|
Public Meeting to be Held on August 19th at Lowville
Fire Hall on Lewis County Rail Trail Master Plan
Published: August 08, 2026
at 02:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from Lewis County and Creighton Manning
LEWIS COUNTY AND CREIGHTON MANNING TO
HOST OPEN HOUSE ON LEWIS COUNTY RAIL TRAIL MASTER PLAN
LOWVILLE, NY- Lewis County
and Creighton Manning will host a public meeting on Wednesday, August 19,
2026, to gather input and provide information on the Lewis County Rail
Trail Master Plan, which is to evaluate the conversion of approximately 25
miles of former railroad corridor, recently acquired from Genesee Valley
Transportation, into a multi-use rail trail system connecting the Villages
of Croghan and Lowville in Lewis County and the Village of Carthage in
Jefferson County.
The study team
will be available at the Lowville Fire Department, located at 5420 Parkway
Drive, Lowville, NY 13367, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The meeting will be
conducted in an open-house format, allowing attendees to drop in at any
time during the event. A brief presentation will be provided at the
beginning of the meeting, followed by opportunities for residents to ask
questions, review project information, and share their thoughts with the
study team.
The Rail Trail
Master Plan will provide a comprehensive roadmap to guide the adaptive
reuse of this corridor into a network of recreational and community spaces
that celebrate the region’s historic assets while supporting economic
growth, tourism, and quality of life for residents and visitors.
The study will:
•
Evaluate the feasibility of converting the former
railroad corridor into a multi-use rail trail system with options for
motorized or non-motorized or rail with trail sections being evaluated
•
Identify potential environmental impacts, permitting
requirements, and mitigation measures
•
Gather public input to understand community
priorities and desired trail uses
•
Inventory existing destinations, including parks,
business districts, recreational facilities, and community resources, and
identify potential trail connections and parking opportunities
•
Develop a long-range Rail Trail Master Plan that
identifies future trail corridors and alignments, planned and existing
destinations, environmental considerations, opportunities, constraints, and
other factors identified through the planning process
Public engagement
has been ongoing throughout the study process.
Mailings were sent to adjacent property owners inviting them to meet with
the project team and ask questions. Staff from Creighton Manning have been
available for telephone and in-person meetings at local fire houses throughout
the study area. In addition, an information booth was hosted at the Lewis
County Fair to provide project information and gather feedback from
community members. A public survey is also currently available on the
project website, providing another opportunity for residents and
stakeholders to share their input and help guide the study's
recommendations. Community feedback received through these efforts will be
considered as the project moves forward.
For additional
information about the study, upcoming events, and opportunities to
participate, please visit: https://lewiscountyrailtrail.com/
|
