Riga and Churchville participate in Trail Feasibility Study

The former New York Central Westshore Railroad alignment extends from Churchville in Monroe County to the Village of Oakfield in Genesee County. The Genesee Sno-Packers and Sleds of Stafford snowmobile clubs currently use and maintain this popular snowmobile trail and substantial portions of the alignment are owned by the Town of Byron, the Town of Bergen, the County of Monroe and the Village of Churchville. The trail corridor is included in the Regional Trails Initiative prepared by the Genesee Transportation Council (2002-2004) and has been recommended to be studied for potential development as a multi-use trail.

A Steering Committee is being formed to study the feasibility and conceptual design for a trail that could be used by hikers, bicyclists, cross-county skiers, and snowmobilers extending from Churchville in Monroe County to Transit Road on the Elba/Byron town line in Genesee County.

The study is co-sponsored by the Towns of Byron, Bergen and Riga, the Village of Churchville and the Monroe County Parks Department. Representatives from local agencies as well as interested groups such as snowmobile clubs, the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society, and private owners of sections of the former railroad alignment are invited to participate in the feasibility study Steering Committee.

An organizational meeting was held on February 8 at the Churchville Village Hall to discuss the study scope and to identify parties to be invited to participate in the Steering Committee. The project consultants, Lu Engineers, presented an overview of the study and issues that may affect trail feasibility within the alignment corridor. The agencies and project sponsors attending the organizational meeting identified several user groups and property owners that may be affected by the project and that accordingly are being invited to participate in the study Steering Committee.

Two public forums will be held to discuss the feasibility and the conceptual design for the trail project. The first is anticipated to be held in May or June of 2007. Property owners are invited to attend the Steering Committee meetings that will be held in conjunction with the public forums and that will guide the consultant in completing the study.

Interested parties can contact the following individuals to obtain further information about the feasibility study: Riga Town Councilman Bob Ottley (293-3880), Churchville Village Clerk Sue Davis (293-3720) or Robert Torzynski (232-6240, Genesee Transportation Council Project Manager).

March 25, 2007