Completing theCompleting the Champlain Champlain

Canalway TrailCanalway TrailCommunity workshopsCommunity workshops

January 2009January 2009

The Canalway Trail The Canalway Trail SystemSystem

►ErieErie►ChamplainChamplain►OswegoOswego►Cayuga-SenecaCayuga-Seneca

Champlain Canalway Trail Champlain Canalway Trail Working GroupWorking Group

► Lakes to Locks PassageLakes to Locks Passage► Town of HalfmoonTown of Halfmoon► Hudson CrossingHudson Crossing► Saratoga County Saratoga County

Snowmobile AssnSnowmobile Assn► Washington County Assn of Washington County Assn of

Snowmobile ClubsSnowmobile Clubs► Washington County Washington County

Planning DeptPlanning Dept► Warren County Planning Warren County Planning

DeptDept► Saratoga PLANSaratoga PLAN► Saratoga National Historical Saratoga National Historical

ParkPark

► NYS Canal CorporationNYS Canal Corporation► Hudson River Valley Hudson River Valley

GreenwayGreenway► Parks & Trails New YorkParks & Trails New York► NYS Dept of TransportationNYS Dept of Transportation► Feeder Canal AllianceFeeder Canal Alliance► NYS Office of Parks, NYS Office of Parks,

Recreation and Historic Recreation and Historic PreservationPreservation

► Erie Canalway National Erie Canalway National Heritage CorridorHeritage Corridor

► NPS Rivers & Trails ProgramNPS Rivers & Trails Program

Our goal:Our goal:►Complete and promote an Complete and promote an

attractive and continuous route attractive and continuous route for the Champlain Canalway Trail for the Champlain Canalway Trail from Waterford to Whitehall, from Waterford to Whitehall, including:including: historic towpathshistoric towpaths community attractionscommunity attractions on-street bicycle routeson-street bicycle routes part of a regional trail networkpart of a regional trail network

What we are doing:What we are doing:► Local trail “open house” workshopsLocal trail “open house” workshops

Identify issues & opportunities Identify issues & opportunities Find ways communities can capture trail benefitsFind ways communities can capture trail benefits Define trail route(s)Define trail route(s)

► Champlain Canalway Trail “Action Plan”Champlain Canalway Trail “Action Plan” Local and regional actionLocal and regional action

► Exploring ways to raise the profile of the Exploring ways to raise the profile of the trailtrail Events & promotionsEvents & promotions Corridor-wide trails conference?Corridor-wide trails conference?

► Encouraging local Canalway Trail projectsEncouraging local Canalway Trail projects

State of the TrailState of the Trail►58 miles total:58 miles total:►7 miles open today7 miles open today►13 miles planned or 13 miles planned or

in constructionin construction►16 miles defined but 16 miles defined but

not pieced togethernot pieced together►22 miles – trail 22 miles – trail

route undefinedroute undefined

Existing & Existing & planned Trail planned Trail

Segments Segments ►WhitehallWhitehall►Fort Ann to Ft Fort Ann to Ft

EdwardEdward►SchuylervilleSchuylerville►StillwaterStillwater►HalfmoonHalfmoon►WaterfordWaterford

Regional & Regional & Connecting Trails Connecting Trails ►Champlain BikewaysChamplain Bikeways►Feeder Canal TrailFeeder Canal Trail►Warren County BikewayWarren County Bikeway►Snowmobile Trails Snowmobile Trails ►Zim Smith Trail Zim Smith Trail ►Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Mohawk-Hudson Bike-

Hike TrailHike Trail

What’s happening on the What’s happening on the Trail?Trail?

Why an action plan & why Why an action plan & why now?now?

►Take advantage of Take advantage of opportunitiesopportunities

►Locally-driven; “help Locally-driven; “help ourselves”ourselves”

►Identify ways to work Identify ways to work togethertogether

What are some potential What are some potential trail opportunities?trail opportunities?

Alternative Alternative transportationtransportation

Better healthBetter health

Close-to-home recreationClose-to-home recreationTrail events

Bicycle Bicycle tourismtourism

Fishing & boating accessFishing & boating accessLink business to Link business to historic sites & other historic sites & other attractionsattractions

Trailside artTrailside art

Boost real estate values Boost real estate values

Attract visitor Attract visitor spending to our spending to our communities communities

Outdoor experiences for kidsOutdoor experiences for kids

Safe routes to schoolsSafe routes to schools

Walkable communitiesWalkable communities

Local or regional Local or regional trail & canal trail & canal festivalfestival

Snowmobiles bring businessSnowmobiles bring business

Preserve Preserve historic historic featuresfeatures

Economic benefits of Economic benefits of trailstrails

►Local spending by day users:Local spending by day users: Average $3 - $11 / dayAverage $3 - $11 / day

►Total benefits to host Total benefits to host communities:communities: $1.2 – $1.9 million / year$1.2 – $1.9 million / year $200k - $600k / year in new money$200k - $600k / year in new money

►Property values:Property values: 0% - 6% increase near the trail0% - 6% increase near the trail Easier salesEasier sales

Trail studies in New York Trail studies in New York

►Economic benefits to Economic benefits to communitiescommunities

►Trail user surveysTrail user surveys►Property owners’ Property owners’

attitudesattitudes►Impacts on real estateImpacts on real estate►Trail safety Trail safety

Trail marketing in New Trail marketing in New YorkYork►Erie Canal Cycling Erie Canal Cycling

guideguide►Inn-to-Inn TouringInn-to-Inn Touring►3-day Tours3-day Tours►Champlain Champlain

BikewaysBikeways

Who will use the trail?Who will use the trail?

What is special along the What is special along the Trail?Trail?

►WhitehallWhitehall►Hudson Crossing Park Hudson Crossing Park

& Dix Bridge& Dix Bridge►Saratoga National Saratoga National

Historical ParkHistorical Park►CommunitiesCommunities►Hudson River accessHudson River access►LocksLocks

How will issues be How will issues be addressed?addressed?

►Type(s) of trail along the routeType(s) of trail along the route►Public safety & emergency responsePublic safety & emergency response►Property valuesProperty values►Trail ownershipTrail ownership►Costs of construction & maintenance Costs of construction & maintenance ►Protecting & respecting private Protecting & respecting private

propertyproperty

Future fundingFuture funding► Transportation Enhancements (NYS-DOT)Transportation Enhancements (NYS-DOT)►NYS Environmental Protection Fund (NYS-NYS Environmental Protection Fund (NYS-

OPRHP)OPRHP)►Recreational Trails Fund (NYS-OPRHP)Recreational Trails Fund (NYS-OPRHP)

Up to $200,000Up to $200,000► Challenge Cost Share grants (NPS)Challenge Cost Share grants (NPS)

Designated National Trails and RTCA-assisted rail-Designated National Trails and RTCA-assisted rail-trailstrails

Up to $10,000Up to $10,000►Hudson River Greenway Trails grantsHudson River Greenway Trails grants

Up to $5,000Up to $5,000

Please give us your Please give us your ideas:ideas:

►Issues & opportunitiesIssues & opportunities►Mark up the mapsMark up the maps►Learn more about & offer your Learn more about & offer your

thoughts on:thoughts on: Trail benefits Trail benefits Trail planning & Trail useTrail planning & Trail use Trail construction & Trail construction &

managementmanagement►Q&A Q&A