The judge in the case has ruled that the decision to lift the tracks in favor of a trail was “arbitrary and capricious.”
The decision will undoubtedly be appealed by the “trail advocates.” And even if the “trail advocates” had won, they wouldn’t have been happy - they want the entire railroad north of Thendara lifted.
Whether this means there will be operations next year between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, or if the exceedingly popular rail bikes will return remains to be seen.
As part of the “compromise” that brought about the decision to lift the rails the state had said they would fund rehabilitation of the tracks between Big Moose and Tupper Lake. We’ll see how that goes now.
Needless to say, I have been following this court action, with interest, BUT it seems to be one of those sitguations where life is immitating art; [ ie: the situation that used to occur regularly in the cartoon"Peanuts" where Lucy would tempt Charlie Brown with the football; ultimately, removing the football, a
The “trail advocates” learned that there was more than one 600# gorilla in the room. Interesting outcome, so far. In the meantime, hoping here that some of the true intentions are exposed so this doesn’t become a war of financial attrition with just the lawyers benefitting from the $$$ wasted.
One of the “trail advocates” has no love for the railroad, and this dislike dates back at least to the 1980 Olympics. He has apparently said that he’s spent substantial money on the effort to get the tracks lifted, and is prepared to spend whatever it takes.
On the plus side for the rails, apparently only two of the 37 (I think) cases he’s ruled on that have been appealed to a higher court have been overturned. He’s quite thorough.
Aside from the mayor of Lake Placid, who has just recently drunk the Kool-aid, I believe folks are starting to see the “trail advocates” for what they are - a bunch of elitists who simply want everyone out of their woods.
One must remember that there is a fringe “out there” of folks who would prefer that the only way to enter the Adirondack Park would be on foot. I don’t think the “trail advocates” are quite that extreme, but their thought process is little different.
“…a bunch of elitists who want everyone out of THEIR woods…”
Wouldn’t surprise me. I learned a new word a few months back, read it in an outdoor recreation magazine, the word is “touron.”
It’s a combination of two words, tourist and moron, and it’s a favorite word outdoor elitists use to describe anyone who comes into what they consider their own private playground. Says a lot, doesn’t it?
By the way, this particular outdoor mag, a local publication, has that attitude of as far as the outdoors are concerned “the more the merrier!”
Hey - now I’ve learned a new word, too! And based on what I’ve read about some of the core group of “trail advocates,” at least one of them would find the term useful.
Of course, these folks want everyone to think that they’ll welcome all the “new” hikers, etc, so you won’t see them bandying that word out locally.
They dare not say that they don’t want the snowmobilers, either, because the snowmobile community hates the track structure and wants it gone so it doesn’t interfere with their sport. At least I get that - except that if the tracks come up, they won’t be riding on the corridor at all…
I look at some of these trail adovcates like some of the Nimby’s and Bananas I have dealt with recently in the permiting process my boss is going thru for his new wash rack. We finally got it approved when it came out that our wash rack as it is now is in violation of the Clean Water Act yet the Idiots opposing it were more upset about the construction of the new one. Then it came out that they were also against the proposed upgrades to the city sewer and the township were I live in their Sewer upgrade. Yet they are threatening to sue my boss in court for not following the law on permitting. He has been trying for close to 10 years to get the permits needed and these people have been blocking him every single step of the way. Gotta love some people don’t yah.
You can’t legislate stupidity, but you can legislate stupidly. And bureaucracys try both. Let us hope that the Judge’s decision rules and survives any challenges.