The Adirondack North Country Association has successfully applied for $796,575 in Transportation Enhancements Program funds to build a 9.1 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that will link the communities of Lake Placid and Saranac Lake through a rail-with-trails path within the Remsen/Lake Placid corridor. Currently, travel between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid is limited to a single highway with minimal shoulders.
According to Ted Blazer, President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, "There is really no opportunity for youth, seniors or families with children to travel between the two communities by bicycle. Nor is there an adequate way for our tourists to traverse between Lake Placid and Sarnac Lake. Adding a bicycle path to the Adirondack Railroad tourist train corridor will improve the quality of life for residents in each community by providing alternative transportation and recreation opportunities."
Jack Favro, Director of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, preditcts that the U.S. Olympic Training Center "will especially benefit from the path as we service over 7,000 athletes per year, many of which live in the surrounding communities. We would estimate approximately 25% of our athletes would use this path daily."
Peter Gores, General Manager of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, notes that his company believes in sharing the right-of-way and they think the trail will have a positive impact on both the economy and the environment.
The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has coordinated the interests of over twenty local organizations, agencies and businesses that have expressed unanimous support for the project. Led by Terry Martino, their executive director, the ANCA will continue to assist in bringing this valuable rails-with-trails project to reality.
Bikes Belong Coalition, the bicycle industry¹s advocacy voice, has contributed a $10,000 grant for this project.
For more information on this rail-with-trail project, contact Terry Martino, Executive Director of the Adirondack North Country Association, at (518) 891-6200.
Disclaimer: All project trails listed on TrailLink.com are in various phases of development and may not be open for public use. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy does not manage any trails listed on TrailLink.com. To learn more about the current status of trail development, please look in the "Related Links" section below to find contact information for the local organization or agency responsible for trail management.