Otto Vondrak wrote:The bike trail proposal sounds like a red herring to block the reactivation of rail service. Just a ploy to make sure freight trains don't return to ruin this fellow's perceived quality of life...All these "trail huggers" tend to have a very powerful alterior motive. (Read $$$) The two main people who would like to rob the Adk. Div. from the citizens of New York State and make it their own personal toy have a vested FINANCIAL interest in a trail including controlling the maintenance... but more simply their goal is to prevent the possibility of winter trains, which would ruin their profitable snowmobile rackett! (ensuring a trailroute that directs snowmobilers to their businesses)
Truth is, that region would see very limited (or no) financial benefits from a trail, and they know this, but they will stop at nothing (lying, mudslinging, etc) to secure their profitable agenda. Especially considering most railtrails are constructed by a private not- for- profit using public money, and are in turn dumped onto local municapalities for maintenance and upkeep (at an average cost of $7,000.00 per mile per year!!!)
I like railtrails when they save a long abandoned ROW from obliteration, but it disgusts me when self serving, money hungry charlatons try to steal a profitable, useful, and operable rail line from the public for their own benefit!
