Dolin said New Scotland and Voorheesville were “fortunate” to have the continued financial support of the Foundation.
“This grant is very timely and much needed,” he said. “During recent meetings, community members have shown overwhelming support for the Rail Trail. Thanks needs to go the Foundation for the investment they are making in the community.”
Communities throughout Albany have been working with the county and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy to reach an agreement to open additional segments of the trail. In 2010, Albany County purchased 9.1 miles of rail bed from the Canadian Pacific Railway to create the Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail. A nearly 2-mile section was opened in Delmar and Slingerlands last June, again with the involvement of the MHLC.
MHLC Executive Director Jill Knapp called the grant a godsend.
“It will probably help to get most of the work done we need on the bridges (along the trail),” she said.
Knapp said county representatives continue to be concerned about the liability issues involved with pedestrians walking over the two bridges along the New Scotland section of the trail. The Conservancy is now partnering with the towns of New Scotland and Bethlehem and the Village of Voorheesville to work out the liability issues with the county.
Mary Rozak, spokeswoman for County Executive Dan McCoy, said county representatives “are working diligently and quickly as possibly to make sure that we can safely pursue the opening of the rail trail.”
“We have been working with the county attorney, Department of Public Works and members of the community to make sure there is a viable plan in place,” she said. “We are in the process of a plan review and are reviewing all aspects legally in concern with liability, while making sure we are being fiscally responsible to the municipalities we represent.”
The high cost of repairing or replacing eight bridges along the trail has also been cited by county officials as a major hurdle.
The grant is expected to cover nearly all costs for safety improvements, while volunteers will donate their time to help with beautification efforts.
Scott Lewendon, MHLC trail coordinator, said the next segment of the trail will first be prepared for pedestrian use only. As more funds become available, bicyclists will eventually be allowed as well.
“The Foundation is excited to contribute to the project to provide a trail that will enhance the quality of life for local residents,” said Rucks.
Talks are still in progress with the county to obtain a work permit, but the Conservancy members are hoping to begin improvements on the newest section of the trail in coming weeks.