In December 2013, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) announced a landmark agreement in principle to allow conversion of the County-owned Ulster & Delaware (U&D) railroad corridor along the Ashokan Reservoir into a new public recreational trail for walking, running, bicycling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and other non-motorized uses. The trail will be created on an 11.5 mile section of the underutilized U&D corridor, which has not seen freight, passenger, or tourist trains in nearly four decades. The trail will open the northern shore of the Ashokan Reservoir to the public, without fee or permit, for the first time since the Reservoir was put into service in 1915. This historic agreement allows redevelopment of the unused U&D segment to trail only and provides significant NYCDEP financial support for development of a world-class rail trail.

In August 2014, the Ulster County Legislature adopted Resolution No. 275, establishing a policy supporting the conversion of this segment of the U&D corridor into trail only. Pursuant to this policy, Ulster County negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City of New York to formalize the agreement in principle and advance the opening of the northern Ashokan Reservoir lands to the public for the first time in a century. On April 20, 2015, the City of New York approved the final MOA that had been negotiated with Ulster County over more than a year, and the authorization to sign the agreement will now head to the Ulster County Legislature for consideration. If approved, the MOA will facilitate the development of a public trail along an area previously accessible by permit only, and it will also provide millions of dollars in NYCDEP funding for trail planning and construction. Public trailheads will be funded, designed, constructed and operated by NYCDEP under the MOA provisions. Opening a scenic public recreational trail along the north shore of the Ashokan Reservoir will significantly boost tourism to the Route 28 corridor and Catskill communities, increase recreational opportunities for Ulster County residents and visitors alike, improve public health, and make our County an even more desirable location to live, work, and do business.

Ulster County has waited 100 years Its time to open the Ashokan Reservoir Trail!

MOA Provisions: $2.5 Million in NYCDEP Grants

Support for $1 Million in

Catskill Watershed Corp Grants NYCDEP Funding &

Construction of Trailheads with Parking and Sanitary Facilities

Joint Marketing of Ashokan

Trail to New York City residents Bike/ Pedestrian Improvements

to NYCDEP Bridges Protection of NYCDEP Water

Quality and Environment Preservation of Countys

Permanent U&D Rail Easement

On May 19, 2015, the Ulster County Legislature will vote on authorizing the MOA with the City of New York, which will allow the County to begin a public planning process to design and conduct needed environmental reviews for the future trail with the goal of beginning construction in late 2016 or 2017. This MOA agreement is vigorously opposed by the current private railroad tenant on the rail corridor despite the fact that it has not used this section of track for any revenue trains during its entire 25-year lease, which ends in May 2016.

Its essential that your voice be heard now by the Ulster County Legislature so the MOA is signed and this historic trail project can move forward without further delays! Calling or emailing members of the Legislature is important, and contact information can be found at: http://ulstercountyny.gov/legislature/legislative-members Please also attend the Legislative session on May 19 to show your support for the Ashokan Trail. For more information, please visit the Friends of the Catskill MOAntain Rail Trail: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheCatskillMOAntainRailTrail.

Why Now? $3.5 Million in new grant funding is in

jeopardy without a signed MOA.

$2 Million in 2013 State trail funding for trail needs to be used or is at risk.

$330,000 in 2014 Water Quality grants

could expire from delays. Without the MOA, additional private

funding and/or commitments for trail maintenance cannot be secured.

NYCDEP is currently planning bridge

improvements, and the MOA will guarantee improved pedestrian and bicycle accommodations and community connectivity.

Delay in approving MOA undermines

ability to negotiate future agreements.

Planning needs to begin this summer if the trail is to advance after the May 31, 2016 expiration of the railroad lease.

Support the MOA for the Ashokan Trail Pass Resolution No. 187.