Railbiking May Offer Cattaraugus County A New Outdoor "Vibe"
Railbiking May Offer Cattaraugus County A New Outdoor "Vibe"
The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) is looking into leasing a few miles of its unused railroad line to Revolution Rail, a company that offers unique rail peddling excursions in three states to outdoor adventure-seekers and nature-lovers during the warmer months.
Representatives of the company were introduced to the CCIDA Board of Directors during the agency's meeting that was aired via Zoom Tuesday morning in Ellicottville. They explained that in 2017 they launched their Adirondack operations in North Creek, New York with six rail bikes each carrying two or four passengers on an unused portion of the Saratoga and North Creek Railway near the High Peaks Wilderness in the Adirondack Park.
Since then, they said, the company established operations to the south near Lake George in Hadley, New York, and also along a Jersey Shore public transit shoreline route in Cape May, New Jersey, and on the Durango and Rio Grande rails in South Fork, Colorado. Currently, 100 rail bikes are ready to roll on scenic rail in May, attended by at least 38 employees, including local historians, crossing guards and gift shop workers. Revolution Rail can be expected to invest about $150,000 on a startup.
The design of the lightweight bikes is inspired by hand-pumped rail maintenance cars of former times, but these Vermont-manufactured four-wheeled railbikes run on lightweight hard plastic wheels that are shaped to fit over the rails. Riders of all ages and abilities can operate the foot pedals and brakes while seated comfortably on an aluminum frame that can be coupled with other bikes in the string.
The round trip takes about two hours to travel about three miles, with a 15-minute rest stop while workers turn each car around to head back to the point of origin. Tickets start at $70 for one or two people and are booked on the internet. Promotional information boasts 10,000 riders in 2021 alone at the North Creek concession.
Agency Director Corey Wiktor told the Board that the railbiking would attract riders from outside the area into the village of Cattaraugus, a historic train stop along a dormant portion of the New York and Lake Erie Railroad line. The railroad is owned by the CCIDA and special excursion trains travel between Gowanda and South Dayton. Rails were removed on the section of the roadbed between Cattaraugus and Salamanca and converted to the Pat McGee hiking trail. Railbikers would view hemlock forests and views similar to Zoar Valley on the route between Cattaraugus and a land slide area several miles to the west. But Wiktor added the route will need brush clearing and track maintenance.
The Revolution Rail team said they are anxious to explore that section now on foot or on skis to determine viability and expressed interest in setting up a gift shop in the village. Board members seemed eager to move forward.
"It might be worth fixing up," said Board member Joseph Higgins, who urged against tearing up any more rail and ties.
Wiktor told the group that the county sees the most visitors in the summer and railbiking would add an interesting "vibe." He pointed out that new activity on the railroad would complement the history and preservation efforts underway in Cattaraugus, which was built in the 1850's and saw an early rail line construction by Irish immigrants.
He said he will work on a proposal for Revolution Rail for discussion at the March 8 meeting and also take a tour of the rail line with NY & LE RR operator Robert O. Dingman, Jr. and railbike representatives, weather permitting.
In another matter, the Board approved refinancing of an $18.6 million mortgage of the Olean Manor, Inc., Field of Dreams adult living facility in Allegany for about 140 residents. Wiktor said the facility received its initial CCIDA inducement about five years ago and the vote confirms a transfer from HSBC, the original mortgage holder, to Community Bank. In March, the Board will review a proposal for financing a $5 million Phase III at the facility.
Wiktor also previewed St. Bonaventure University's application documents for $26 million in tax exempt bonds from the Capital Resource Corporation, the CCIDA's independent local development corporation. CCIDA Board members also sit on the CRC Board, which will meet separately in March or April to consider the financing.
Wiktor said the project would provide housing for 80 additional graduate students, renovation of the townhomes, updates to Plassman Hall, a new health and wellness center, and improvements of electrical, roofing, parking lots and upgrades to residences and academic buildings.
He also announced the CCIDA will sponsor a job fair on Feb. 24 for Great Lakes Cheese, which hopes to hire 40 new employees for its plant in Cuba. The employees will later transition to its planned manufacturing plant in Franklinville.