Black Diamond Trail

Final Master Plan & Final Environmental Impact Statement

The Pathway
Robert H. Treman State Park

g n i i nk

Buttermilk Falls State Park

State Parks
Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Taughannock Falls State Park

David A. Paterson Governor

Carol Ash Commissioner

July 2008

Acknowledgements
The Black Diamond Trail Final Master Plan/Environmental Impact Statement is a product of many years of collaborative work. The version of the multi-use, multi-purpose trail presented in the following document encompasses three decades of effort and talent from State Parks staff and community leaders and planners in the City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and Tompkins County. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) would like to acknowledge and thank the contributors to the project, many of whom are now enjoying their retirement years.

Carol Ash, Commissioner

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Andy Beers, Executive Deputy Commissioner New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Erik Kulleseid, Deputy Commissioner for Open Space Protection New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Daniel S. Kane, Deputy Commissioner for Operations New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Tim Joseph, Regional Director New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Finger Lakes Region

OPRHP Planning Team Members

Finger Lakes Region Staff Jeffrey McDonald, Capital Facilities Manager Sue A. Poelvoorde, Senior Natural Resources Planner Albany Office Staff Robert Reinhardt, Director of Planning Thomas Lyons, Director of Resource Management Janet Zuckerman, Associate Environmental Analyst Consultants Larsen Engineers Northeast Greenways Greg Potter

Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement For

Black Diamond Trail

Town of Ithaca, City of Ithaca, Town of Ulysses

Black Diamond Trail

Tompkins County, New York State

Prepared by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Completed: Contact: July 9, 2008 Tim Jospeh Regional Director Finger Lakes State Parks Region 2221 Taughannock Park Road Trumansburg, New York 14886 (607) 387-7041 Fax: (607) 387-3390 E-mail: Tim Joseph@oprhp.state.ny.us Thomas Lyons Director of Resource Management New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Empire State Plaza Agency Building 1 Albany, New York 12238 (518) 474-0409 Fax: (518) 474-7013 E-mail: Thomas.Lyons@oprhp.state.ny.us

Photo Credits Rick Manning, Northeast Greenways Anthony Ingraham Finger Lakes State Parks Region

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMMARY.................................................................................................................. ES-i QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE FINAL MASTER PLAN/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.......................................................................................................................... QA-i CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... Background ........................................................................................................................................ The Planning Process.......................................................................................................................... Plan Content........................................................................................................................................ CHAPTER II - GUIDING PRINCIPLES............................................................................................. New York State Programs and Policies............................................................................................... Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Mission Statement and Guiding Principles... Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.......................................................................... Regional and Local Initiatives. ........................................................................................................... Black Diamond Trail Goals and Objectives........................................................................................ CHAPTER III - ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND EXISTING CONDITIONS....................... Regional Setting.................................................................................................................................. Location............................................................................................................................................ Physical Characteristics of the Region............................................................................................. Access............................................................................................................................................... Recreational Opportunities............................................................................................................... Statewide Trail and Greenway Systems........................................................................................... Local Setting. ....................................................................................................................................... Study Area Boundaries..................................................................................................................... Land Use........................................................................................................................................... Land Ownership. ............................................................................................................................... Landscape Resources. ...................................................................................................................... Hydrologic Resources. ..................................................................................................................... Biological Resources........................................................................................................................ Historical/Cultural Resources........................................................................................................... Agricultural Resources..................................................................................................................... Scenic Features................................................................................................................................. Recreational Features....................................................................................................................... Community Character . .................................................................................................................... Transportation System...................................................................................................................... Infrastructure. .................................................................................................................................... Emergency/Public Services.............................................................................................................. I-1 I-1 I-3 I-4 II-7 II-7 II-7 II-8 II-9 II-10 III-11 III-11 III-11 III-11 III-13 III-13 III-13 III-15 III-15 III-15 III-15 III-16 III-17 III-18 III-20 III-22 III-22 III-23 III-25 III-27 III-28 III-31

CHAPTER IV - ANALYSIS AND ALTERNATIVES.......................................................................... Resource Analysis............................................................................................................................... The Natural Landscape..................................................................................................................... The Cultural Landscape.................................................................................................................... Trail Alternatives................................................................................................................................. Park Land Classification................................................................................................................... Trail Location................................................................................................................................... Treadway Surface Treatment............................................................................................................ Recreational and Travel Mode Options............................................................................................ Treadway Width................................................................................................................................ Support Amenities ........................................................................................................................... Access............................................................................................................................................... Spur Trails......................................................................................................................................... Alternatives by Trail Segment.......................................................................................................... CHAPTER V - DRAFT TRAIL MASTER PLAN................................................................................ Design Criteria.................................................................................................................................... Trail Plan............................................................................................................................................. Standard Trail Construction Treatments........................................................................................... Trail Corridor.................................................................................................................................... Figures MP-1 & MP-2 SP 0+000 to 12+300 Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park............................................................................................................ Figures MP-2 & MP-3, SP 12+300 to 23+000 Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park.......................................................................................................... Figures MP-3 to MP-6, SP 23+000 to SP 67+500 Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/ Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park................................................................................... Operation, Management and Maintenance. ......................................................................................... Ownership of Trail Facilities............................................................................................................ Management..................................................................................................................................... Operation.......................................................................................................................................... Maintenance. ..................................................................................................................................... Staffing. ............................................................................................................................................ Equipment......................................................................................................................................... Land Acquisition. .............................................................................................................................. Implementation. ................................................................................................................................... Cost Estimate. ...................................................................................................................................... Funding Sources............................................................................................................................... Relationship to Other Programs.......................................................................................................... CHAPTER VI - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS.............................................................. Introduction......................................................................................................................................... Impacts of Alternatives. ....................................................................................................................... Status Quo Alternative...................................................................................................................... Preferred Draft Master Plan Alternative........................................................................................... Unavoidable Adverse Effects. ........................................................................................................... Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources............................................................... Growth Inducement.......................................................................................................................... Supplemental Environmental Review..............................................................................................

IV-33 IV-33 IV-33 IV-36 IV-39 IV-41 IV-42 IV-44 IV-44 IV-44 IV-45 IV-45 IV-45 IV-45 V-51 V-51 V-51 V-51 V-51 V-52 V-67 V-79 V-105 V-105 V-106 V-106 V-109 V-109 V-109 V-109 V-110 V-110 V-110 V-112 V-123 V-123 V-123 V-123 V-124 V-127 V-127 V-127 V-127

CHAPTER VI - COMMENTS AND RESPONSES............................................................................. Introduction......................................................................................................................................... Response to Comments....................................................................................................................... Persons/Organizations Who Provided Comments. .............................................................................. BIBLIOGRAPHY ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

V-129 V-129 V-129 V-141

APPENDIX Appendix A - Tri-partite Agreement, Joint Development Project for a Multi-Use Recreational and Public Works Corridor at Ithaca, New York

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Figures and Tables

Figures
I-1 III-2 III-3 III-4 MP-1 MP-2 V-5 V-6 V-7 V-8 V-9 MP-2 MP-3 V-10 V-11 V-12 MP-3 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Master Plan Process Finger Lakes State Parks Region Proposed Black Diamond Trail Study Area Proposed Black Diamond Trail Community Recreational & Cultural Resources Accessible from the Trail Master Plan, Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park Master Plan, Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Robert H. Treman State Park Enlargement Buttermilk Falls State Park Enlargement Buttermilk Falls State Park - Trailhead and Road Crossings Southwest Natural Area Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Spur/Cayuga Waterfront Trail Master Plan, Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Master Plan, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Trailhead at Cass Park Typical Trail Overlook Trail Intersection at Willow Creek Road Master Plan, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park I-5 III-12 III-14 III-26 V-61 V-62 V-63 V-64 V-65 V-70 V-74 V-75 V-76 V-77 V-83 V-91 V-95

Figures - contd. Master Plan, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Master Plan, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Master Plan, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Cayuga Nature Center Enlargement Cayuga Nature Center Trailhead Taughannock Falls State Park Enlargement Trailhead at Taughannock Falls State Park Spur Trail to Trumansburg, Grove Cemetery Enlargement Treadway Cross Sections Typical Trail Sections Typical Intersection Treatment Proposed Gate for Trail/Road Intersections Screening Techniques for Adjacent Properties Kiosk and Interpretative Sign Designs Trail Signage V-96 V-97 V-98 V-99 V-100 V-101 V-102 V-103 V-115 V-116 V-117 V-118 V-119 V-120 V-121

MP-4 MP-5 MP-6 V-13 V-14 V-15 V-16 V-17 V-18 V-19 V-20 V-21 V-22 V-23 V-24

TAbles
III-1 IV-2 IV-3 IV-4 IV-5 IV-6 VI-7 State Park Monthly Attendance, May to September, 2006 Resource Sensitivity Issues by Trail Segment Trail Development Alternatives Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls State Park Trail Alternatives Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman State Park and Cass Park Trail Alternatives Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls State Park Trail Alternatives Ground Surface Changes III-25 IV40 IV-46 IV-47 IV-48 IV-49 VI-123

Questions and Answers About This Final Master Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement
What is the action?
The action is the adoption and implementation of a Master Plan for the Black Diamond Trail.

Who is proposing to do this?

The Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is proposing the action.

Why was this report written?

This Final Master Plan/Environmental Impact Statement was written to provide direction to OPRHP staff on the development, operation and maintenance of the Black Diamond Trail. Making the plan publicly available gives the opportunity for individuals, organizations and other government agencies to participate in the development of the Black Diamond Trail.

How much opportunity has there been for public participation?

The trail project has been the subject of three public information and scoping meetings to gather information, concerns and issues surrounding the development and management of the multi-use, multipurpose trail. Meetings were also held with special interest groups and adjacent property owners to refine specific issues to help guide trail development options. The project also has been discussed during several other planning initiatives completed or underway in Tompkins County, New York. The draft master plan was released for public review on November 21, 2007. Two public workshops and hearings on the draft plan were held on December 5 and 6, 2007, offering the public an opportunity to provide oral and written comments on the proposed trail project. The comment period was extended to January 15, 2008, in recognition that the plan was released in the midst of the 2007 holiday season.

How should this report be reviewed?

The report can be read from cover to cover or one may concentrate on particular areas of interest. Refer to the Table of Contents to locate topic-specific information.

What has the Commissioner decided?

Commissioner Ash has decided that a Master Plan/Environmental Impact Statement is necessary to guide the development and management of the Black Diamond Trail. At this time, the Commissioner also has

QA-

decided that the final plan be made available for public consideration. She has not made any decision regarding the adoption of the Master Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

How can someone comment on the plan?

People who wish to comment on this plan may write or call: Tim Joseph, Regional Director Finger Lakes State Parks Region 2221 Taughannock Park Road Trumansburg, New York 14886 Telephone: (607) 387-7041 FAX: (607) 387-3390 E-mail: Tim.Joseph@oprhp.state.ny.us Thomas Lyons Director of Resource Management New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Empire State Plaza Agency Building 1 Albany, New York 12238 Phone: (518) 474-0409 FAX: (518) 474-4492 E-mail: Thomas.Lyons@oprhp.state.ny.us

What happens next?

The Final Master Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement is subject to a 10-day review period for agencies and the public to consider this document. Commissioner Ash then issues a statement of findings, which describes the Action being taken and description of the basis for her decision.

QA-ii

executive summary
The Black Diamond Trail is a 15-mile, off-road pedestrian and bicycle dedicated trail facility proposed for Tompkins County, New York. The trail will provide residents and visitors with an alternate way to travel to several destinations in the county including the four major State Parks and many other popular community destinations in the City of Ithaca and the Towns of Ithaca and Ulysses. The trails setting includes stream bottomlands, the urban setting of the City of Ithaca and pastoral rural lands. The following sections provide a concise summary of the master plan document developed to guide construction and operation of the Black Diamond Trail. Sections include information on guiding principles, environmental setting, trail facility alternatives, environmental impacts and the preferred development plan.

Introduction
Increasing gasoline prices, long-term health concerns associated with obesity and diabetes, and concerns about the quality-of-life values in communities have local, state and federal government and private business leaders looking to innovative ways to tackle these issues. Among the many alternatives to respond to the issues, communities across the country are developing networks of pedestrian and bicycle dedicated facilities that provide residents and visitors with enjoyable alternative ways to move through and between their communities to multiple trip destinations. Within Tompkins County, New York, initiatives to move toward a trail network that would lessen the dependence on the private automobile and provide a resource to improve the health and quality of life of area residents have been discussed and worked on for two to three decades. The Black Diamond Trail is one such project. Conceived in the early 1970s, a project to build a multi-use recreational trail linking a complex of four state parks and cityowned recreation and cultural resources earned support by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), the City of Ithaca, the Towns of Ithaca and Ulysses and

Tompkins County throughout the later twentieth century. But, for thirty years the project languished, lacking sustained funding to support planning, acquisition and construction of the trail. In the early 1990s, following a shift in the national consciousness toward transportation and health issues, the federal government authorized the Federal Highway Administration to make transportation funds available to improve and provide pedestrian and bicycle dedicated infrastructure in the nations transportation system. With the infusion of federal funding assistance, communities took a whole new look at some of the former recreational-based trail systems they had been planning over the years and recognized the opportunities these same projects afforded to provide and encourage residents and visitors to select alternate ways to reach multiple tripgenerating destinations in their communities while enjoying the outdoors and getting needed exercise. With a renewed sense of purpose for the project, OPRHP, along with partners from Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and the Towns of Ithaca and Ulysses, is ready to commit resources to move the Black Diamond Trail project forward and make the trail a reality.

ES-

Guiding Principles
Since the projects conception, the overriding objective for the Black Diamond Trail is to develop an off-road, multi-use, multi-purpose trail facility connecting the four major State Park facilities in Tompkins County to neighborhoods and communities and other major trip destinations. The design and operation of the trail is intended to encourage people with all levels of ability and skill to travel to or visit the many popular destinations in Tompkins County by bicycle or foot, particularly being able to access all four major State Park facilities in the county. Federal, state and local governments, not-for-profits and private entities are including multi-use, multipurpose trail facility planning into their regional and community planning and development projects, goals and objectives, action strategies and visions. Funding from a variety of programs is also being committed to build and promote use of pedestrian and bicycle dedicated facilities. Guiding the development of the Black Diamond Trail, first and foremost, is OPRHPs mission to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for the states residents and visitors and to be a responsible steward of the valuable natural, historic and cultural resources that make up the state park and historic site system. In addition to OPRHPs mission, a number of state and local planning initiatives were consulted to develop goals and supporting objectives for the Black Diamond Trail. These will help to guide the project through the planning, development and operation steps. The following are the goals for the trail: Increase opportunities for trail-based recreation and multi-modal transportation options in the Finger Lakes Region in general, and Tompkins County in particular.

Protect, enhance and interpret the scenic, natural and cultural resources of the trail corridor. Develop the trail in a manner that promotes a safe, high-quality, diversified recreational experience and alternate transportation choice. Minimize and/or mitigate, as practical, impacts on adjacent landowners.

Environmental Setting
The Black Diamond Trail will be located in the Town of Ithaca, City of Ithaca and Town of Ulysses in Tompkins County within the Finger Lakes State Parks Region of New York State. The trail is projected to be 15 miles in length, encompassed by 226 acres of public land, connecting the four major state parks in Tompkins County Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and Taughannock Falls State Park as well as the population centers of Ithaca and Trumansburg.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Village of Trumansburg

C
.
.Y .S. R ou te
89

A
Y

Town of Ulysses

Town of Enfield

Robert H. Treman State Park

Proposed Route of the Black Diamond Trail

ES-ii

ou

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL

Town of Ithaca

S Y.
.R
ou

G A

Town of Lansing

te
96

K E LA
.S. Route 13 N.Y

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

City of Ithaca

13 te

Buttermilk Falls State Park

The setting of the trail includes three different landscapes. The trail segment connecting Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls will pass through the Cayuga Inlet stream valley. The trail segment connecting Buttermilk Falls and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park will follow a former railroad corridor and the banks of the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel through the City of Ithaca. The trail skirts retail, industrial park and park areas. The longest segment of the trail, connecting Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls, is the rail-totrail component of the project. This segment of the trail will follow the route of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad line, where the sleek locomotive the Black Diamond hauled people and freight between downstate and upstate New York, through pastoral farmland and rural residential surroundings. The distinctive landscape of the glacially-carved Cayuga Lake valley provides a variety of natural and cultural settings for the Black Diamond Trail. The trail connecting Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls will meander down the Cayuga Inlet valley, paralleling the stream as it winds its way north to Cayuga Lake. The bottomlands are lush with regenerating floodplain forest vegetation and wildlife, dotted with small pockets of wetlands. Much of the area had been farmed in the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries and likely provided sustenance for Native American peoples who settled the area prior to European immigration settlement.

From Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman the trail starts out paralleling the Cayuga Inlet stream in a floodplain forest setting before crossing the stream on abandoned railroad corridor and entering into the urbanized area of Ithaca. Within the city, the trail will parallel the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel, passing west of the developing Southwest Area with its new retail complex and future residential neighborhood and the Cherry Street Industrial Park. After crossing the flood control channel, the trail will enter the City of Ithacas Cass Park, which includes ball fields, swimming pool and enclosed court sports and ice rink facility. The City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail will provide the link to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park.

Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel through the west side of the City of Ithaca

Leaving the park setting, the trail segment connecting Allan H. Treman/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls will follow the old Lehigh Valley Railroad line that formerly connected the cities of Ithaca and Geneva, which is located at the north end of Seneca Lake. The landscape along the old rail line varies starting with a towering canopy of maple, hemlock, oak and hickory trees, then transitioning to open agricultural fields, abandoned agricultural lands in reversion and rural residential land uses.

Cayuga Inlet Creek between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks

ES-iii

of the trail to a defined area within the county, also limiting the alternatives. With the trail corridor defined, a focused look at the natural and cultural resources within the area provides the information about what resources could be impacted by the trail development.

Analysis of Resources
Within this focused project area, alternatives must be proposed that consider the natural and cultural resources sensitive to change. Resources are also considered with respect to how they will enhance the experience of the trail user. On the natural resources side, two rare plants (Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica) and green dragon (Arisaema dracontium)) and two rare animal species (tawny emperor butterfly (Asterocampa clyton) and bog turtle (Clemmys muhlengergii)) were reported to be living within the trail study area. A field survey for the plant species identified the exact locations of the populations. Field reports compiled by the Natural Heritage Program were consulted to identify the latest sighting of the butterfly and turtle species noted of concern. The tawny emperor butterfly was last reported seen in and near the trail study area as recently as 1993. It is expected to still be present in the area. The bog turtle has not been seen since 1940 and is not expected to be found in the trail study area due to the dramatic change that has occurred to its preferred habitat. Portions of the trail corridor will pass through locally unique ecological communities, including floodplain forest and wetlands. In the 1880s, both of these habitat types covered significantly larger acreages in the bottomlands of the Cayuga Inlet valley south of the present-day City of Ithaca. These were destroyed to make way for agricultural use and the expanding urban population of Ithaca. The remnants are important to the biodiversity of the area. Public acquisition of the remnant areas, along with additional acreage adjoining them, provides an opportunity to protect and expand the total acreage of these locally unique habitats.

Abandoned railroad corridor berween Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls State Parks

Water resources within the trails landscape range in size and scale, including the 40-mile-long Cayuga Lake, the meandering Cayuga Inlet, pocket wetlands and vernal pools less than an acre in size, hillside streams and the 300-foot-high Taughannock Creek gorge. In addition to providing a connection to the four major state park facilities in Tompkins County, with their campgrounds, swim areas, picnic grounds and hiking trails; the Black Diamond Trail will also provide an off-road trail alternative to access neighborhoods and parks in the City of Ithaca, residences and businesses in the Town of Ithaca, the Cayuga Nature Center in the Town of Ulysses and residences and businesses in the Town of Ulysses. The trail will take advantage of the abandoned rail line with its remnant features, recycling them for their use to support the trail construction, and investments made by local municipalities that built infrastructure to support an off-road trail network.

Analysis and Alternatives

As a long-standing project, investments of state and local funds have occurred through the years that laid the groundwork for the Black Diamond Trail as it is proposed in this plan. As a result, the scope of alternatives is narrowed from what they might be if the project were just getting underway today. The objective to link the major state park facilities in Tompkins County focuses the physical location

ES-iv

Development of the Black Diamond Trail will consider the impacts on all of the natural resources identified above and construction and operation impacts will be avoided or mitigated to the greatest extent practical by using construction techniques and materials that suit the landscape and by instituting operation and maintenance practices that protect the resources. Cultural resources including archaeological, historical and present-day resources (e.g. recreation, scenic) are located within the trail study area. Additional field work involving ground testing will be required before trail construction that links Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park may proceed due to the high sensitivity/ potential for pre-historic occupation of the area. Other cultural resources will contribute to the educational/interpretive opportunities that will make the trail more interesting for users. Re-use of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor between Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and Taughannock Falls State Park will alter the surroundings of the rural residential properties along the old rail line. After 40 years of little to no use, the property will once again become a traveled way. Where houses sit relatively close to the trail corridor, adjacent neighbors expressed concern about losing their privacy and having trail users trespass on their property seeking assistance or directions. The concerns of the trails neighbors are important to address and several options are available for working with the owners.

The table on the following page, provides a list of the options considered for the Black Diamond Trail and the proposed preferred option for each of the three trail segments.

The Master Plan

Figures MP-1 to MP-6, on the pages ES-xi to ES-xvi, illustrate the master plan for the Black Diamond Trail. The trail follows construction and operation recommendations provided by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Americans with Disabilities Act oversight group), New York State Department of Transportation and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Standard construction treatments for trail amenities are developed to address surface construction for asphalt and compacted limestone dust surfaces, vertical and horizontal safety clearances, trail/road intersection treatments including gates, bollards and traffic warning signage, privacy separation treatments between trail and residential areas, and orientation and interpretive signage.

Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park

This trail segment will follow the course of the Cayuga Inlet as it winds its way north to Cayuga Lake. The trail will pass through abandoned agricultural lands and floodplain forest. The compacted limestone dust trail surface was selected for this trail segment to maintain the aesthetic associated with abandoned farm roads located in the area and to fit the landscape of floodplain vegetation and future stream flood events. This segment provides a wealth of interpretive opportunities to share information about watersheds, wetlands and stream dynamics and is a premier spot for birding.

Alternatives
Features provided by the Black Diamond Trail will focus on trail-based recreation and transportation opportunities. As noted previously, decisions followed by actions committing resources and funding to trail infrastructure have narrowed the location of the Black Diamond Trail to a specified corridor, thereby limiting alternatives for the trails location. Alternatives for who will be accommodated on the trail, how it will be used and what support amenities should be provided are open to the full spectrum of options to explore.

ES-

Trail Development Alternatives

Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3

Alternatives
Classification
Parks and Land Resources - Recreation Park Linear Systems - Recreationway

Robert H. Treman Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman to to Buttermilk Falls Allan H. Treman Taughannock Falls

Trail Location
Within or adjacent to highway/road rights of way Separate from highway/road rights of way

X X X

X X

Treadway Surface Treatment

Compacted stone and stonedust Asphalt Concrete Boardwalk or fabricated surfaces

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Walking, jogging Bicycling In-line skating, in-line skiing, skateboarding Horseback riding Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing Snowmobiles - limited X X X X X X X X X X X X

Treadway Width
Single-purpose trails - 6 feet to 14 feet wide Multiple-purpose trails - 10 feet to 14 feet wide

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Support Amenities
Bathrooms Benches Picnic tables Signs - Interpretive Signs - Orientation Bicycle racks or lockers Safety gates and bollards Fencing and gates Vehicle parking

Access
Primary Secondary

Spur Trails
Within state parks To adjacent destinations (services, neighborhoods)

ES-vi

Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

The majority of this trail segment will pass through the urbanized west side of the City of Ithaca, following the Cayuga Inlet and Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel. This trail segment is expected to receive high use and as such an asphalt surface is recommended for the entire length. The trail intersects with the City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park, a city park. The Cayuga Waterfront Trail provides the Black Diamond Trail user with the link to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. The trail will provide City residents in the West Hill and West End neighborhoods with an alternate transportation option to reach the developing Southwest retail area.

spelled out in a tripartite agreement signed in 1983. The partnership means that the development and operation of the Black Diamond Trail will need to be coordinated with the local municipalities. Though not included in the 1983 agreement, the Town of Ulysses will likely also become a partner in the project. Operation of the trail will be governed by both the statutory rules and regulations of OPRHP and operating rules specific to the trail facility as an alternative transportation facility and a recreational trail. This dual function is unique to the facility, differing from the existing trail systems in each of the state park facilities in Tompkins County that solely serve as recreational trail opportunities for hiking. Trail maintenance will be accomplished by the trail partners along with the support of volunteers. Service groups will be encouraged to assist in maintaining the trail infrastructure. OPRHP will also encourage interested residents to form a not-for-profit Friends group to help support and promote the trail.

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park

This approximately 8.5-mile trail segment is the rail-to-trail component of the Black Diamond Trail. From Ithaca, the trail follows the abandoned line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad that served the area from 1889 to 1959. The trail will be surfaced with compacted limestone dust in keeping with the aesthetics of the railroad corridor and the rural setting that the trail passes through on its way to Taughannock Falls State Park. The trail will provide an alternate transportation link to the City of Ithaca for many rural residents and provides urban residents with an alternative to reach the Cayuga Nature Center and Taughannock Falls State Park, along with other area businesses in the Town of Ulysses.

Relationship to Other Programs

The construction and operation of the Black Diamond Trail will require coordinating and cooperating with other agencies and entities to ensure that the trail contributes positively to the residents and visitors of Tompkins County. Included in the partnership are: New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Town of Ulysses, Ithaca/Tompkins County Transportation Council, New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cayuga Nature Center, Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, Inc., and the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. Within Tompkins County, regional and local initiatives that support the development of the Black Diamond Trail include the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, Tompkins County Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan, Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Long Range Transportation

Operations, Management and Maintenance

The Black Diamond Trail is a project that began its journey back in the early 1970s. Along the way, partnerships developed between OPRHP and local municipalities to move the trail project to construction. The partnership between OPRHP, the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca was

ES-vii

Plan, Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, City of Ithaca Cayuga Waterfront Trail, City of Ithaca Southwest Natural Area Master Plan, Town of Ulysses Comprehensive Plan, the Village of Trumansburg Comprehensive Plan, Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan along with other planning initiatives in process.

One is projected to require 5 to 7 years to complete. The timeline to complete construction of Phases Two and Three will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of funding and acquisition of the remaining parcels needed for the trail. A further breakdown of each phase to progress construction may be explored if funding ceilings limit completing an entire phase. A shorter segment may be considered only if it results in completing a section of trail that links trip destinations.

Implementation
The Black Diamond Trail consists of three segments. While each segment can exist independently, together they provide a network of trails that connect a significant number of trip destinations in Tompkins County. OPRHP will progress construction of the 15-mile, multi-use, multi-purpose trail in phases. The intended order of the phased construction is as follows. Phase One: Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/ Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Phase Two: Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park Phase Three: Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park Phase One of the project is estimated to cost in the range of $3.9 million; Phase Two is estimated to cost $7.8 million; and Phase Three is estimated to cost $2.6 million. These are rough estimates intended to provide a general scale of the cost of the project. Actual construction costs will be refined as construction activities progress for each trail segment. The Master Plan identifies a number of state, federal, local government funding sources that are potentially available to support the project. However, formal funding commitments will need to be secured before construction of the first phase can begin. Trail construction will progress as funding is available. OPRHPs current plan is to break ground on Phase One Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls in 2009. If the necessary funding commitments are secured in a timely manner, Phase

Environmental Impacts
Development and operation of the Black Diamond Trail will result in short- and long-term changes to the physical and cultural environment of the area proposed to host the trail. Both positive and adverse impacts are expected with implementing the trail master plan. The adverse impacts that will occur are expected to be low to moderate and will be mitigated by following best-practices for construction and operation.

Alternatives and Mitigation

The impetus behind pursuing the Black Diamond Trail project over the past 30 years has been to develop an off-road bicycle and pedestrian dedicated trail facility for residents and visitors of Tompkins County, New York with a focus on connecting the four major State Park facilities in the county to neighborhoods and communities and other major trip destinations. The specific nature of this trail proposal narrows the number of alternatives explored through the trail planning process, resulting in two primary options Status Quo and Preferred Master Plan. The Status Quo option consists of the current situation, which is no off-road, bicycle and pedestrian dedicated facility. While no new additional environmental impacts would result from this alternative, the issues that trail development will address would still remain. The primary issues include a need to: develop a multi-modal transportation system, increase opportunities for people to pursue recreational trail activities that will allow them to improve their physical and mental

ES-viii

health, reduce air pollution from motorized vehicle emissions, and improve the overall quality of life of residents in the Tompkins County area. In addition, approximately 226 acres of private land, containing locally significant ecological communities that are needed for this project, will not be permanently protected by New York State ownership. The Preferred Master Plan option for the trail, as illustrated on Figures MP-1 to MP-6, on pages ES -xi to ES - xvi, is a combination of design elements recommended by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, New York State Department of Transportation and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy for multi-use, multi-purpose trail facilities. Environmental impacts and mitigation as part of the proposed trail development includes the following.

In all three segment areas, invasive plant species are present. As a result of OPRHPs proposed acquisition and trail development of the properties, a positive impact will be the development and implementation of management plans that will reduce or eliminate invasive plants and improve the biodiversity of the existing ecological communities. The removal of vegetation and the increase in human presence is expected to affect the avian category of wildlife most, particularly along the trail segment between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls in the Cayuga Inlet. This area has seen the least human presence since the mid1900s, as agricultural lands have been abandoned. Re-introducing human activities into the area could impact bird species that are not accustomed to disturbances. To mitigate this impact, it is intended to acquire enough acreage that will allow siting the trail far enough away from the Cayuga Inlet and thickets of vegetation to protect bird habitat. In addition, new plantings will be considered that enhance the habitats for floodplain forest bird species. Water Resources Impacts to the water resources within the corridor are expected to be minor. The conversion of vegetation ground cover to trail surface can be expected to result in a small increase in stormwater runoff. To mitigate the potential impact, OPRHP has selected surface treatments that have lower runoff rates and will install vegetation swales that slow the rate of flow and act as a water filter.

The Natural Landscape

Flora and Fauna The permanent conversion of ground cover from vegetation to trail surfacing that includes compacted limestone dust and asphalt is the most evident adverse impact of the trail development. Over the course of the 15 miles of trail area, approximately 16.3 acres of vegetation will be removed and converted to trail surface. Of the 16.3 acres, only 3.9 acres will be converted to an impervious asphalt surface. The segment of trail between Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park, which passes through the Cayuga Inlet corridor, is likely to be the most sensitive to the change. Careful onsite planning and siting of the trail in consultation with a botanist and DEC wetlands staff will mitigate the low to moderate impacts expected to occur. For the remaining two segments of the trail, the natural landscape includes abandoned railroad corridor and flood control channel areas that either consist of second-growth herbaceous or shrub species or cultivated grass.

The Cultural Landscape

Archaeological Resources Impacts to archaeological resources over the course of the 15-mile trail corridor are expected to be low. Generally, no adverse impacts are expected and positive impacts associated with interpreting the history of the area will result from the trail development. Remnant railroad infrastructure will be incorporated into the trail design where feasible, thus allowing for railroad history interpretation. The extent of the impacts on pre-historic resources within the trail corridor between Robert H. Treman

ES-ix

and Buttermilk Falls are the least known and will be further explored before any construction proceeds in the area. Agricultural and Community Resources While many positive impacts are expected to occur with the development of the trail, as identified earlier in this section, the active use of the trail corridor for transportation and recreation will result in adverse changes to the environment for people living along the trail, including residential and agricultural properties. The area that could experience the most change is along the trail segment linking Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park. This trail segment will take advantage of the old Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor, which operated up to the late 1950s. Since that time, the corridor has seen little to no use other than that of adjacent property owners. The conversion back to an actively travelled corridor will mean that adjacent property owners will experience more people moving past their properties. To mitigate the change, OPRHP will incorporate fencing, vegetation screens, property boundary postings and orientation and interpretive signage into the physical trail development. Through the operations plan, security staff will be assigned

to monitor activities on the trail. Also, OPRHP will encourage the establishment of a Friends of the Black Diamond Trail group involving local residents and service groups that can assist OPRHP in operating and maintaining the trail. All of these elements have proven to reduce impacts on adjacent properties. Tax Base Acquisition of property by New York State results in property being permanently removed from the local tax rolls. Communities rely on revenue from property taxes for social programs, physical infrastructure and public school systems. The acquisition of properties for the Black Diamond Trail have occurred in stages over time and as such have been absorbed by Tompkins County and the towns with low impact. The municipalities that will host the Black Diamond Trail are supportive of the project for the benefits that are expected associated with transportation and health. Also, the trail is expected to contribute to the tourism appeal of the area, which could result in higher sales tax receipts that will help offset the reduction in property taxes.

ES-

ES-xi

ES-xii

PROPOSED MAINTENANCE/

PERMISSION FROM CAYUGA MEDICAL CENTER REQUIRED.

ES-xiii

ES-xiv

ES-xv

ES-xvi

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
For over 30 years, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has worked to develop a statewide trail system to serve the diverse interests of the recreating public. Along the way, the general public has come to appreciate components of the trail network as alternate ways to travel to and from home, work, school and social functions. These multi-use, multi-purpose trails have become community features valued for adding positively to the quality of life of residents and aiding in expanding transportation options. The proposed Black Diamond Trail will expand trail and alternate transportation opportunities for residents and visitors of Tompkins County, New York. The following sections provide a background on the trail project and the process OPRHP followed to complete the plan that will guide construction, operation and maintenance of the Black Diamond Trail.

Background
During the early 1970s, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) stepped up trail planning and development efforts, in part, to take advantage of the availability of a number of recently abandoned railroad corridors. In the Finger Lakes State Parks Region several potential trail projects were explored. In Tompkins County, Finger Lakes regional staff identified, in partnership with the City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca, a preferred corridor for an offroad trail that would link together the two existing state parksRobert H. Treman and Buttermilk Fallswith the newly, under construction Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and the City of Ithacas Cass Park. The property recommended for the trail was surveyed and appraised. Lacking funds for land acquisition, progress on the trail project stalled. Interest in the Tompkins County trail resurfaced in the early 1980s. Once again, the City and Town of Ithaca joined with the Finger Lakes Region to initiate a trail project. The three entities entered into a tripartite agreement to develop a multi-use recreational and public works corridor. It was envisioned that the combined project would secure lands for future municipal water and sewer line upgrades while allowing the piggy-backing of a multi-purpose, off-road trail link to state, city and town recreational facilities. Several key parcels of land for the corridor between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Buttermilk Falls were secured by the City of Ithaca and OPRHP, with assistance from the Town of Ithaca. Following the signing of the three-way agreement, discussions began within OPRHP to expand the scope of the trail project to include a trail link to the fourth major state park facility in the county, Taughannock Falls. The decision was made to expand the scope of the master plan for the multipurpose off-road trail project to link the four major state park facilities in Tompkins CountyRobert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls, Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls. Through the mid to late 1980s potential trail corridors for the expanded trail project were identified, goals and objectives developed, public

I-

input solicited and natural and cultural resources sensitivity studies initiated. The lack of funding for corridor acquisition and trail construction continued to plague the progress of the project and the planning effort was once again suspended. In the early 1990s, federal- and state-level policy and funding initiatives developed that would help move the trail project forward. In 1991, the Federal government passed landmark legislation, with funding, to support the transportation infrastructure in the country. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, ISTEA, provided a source of funding for alternate transportation modes, including pedestrian and bicycle. The Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC), the local metropolitan transportation planning office for the City of Ithaca urban area, saw the State Parks trail project as a valued component for the Tompkins County areas multi-modal system. The ITCTC director contacted the Finger Lakes State Parks Region to encourage the agency to apply for federal funding. The Finger Lakes Regions application for ISTEA funding to complete the trail master plan, acquire trail corridor and start construction was successful. The Region was awarded $572,000. In 1990, New York State governmental leaders responded to citizensgrowing concerns that the State lacked a clear direction and plan to preserve and protect important natural and cultural resources. By 1992, the States first Open Space Conservation Plan (OSP) was completed. The Finger Lakes Regions trail project, called the Cayuga Inlet Trail at the time, was identified in the plan as a priority land acquisition project. Funding to implement land acquisition projects identified in the OSP came from two sourcesthe 1993 Environmental Protection Fund and the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. With the three funding sources available, the Finger Lakes Region returned to work on trail planning and land acquisition. The land acquisition component was progressed under the ISTEA and Open Space Plan funding processes. Several properties in the corridor identified and studied in

earlier planning efforts were acquired from willing sellers with 1996 Bond Act funds. ISTEA funds paid for property appraisals. The longest stretch of trail corridor was secured by OPRHP in December 1999. New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) initiated a gas pipeline and storage facility project in 1995 for their plant facilities located along the west shore of Seneca Lake. The gas line was slated to pass through Watkins Glen State Park, a Finger Lakes Region park facility. To mitigate the impact of the gas line through the park, NYSEG and OPRHP, working through the Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, reached an agreement to have NYSEG contribute to the Regions recreational resources through a land exchange. NYSEG agreed to transfer ownership, by easement and deed, to OPRHP the portion of abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad line between the City of Ithaca and the Village of Trumansburg for the Tompkins County trail for the right to install the gas pipeline through Watkins Glen State Park. After securing the former rail corridor from NYSEG, Finger Lakes regional staff discussed changing the name of the trail project to reflect the expanded length of the trail. In recognition of the trails association with the areas railroad history, the Region settled on the name Black Diamond. Black Diamond was the name given to the sleek locomotive that hauled rail cars through the territory. The Lehigh Valley Railroad operated the rail line during the heyday of railroad operations. The logo developed for OPRHPs multi-use recreational trail, illustrated below, was patterned after the Lehigh Valley Railroad logo.

Black Diamond Trail

Proposed Black Diamond Trail Logo

I-

The significant progress made through the 1990s in securing corridor for the trail encouraged OPRHP to return to the master plan efforts in 2000. The Finger Lakes Region hired consultants to prepare a draft master plan and environmental impact statement. Consultants completed additional site analysis of the generally-defined trail corridors, assessed existing infrastructure and recommended a preferred corridor and trail development and management plan. The recommendations form the basis for the proposed master plan presented in Chapter V. of this document. Parallel to initiating the master plan process, OPRHP entered into a partnership with the National Park Services Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program and the Parks and Trails New York Association to develop a public outreach program for the Black Diamond Trail as it moved forward through the planning and design phases. The partnership resulted in the design and publication of a newsletter and two volunteer corridor-clearing work days. The organizations also participated in public informational meetings. The trail proposal, covered in this plan, consists of the construction, operation and maintenance of a 15-mile multi-use, multi-purpose trail that will utilize abandoned rail corridor and stream-valley bottomland. The trail will connect the four major state park facilitiesRobert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls, Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls and numerous other natural and cultural resources important to the Tompkins County community. The trails main goal is to provide an off-road, accessible facility for walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and other trail users. In the urban area, the trail will be paved to accommodate skaters and skateboarders. As an all-season facility, the trail will be a resource for x-country skiers and snowshoers. While primarily planned for nonmotorized uses, winter use by snowmobiles will be considered on segments where pass-through and connection trail links can be accommodated to support state-recognized snowmobile trails systems. All-train vehicle and other off-road vehicle use will not be allowed.

Taughannock Falls State Park

Village of Trumansburg
.Y .S. R ou te

C
N

A
Y

Town of Ulysses

Town of Enfield

Robert H. Treman State Park

Proposed Route of the Black Diamond Trail

the planning process

State Park facility management and master plans provide valuable information to support OPRHPs decisions for capital investments and land acquisitions. In general, a master plan presents information to guide the development, operation and maintenance of the facility. Master plans are prepared: if there is a significant change in the existing development plan, e.g. the introduction of a new recreational activity in a park where that activity was not available in the past; for parks or sites without a master plan or for parks or sites that have an outdated master plan; when more than one project is proposed for the facility that would create significant changes to recreational activities or would have significant impacts on the environment of the park; or for undeveloped parks and new acquisitions.

ou

89

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL

Town of Ithaca

S Y.
.R

G A

Town of Lansing

ou

te
96
13 te

K E LA
.S. Route 13 N.Y

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

City of Ithaca

Buttermilk Falls State Park

I-

As a new acquisition and an undeveloped facility, the fourth condition applies to the Black Diamond Trail, initiating the preparation of this plan. In addition to OPRHPs mission and policies, master plan preparation is guided by New Yorks State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). Development, operation and maintenance alternatives are evaluated following SEQR to identify how plan implementation could impact the natural and cultural resources within the project area over the short and long term, directly or indirectly and cumulatively. SEQR guides the analysis of a project to ensure that a suitable balance of social, economic, and environmental factors be incorporated into the planning and decision-making processes of state, regional and local agencies (6 NYCRR Part 617, 617.1(d)) An important component of the SEQR process is gathering public input. Over the course of several years, the proposed multi-purpose trail has been the subject of two public information and scoping sessions, one-on-one meetings with adjacent property owners and meetings with public and private interest groups. The public meetings, one held in 1989 and the other in 2001, provided valuable input to identify the issues on which to focus the environmental impact analysis. The meetings with adjacent property owners were held to identify site specific issues related to the trails construction and operation. This information was valuable in refining design elements for the trail. Figure 1-1 on page 5 illustrates the steps that OPRHP will follow to prepare and adopt the trail master plan.

Plan Content
Combining the requirements of OPRHPs Master Plan process and SEQR, the following chapters present the information used to prepare a master plan for the Black Diamond Trail and evaluate its impact on the areas natural and cultural resources. Chapter II presents the guiding principles followed to develop the Black Diamond Trail project from concept to concrete plan. Chapter III describes the geographic setting of the trail and existing conditions within the trail corridor that define the trails character. Chapter IV synthesizes the Chapter III information in an analysis with regard to the resources capacities and capabilities to support trail development. Alternatives to address potential development issues round out the chapter. The proposed development, operation and management plan for the trail is presented in Chapter V. Chapter VI summarizes the potential environmental concerns of building and operating the trail, both from positive and negative viewpoints.

I-

Figure I-1 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Master Plan Process

Lead Agency Coordination Process

Identify the involved agencies. Establish OPRHP as the appropriate agency to lead the environmental review.

Determination of Significance and Positive Declaration

Establish the level of impact the project will have on the environment. A positive declaration leads to the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS.)

Public Information/Scoping Meeting(s)

Through public participation, identify issues, concerns and interests to guide the environmental review.

Draft Plan/Draft EIS

Compile information about the proposed facility plan, studies, surveys and analyses of the plans environmental impacts.

Public Hearing(s)
Present Draft plan/EIS to public for review, consideration and comment.

Final Master Plan/EIS

Consider and, when appropriate, modify plan based on comments received from the public, involved and interested agencies.

Issue Findings and Take Action on Plan Adoption

Prepare a statement of facts pertaining to the project and its environmental impacts. Commissioner of OPRHP adopts master plan based on findings.

Plan Implementation
Requests for funding are made by the Park Region through the Capital Investment Program (CIP.)

I-

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

I-

CHAPTER II
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Overarching New York State and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation program principles, policies and goals and objectives are the foundation for planning and development decisions. While fluid over time, these directives provide guidance to develop project specific goals and objectives to meet the multiple current and future needs of the public while preserving and protecting New York States valuable natural and cultural resources. This chapter presents a brief overview of the state, regional and local directives and guiding principles under which the Black Diamond Trail project evolved.

new york state PROGRAMs and policieS

Programs dedicated to protecting and enhancing, for public enjoyment and economic vitality, the natural and cultural resources of New York State have come from Executive Orders and policy initiatives issued by the States governors and supported by the States legislatures. The programs policies and goals and objectives set forth directives which are implemented through the appropriate state agencies. Several statewide programs relevant to the operation of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation include the Open Space Conservation Plan, Coastal Management Program, Heritage New York Program, and Quality Communities Program. Under each of these programs emphasis is placed on working with local municipal leaders and developing partnerships with local public, private and not-for-profit organizations to achieve the highest level of quality and benefit in providing recreational and cultural resources preservation, accessibility and interpretation.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Mission Statement and Guiding Principles
Charged with overseeing the operation of New York State owned parks and historic sites and providing technical assistance to communities across the state with locally-owned resources, the OPRHP clarified its mission and methods to accomplish its legislatively-mandated responsibilities in the following mission statement and guiding principles.

Mission Statement
The mission of Parks, ATION HI Recreation and Historic RE ST EC Preservation is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible NEW YORK STATE FINGER LAKES REGION stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.
OFFICE OF PARKS

C PRESERVATION RI O

II-

Guiding Principles A Commitment to Leadership.

We recognize the preeminence of the New York State Park and Historic Site System. We are committed to excellence, innovation, professionalism and to forging partnerships. We are committed to seeking the means by which operational and maintenance needs are met as recreational and cultural opportunities are enhanced for our patrons. To meet the challenge, we are committed to pursuing compatible revenue initiatives as we continue our commitment to protect resources.

Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

The OPRHP prepares the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which sets forth policy directions to fulfill the agencys recreation and preservation mandates. The plan is updated every five years. The statewide policies for the five-year period 2003 to 2008 include the following: Preserve and protect natural and cultural resources. Improve recreation site operation, maintenance and resource management. Improve and expand water-oriented recreation opportunities. Develop comprehensive recreationway, greenway and heritage trail systems. Support compatible recreation and interpretative programs. Improve cooperation and coordination in providing recreational opportunities and in enhancing natural and cultural resource stewardship between all levels of government and the private sector. Apply recreation research techniques and management practices to improve and expand parks and other open spaces.

A Commitment to People.
We are committed to serving and protecting the public to the best of our ability, with courtesy and respect. We are committed to our employees and volunteers, encouraging teamwork, selfimprovement and mutual support.

A Commitment to Service.
We are committed to equal access and outreach to all segments of our society, recognizing individual needs and interests. We are committed to safety, security, creativity and accountability in providing our programs and services.

A Commitment to Preservation.
State Parks and Historic Sites are unique and irreplaceable public assests. We are committed to wise acquisition, planning and where compatible, development of recreational facilities; timely and professional care and maintenance; and a responsibility to future generations in whose trust we manage resources. We are committed to providing encouragement to all agencies and individuals to identify, evaluate and protect recreational, natural, historic and cultural resources.

II-

Regional and local initiatives

Several program initiatives are underway in the Finger Lakes Region and Tompkins County that include the Black Diamond Trail as a component or enhancement of the projects goals and objectives.

Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, Inc.

The 87-mile loop scenic byway was initiated by representatives from the three counties surrounding Cayuga Lake Cayuga, Seneca and Tompkins. The success of the byway is directly tied to the natural, cultural and recreational resources within the Cayuga Lake basin available for visitors. The byway also encourages visitors to the enjoy the byway by the many ways to travel (bicycle, motorcycle, walking, etc.) The Black Diamond Trail is seen as a complement to the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway segment in Tompkins County providing a safe bicycle and walking facility within the byways service area.

Tompkins County, the ITCTC has developed a set of goals and objectives that will direct the expansion of the areas transportation system to a multi-modal, comprehensive service program. Providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities are two of the seven issue areas addressed in the plan. The ITCTC also developed a transportation/trail corridor study to identify corridors that can be developed for multi-use trails. The Black Diamond Trail is recognized in this study as one of the trail projects.

Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan

The Town of Ithaca has progressively planned for its residents open space and recreational needs since the late 1970s. Developing a system of offroad bicycle and pedestrian trails to connect parks, residential neighborhoods, commercial districts and places of work if included in the plan. The Town of Ithaca recognizes the contribution the Black Diamond Trail will have to meeting this objective.

Tompkins County Waterfront Plan City of Ithaca, Cayuga Waterfront Trail

The plan was prepared with participation from the communities in Tompkins County that border Cayuga Lake, including the Town of Lansing, Town of Ithaca, Town of Ulysses and the City of Ithaca. The plan focuses on celebrating the history of the waterfront and its relationship to the Erie Canalway and the future revitalization of the resource. The goals of the plan include increasing public access and improve waterfront parks, enhancing boating facilities and operations, encouraging appropriate economic development, including tourism, improving linkages between waterfront destinations, residential neighborhoods and existing business districts, and conserving and interpreting natural and cultural resources. The Black Diamond Trail is listed as a key waterfront project to implement the plan. The City of Ithaca is in the process of developing a trail network along the waterfront in the city to provide an off-road bicycle and pedestrian facility for residents and visitors to travel between parks, commercial facilities, neighborhoods and cultural amenities. The Black Diamond Trail will provide an extension of the waterfront trail to addition areas of the city.

City of Ithaca, Southwest Natural Area Master Plan

The City of Ithaca acquired 60-acres of remnant floodplain forest and former agricultural lands to replace a 60-acre parcel in the Citys southwest area slated for new commercial and residential development. The City is planning to develop the area as a natural park facility. The Black Diamond Trail will provide bicycle and pedestrian access to the future park.

Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC), 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan
Charged with conducting the transportation planning process for the urbanized area of

II-

Black diamond trail goals and objectives

Applying the previously identified overarching directives to the Black Diamond Trail project, a set of goals and objectives were developed for the trail. The goals and objectives bring implementation of the statewide policies down to the regional and local levels.

GOAL Develop the trail in a manner that promotes a safe, high-quality, diversified recreational experience and alternate transportation choice. Objectives To the greatest extent possible, develop a trail facility that can be used by all ages, skill levels and physical capabilities. To the greatest extent possible, develop a trail facility that is separated from motor vehicle traffic. Develop a compatible multi-use trail that will, at minimum, facilitate bicycling and pedestrian uses. To the maximum extent possible, encourage and support multi-seasonal use of the trail. Use trail-etiquette education to manage and monitor trail user conflicts. GOAL Minimize and/or mitigate, as practical, impacts on adjacent landowners. Objectives Use design and construction techniques that minimize the impacts of trail use on adjacent landowners. Foster a trail ethic that encourages recognition and respect of the rights of adjacent landowners.

GOAL
Increase opportunities for trailbased recreation and multimodal transportation options in the Finger Lakes Region in general, and Tompkins County in particular. Objectives Develop a trail facility that maximizes the opportunities to link to neighborhood, recreation areas and other bicycle and pedestrian commuter destinations. Promote the relationship of the Black Diamond Trail to the Finger Lakes bike routes and other regional trails.

GOAL
Protect, enhance and interpret the scenic, natural and cultural resources of the trail corridor. Objectives Ensure that trail development is compatible with environmental resources. Identify and protect environmentally significant resources along the trail. Encourage the appreciation, enhancement and preservation of the trails viewsheds. Develop opportunities for the interpretation of significant natural and cultural resources within and adjacent to the trail corridor.

II-10

CHAPTER III
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
Natural and cultural landscape features and life-style and leisure preferences guide the planning and design of new recreational resources. The following sections summarize existing demographic and landscape features located in the Finger Lakes Region that were considered in the Black Diamond Trails plan development.

REGIONAL SETTING Location

The Black Diamond Trail is located in the Finger Lakes State Parks Region, one of 11 state park regions within the State of New York. The Finger Lakes Region is bounded by Lake Ontario to the north and the state of Pennsylvania to the south, and includes Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Steuben, Chemung, and Tioga counties. population of 102,418 people, make up the urban areas within the state park region. Each year over 2.5 million visitors enjoy the wide variety of recreational opportunities provided by the 29 Finger Lakes regional state park facilities illustrated on Figure III-2 on the following page. The background and ethnicity of the patrons that visit the region are as diverse as the States population. International travelers are also found in significant numbers visiting the Regions park facilities.

Thousand Islands

Adirondack

Lake Ontario
Rochester Buffalo

Syracuse

Physical Characteristics of the Region

Saratoga

Genesee

Niagara Allegany

Finger Lakes

Central

Pennsylvania

Catskill Palisades
Tac on ic

STATE PARK REGIONS

New York City

Long Island

The Finger Lakes Region is home to nearly 700,000 residents. It is located within a one- to three-hour drive of the states three largest upstate cities Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. The cumulative population of these three cities is 660,000 people. While much smaller in size, the cities of Elmira, Ithaca, Auburn and Geneva, with a cumulative

The Finger Lakes geographical region is an area that was carved by ancient glaciers leaving long, deep lakes surrounded by rolling hills and striking waterfalls. The Finger Lakes landscape encompasses hundreds of perennial and intermittent streams, unique species of plants and animals as well as significant wildlife refuges. The region is scattered with hundreds of rocky gorges and waterfalls, which include the striking 215-foot freefall waterfall and rock amphitheater within Taughannock Falls State Park. Many of the gorges display the rock underlay formed 408 to 360 million years ago during the Devonian period of geologic history.

III-11

Legend
a Lake Ont

rio

Finger Lakes State Parks

Fair Haven Beach
3

Recreationways and Trails (by others)

Seaway Trail
104

Beechwood

SODUS BAY

Chimney Bluffs

104A

104

W A Y N E
350

370
414

21

88

14

38
34

Barge Ca nal Recreati onway

31

31

90

90

Ganondagan
5
20

S E N E C A
90
414

R nal e Ca Barg
5 20

wa y ation ecre

C A Y U G A
Auburn
Owasco

Sonnenberg Mansion Seneca Canandaigua and Gardens Geneva Lake Cayuga 5 20 Canandaigua Lake 364
Ca na n da igu aL ake
96
414

Alt 20

ON T A R I O
245

89
90

Sk

96A

an

Lak

ea

21

34

tel es

Cayuga La

36

Honeoye

14A

Dean's Cove
14

La

38A

ke

38

e Lak ca Sene

364

Sampson
89

Long Point
90
34B

Harriet Hollister Spencer

15
390

54
245

Fillmore Glen
90
34

ke

Y A T E S
Keuka Lake
54A

Bonavista Lodi Point

96
89

21

Finger Lakes Trail

T O M P K I N S
Taughannock Falls
38

Lake

Ke uk a

Stony Brook
36

14A
414

Finger Lakes Trail 227

79

54

17

Finger Lakes Trail

86
54

S C H U Y L E R
14

Allan H. 13 Treman 38 Ithaca Robert H. 79 Treman Buttermilk Falls

13
34

13

Finger Lakes Trail

Hornell

Watkins Glen
17

224

Jennings Pond
96

S T E U B E N
36

86
414

Catharine Valley 14 Trail

13
223

Finger Lakes Trail

96B

38

Mark Twain
417

96

96

Pinnacle
36

417

Corning

C H E M U N G
86

T I O G A
17

Indian Hills
15

Elmira

17

Newtown Battlefield

34

Two Rivers

86

14

FIGURE III-2 FINGER LAKES STATE PARKS REGION

NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION - FINGER LAKES REGION BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL MASTER PLAN

III-12

Access
Centrally located in the state, the Finger Lakes Region is served by several of the interstate highway systems that pass through New York. Eastwest travel to the region is via the New York State Thruway (I-90) in the northern part of the region and the Southern Tier Expressway (I-17, future I-86) in the southern portion. North-south travel to the region is on Interstate Route 81 from the east and Interstate Route 390 from the west. New York State Routes 13, 34, 79, 89, and 96 are primary state highways within the Finger Lakes Region that provide direct access to the Black Diamond Trail.

Under New York States Scenic Byway program, networks of designated highways provide intermodal access to the states unique scenic, natural, recreational, cultural, historical and archaeological resources. Within the Finger Lakes Region, three scenic byways give visitors opportunities to explore resources adjacent to Lake Ontario, Cayuga Lake and the scenic, rolling farmlands of central New York. The Seaway Trail, skirting Lake Ontarios south shore through the region, is promoted as an offthe-beaten-path experience with the natural and cultural landscape of New Yorks St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes communities. The trail is also designated a National Scenic Byway. Along its 86-mile route, the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway offers visitors opportunities to learn about the unique geologic history of the Finger Lakes Region, experience the Cayuga Lake vineyards, and visit historic villages and hamlets. The New York State Route 90 Scenic Byways 50mile course passes through rolling upstate farmland in Cayuga and Cortland Counties, Cayuga Lake waterfront communities and central New Yorks magnificent Montezuma Wetlands Complex. The Finger Lakes Region can also be experienced from its wealth of water resources. Most notable is the New York State Canalway System. Within the Finger Lakes Region the canalway includes a portion of the Erie Canal and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. In addition to the recreational boating opportunity afforded by the canal, visitors can get a unique historical perspective of the communities that sprouted up along the canal to take advantage of the expanded trade route created by the boating waterway.

Recreational Opportunities
The Finger Lakes Region contains numerous natural and cultural resources that offer a variety of year-round leisure-time opportunities. Outdoorrecreational activities include hiking, biking, jogging, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, water skiing, sailing, boating, fishing, bird watching, swimming, hunting, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Throughout the region, worldclass fishing is supported by freshwater lakes and streams. Miles of hiking and biking trails provide access to stunning vistas of lakes, gorges and sculptured hills. The Finger Lakes Region contains miles of snowmobile, cross-county ski and snowshoe trails that traverse the snow-covered countryside. The year-round trail opportunities make the region a popular vacation destination. Culturally-based trails are also an integral part of the recreational opportunities in the Region. The Canandaigua, Cayuga, Keuka and Seneca Wine Trails offer a plethora of opportunity to learn about viticulture (grape growing) and wine making in the Finger Lakes Region. The scenic drives associated with exploring the wine country appeal to visitors from around the world.

Statewide Trail and Greenway Systems

Interest to establish networks of hiking and biking trail systems across the state has been growing for over 30 years. Major trail corridors have developed through the northern and southern portions of the Finger Lakes Region.

III-13

FALLS RD.

GO RG ER

TRUMANSBURG
TAUGHANNOCK PARK RD.

TAUGHANNOCK FALLS STATE PARK

TA UG HA NN

D.

OC

STUDY AREA BOUNDARY

AGARD

RD.

BL VD .

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL

U RO 89 TE

CR
KRAFT

RD.

TOMPKINS COUNTY
GA YU CA

KRUM

STUDY AREA
N

PERRY

RD.

CORNERS

GARRETT RD.

LOW W IL D . R EEK
RD.
COLEGROVE RD.

N W S E

BO DU IS . RD

CAYUGA LAKE
89

E UT RO 96

Groton LANSING GROTON

WI

LK

IN

D SR

LA KE

Trumansburg Freeville ULYSSES Dryden Lansing Ithaca ITHACA Cayuga Heights DRYDEN

ALLAN H. TREMAN STATE MARINE PARK

ITHACA

ENFIELD

CLIF

CAROLINE

T. FS

MECKLENBURG RD.

NEWFIELD

DANBY
ELM . ST
FL O AV RA E. L

TOMPKINS
COUNTY
LAKE ONTARIO VERMONT
ENFIE L FALL D S RD .

U RO

TE

13

LAKE ERIE MASS.

PENNSYLVANIA

CONNECTICUT

ROBERT H. TREMAN STATE PARK

ROUTE

NEW JERSEY

LONG ISLAND

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL

BUTTERMILK FALLS STATE PARK

SCALE: 1" = 8,000'

Map Elements Prepared by:

LARSEN ENGINEERS
700 WEST METRO PARK, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14623-2678 (585)272-7310 FAX (585)272-0159

FIGURE III-3 PROPOSED BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL STUDY AREA LOCATION MAP
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION - FINGER LAKES REGION BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL MASTER PLAN

III-14

EL

STATE OF NEW YORK

13A

MI

BOS

TWIC RD.

RA

RD

MEADOW ST.

Through the north, paralleling the State Canalway System, is the Canalway Trail. Of the 348 miles of multi-use trail to be developed, approximately 230 miles are now available for hiking and biking. When completed the trail will be the longest multiple-use trail in the United States. The Erie Canal trail system has also been designated a National Heritage Corridor, elevating the significant part it played in the nations history. The North Country National Scenic Trail, a planned 4,000-mile hiking trail that will link communities and wilderness areas across seven northern states, passes through the southern portion of the region. The existing Finger Lakes Trail network is the designated portion of North Country Trail in the region.

Land Use
The existing land uses within the Black Diamond Trail corridor are diverse, ranging from agriculture to a developed urban center. In the immediate vicinity of the proposed trail route in the northern portion of the corridor, primary land uses include agriculture, abandoned agriculture, and rural and suburban residential. Land use in the city of Ithaca is representative of a multi-functioning urban center with mixed land-use patterns. The land uses in the southern portion of the corridor along the Cayuga Inlet Creek and flood control channel are public recreation, preserved natural areas, suburban residential and business.

LOCAL SETTING Study Area Boundaries

For purposes of the draft Master Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, a study area was defined to focus the impact analysis on the local resources associated with developing the Black Diamond Trail. The area is illustrated in Figure III3 on the previous page. One of the primary functions of the trail will be to connect the major state park resources in Tompkins County by an off-road trail system. The anticipated route to accomplish the off-road link objective helped to define the study area, focusing the study on that portion of the county proposed to host the trail. The study area boundaries are defined by the village of Trumansburg to the north, Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park to the south, N. Y. S. Route 96 and Sheffield Road to the west, and Cayuga Lake, N. Y. S. Route 13 and Buttermilk Falls State Park to the east. For purposes of this section, the study area will be referred to as the corridor.

Landscape south of Taughannock Falls State Park encompassing open fields and forest.

Land Ownership
Land in the Black Diamond Trail corridor is owned by a mix of public and private entities and individuals. In the northern portion of the corridor, the vast majority of the land immediately adjacent to the proposed trail alignment is under private ownership. Local governmental land holdings are significantly greater in the southern portion of the trail and include areas like Cass Park and the future Southwest Natural Area Park, both City of Ithaca facilities. State governmental land holdings within the trail corridor, which the trail is planned to connect, include Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, and Taughannock Falls State Park under the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservations (OPRHP) jurisdiction.

III-15

The majority of the property for the Black Diamond Trail will be owned, either through fee, easement or memoranda of understanding, by OPRHP. OPRHP, the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca have worked together through the years to secure segments of the trail alignment to develop a coordinated trail network through the municipalities to connect neighborhoods to state park facilities.

Landscape Resources
The Black Diamond Trail corridor contains many of the landscape features characteristic of the Finger Lakes region including hillside streams, rolling hills, gorges and waterfalls. The trail will be constructed on or within areas of undeveloped stream bottomland, urban flood control land, and abandoned railroad land. Of the trails roughly 79,200 linear feet (approximately 15+miles) of coverage, 42,768 linear feet (54%) borders natural woodland; 27,720 linear feet (35%) borders active or abandoned agricultural land; 6,336 linear feet (8%) borders urban land uses; 1,584 linear feet (2%) borders low-density residential areas; and 792 linear feet (1%) borders wetland areas or perennial streams. The segment of the Black Diamond Trail that will connect Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park will pass through stream bottomland largely undeveloped with pockets of active and inactive agricultural fields. This area is within the floodplain of the meandering Cayuga Inlet which is interspersed with open field, floodplain forest, and wetland habitats. Soils within the area are predominantly alluvial, and generally well-drained.

The portion of the Black Diamond Trail from Buttermilk Falls State Park to Cass Park/Allan H. Treman State Marine Park will be developed adjacent to the Cayuga Inlet Creek and the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel. This section will also access the City of Ithacas new Southwest Natural Area Park. Much of this segment of the trail corridor includes land that was created from fill or draining of wetlands. The land is referred to in soil surveys as made land.

Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel

The Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls portion of the trail will occupy former railroad property. The landscape in the area of the trail includes hillside forest, shrubland and active and abandoned agricultural land. Bedrock outcroppings are visible along this portion of the trail, predominately located in the ravines and glens of the many streams that flow in an easterly direction towards Cayuga Lake. Soils along this area are of the Hudson-Cayuga association and are generally moderately welldraining to well-draining located on steeper slopes.

Hedgerow vegetation along the abandoned railroad corridor

Cayuga Inlet

The ground slope throughout the trail corridor varies greatly. Eighty-five percent of areas surrounding the trail alignment have a slope between 0-10%, ten percent have a slope of 10-

III-16

15%, and five percent have slopes greater than 15%. In the area of steepest slopes paralleling Cayuga Lake, the trail alignment will follow the former Lehigh Valley rail line that was graded so locomotives could ascend with relative ease from the Ithaca Valley to the higher elevations between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, a grade change of some 600 feet. The rail lines slope, perpendicular to the valley slope, is generally less than 5%.

500-year floodplain are in the City of Ithaca, particularly within the Cass Park/Allan H. Treman State Marine Park area. Also, areas along the Cayuga Inlet Creek and Buttermilk Creek near the northwestern portion of Buttermilk Falls State Park, south of the City of Ithaca, are identified as being within the 500-year floodplain. Along its 15-mile course, the Black Diamond Trail will cross numerous perennial and intermittent streams. The major stream courses within the corridor include the Cayuga Inlet, Cliff Park Brook, Linderman Creek, Williams Brook, Indian Creek, Glenwood Creek, Willow Creek, Taughannock Creek, and Trumansburg Creek.

Hydrologic Resources
The Black Diamond Trail is located within several of Tompkins Countys watersheds including Cayuga Inlet Creek, Taughannock Creek, West Cayuga Lakeshore (north) and West Cayuga Lakeshore (south). The Cayuga Inlet Creek watershed encompasses 58,738 acres on the west side of the Cayuga Inlet Creek from the Cass Park/Allan H. Treman State Marine Park area south through Robert H. Treman State Park. The West Cayuga Lakeshore (south) watershed is comprised of 13,533 acres and includes the west shoreline of Cayuga Lake from the Cass Park/ Allan H. Treman State Marine Park area to just south of Taughannock Falls State Park, adjacent to Gorge Road. The Taughannock Creek watershed encompasses 14,289 acres along the Taughannock Creek gorge area to Cayuga Lake. The West Cayuga Lakeshore (north) watershed comprises 2,794 acres along the west shoreline of Cayuga Lake, north of Taughannock Falls State Park through the village of Trumansburg. The depth to the water table varies widely within the trail corridor, but in general the water table is high in the area within the Cayuga Inlet Valley and low in areas within the northern portion of the trail corridor through the Town of Ulysses, along the western hillside slope. The preferred alignment of the Black Diamond Trail within the corridor will cross 100- and 500year floodplain areas as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The areas within the known 100-year floodplain are near or adjacent to the Cayuga Inlet and an intermittent stream, which is a tributary to Enfield Creek in Robert H. Treman State Park. The areas within the known

Indian Creek

The National Wetland Inventory identifies several wetland areas within the Black Diamond Trail study area. These federal jurisdictional wetland areas are located in the southern portion of the Black Diamond Trail. They include small wet meadow or marsh areas adjacent to Cayuga Inlet Creek and Negundo Woods, a floodplain forest, and are located between Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) classifies freshwater wetlands according to size, function, value and benefit. Areas which are 12.4 acres or larger and display significant wetland function, value and benefit are considered to be under the protection of the NYSDEC. Prior to disturbing these areas, an appropriate environmental review from the NYSDEC is required. There are five NYSDEC

III-17

regulated wetland areas within the Black Diamond Trail study area. These areas include: Class I wetland area located adjacent to the lake in the City of Ithaca, at the biological station north of Newman Golf Course. Class I wetland area located adjacent to Fall Creek in the City of Ithaca Fuertes Bird Sanctuary. Class I wetland area located north of the N.Y.S. Routes 13/13A split. Class I wetland area located south of the N.Y.S. Routes 13/13A split. Class II wetland area located south of Iradell Road, just west of Trumansburg Road (N.Y.S. Route 96). The NYSDEC is also considering an application to designate the Hog Hole in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park as a state-regulated wetland. The majority of the wetlands listed above are located a significant distance away from the proposed trail alignment. Trail development is adjacent to, but not within the wetlands located south of the N.Y.S. Rte. 13/Rte. 13A intersection.

A biological resources search and sensitivity study was conducted for the Black Diamond Trail study area in 1993. The study was prepared to assist OPRHP in developing the trail master plan and assessing the trails impacts. The study located significant biological resources that could be disturbed by trail development and pointed out features that could be incorporated to improve the quality and interest of the trail experience. The biological resources study area included land within one-half mile of several proposed trail alignments. The first phase of the study included a thorough literature search to identify historical sightings of plant and animal species within the corridor, filtering for the species that are currently classified as rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive. Several classified plant species and two animals were historically recorded in the study area. Secondly, using aerial photographs, the study mapped general ecological community types following the New York State Natural Heritage Programs system documented in Ecological Communities of New York State, by Carol Reschke (1990). Five occurences of rare or exemplary natural communities were mapped. The third step in the search was completed in 1997. The preferred trail alignment was field surveyed by botanist F. Robert Wesley and the New York State Natural Heritage Program to confirm if the species identified in the sensitivity study currently exist within the proposed trail alignment. Two locally significant natural communities and two plant species, which are considered rare, were field located within the project area, specifically between Robert H. Treman State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. The locally significant communities include two remnant floodplain forests, Negundo Woods located in the Cayuga Inlet Valley in the Southwest Natural Area Park and an unnamed floodplain forest located in the Cayuga Inlet Valley, south of N.Y.S. Route 13 and west of the Norfolk Southern rail line. The Negundo Woods habitat is a rich floodplain forest with many old records of rare plant species

Biological Resources
The Black Diamond Trail corridor is comprised of varying amounts and types of vegetative cover. In the northern portion of the corridor through the Town of Ulysses, the vegetative cover along the proposed trail alignment on abandoned rail line includes tall grasses and shrubland along with hedgerow, woodland and agricultural-crop cover. The southern portion of the Black Diamond Trail within the Cayuga Inlet Valley, outside the urbanized area of the city of Ithaca, has forested canopies of cottonwoods, willows and sycamores. The mix of vegetation types supports the wide variety of wildlife indigenous to the area.

III-18

and is considered the best floodplain forest remnant in the area. The area is now owned by the City of Ithaca. The unnamed floodplain forest also contains a forest of very high quality. Ownership includes both public, OPRHP, and private interests. The two rare plant species located within the trail corridor include the Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioica) and green dragon (Arisaema dracontium). The Kentucky coffee tree was found in two locations in the southern portion of the trail corridor. Historically, the tree had been found in only one location. The green dragon was identified throughout the floodplain of the Cayuga Inlet. The preferred trail alignment also traverses through and is adjacent to federal and state freshwater wetland areas, particularly in the southern portion of the trail corridor. The majority of the identified wetland areas consist of floodplain forests. The forests most commonly consist of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltiodes), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and willow (Salix, spp) trees, with varying amounts of ostrich fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) groves on the forest floor. Other wetland areas present within the southern portion of the trail corridor are best described as wet meadow areas.

(Celastrus orbiculatus) was identified in a stand of deciduous trees adjacent to the trail. The weed is progressively taking over this locally unique natural area, adversely affecting native plants and animals indigenous to the area. Also extensively rooted throughout the trail corridor is non-native honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), multi-flora rose (Rosa multiflora) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides). The Unique Natural Areas (UNA) within Tompkins County are sites identified as possessing particular environmental and/or biological qualities that require or deserve special attention for preservation and protection. According to the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, there are ten Unique Natural Areas within the trail corridor. The following areas are located in the corridor segment between Taughannock Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman/Cass Park. The Taughannock Gorge (334 acres): includes the large water fall, rock cliffs, streams, streambed, and forested slopes. The Willow Creek Gorge area and adjacent forested slopes (256 acres): includes steepsided gorge and adjacent forested slopes. This area contains a diverse setting of forest tree species, with unique herbaceous cover. The Maplewood Glen and Lake Slopes area (208 acres): has excellent, undisturbed oak woods and other high-quality forest examples. The Glenwood Ravine and Lake Slopes area (246 acres): has excellent, undisturbed oak woods and other high-quality forest examples.

Ostrich fern grove

Field inventorying also identified invasive, nonnative plant species throughout the corridor. Along the northern portion of the trail alignment, between the City of Ithaca and the Glenwood Heights area in the Town of Ulysses, Asiatic bittersweet

The Indian Creek Gorge and Lake Slopes area (226 acres): contains shrub thickets and a young forest growing on abandoned agricultural fields. Furthermore, the best forests are in the steep gorges following three small streams, located near Indian Creek.

III-19

The next UNA is located entirely within Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. The Hog Hole area (39 acres): floodplain forest and wetland with a lagoon. Rare and scarce plants are limited, but the site is diverse. Hackberry, a locally scarce plant, is found and the number of other species present is unusually high. This area provides lakeside vegetation and habitat for birds. The area is known for it richness of bird and fish fauna. The next two areas are located in the corridor segment between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park. The Octopus Cliffs area (46 acres): steep, forested slope containing many small gorges with cliffs and streams. The soil within this area is shallow with bedrock outcroppings. The Kentucky coffee tree, a locally rare species, persists here. The Negundo Woods area (28 acres): fertile and moist floodplain forest with some large trees. This area is located east of the channelized portion of the Cayuga Inlet, and contains deep water with gravel bars, which has been noted as an important fish site and bird area. Located between Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Parks are the last two UNAs. Larch Meadows area (39 acres): remnant floodplain forest. Area has degraded over the years, however it is still home to a rare marsh plant. Cayuga Inlet Floodplain (182 acres): floodplain forest dominated by sycamores and cottonwood with marsh areas present. Home to several locally rare plants and one State listed species. With the wide variety of ecological habitats present in the trail corridor, there are also an equally large number of wildlife species present, from insect to large mammal. They are all well represented in

the trail corridor study area. The literature search for the biological sensitivity study noted two rare animal species occurences within the study area, the tawny emperor butterfly (Asterocampa clyton), last seen in 1993, and the bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii), last seen in 1940. The tawny emperor butterfly hosts on the hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis), a locally scarce species. Pockets of the tree are found within the Cayuga Inlet Valley corridor. The 1993 sighting of the butterfly was outside the preferred trail alignment. The bog turtle is New Yorks smallest turtle reaching a maximum length of 4 1/2 inches. Because the turtle has not been located within the Cayuga Inlet since 1940 and significant alterations have occurred to the habitat areas preferred by the turtle, it is believed to have moved out of the area. The Black Diamond Trail corridor is located in the Atlantic flyway for migrating birds. The region, including the Black Diamond Trail corridor, is an important resting area for many different species of migrating birds. The area, and more specifically the trail corridor, provides a variety of habitats (open water, sheltered water, cattail marsh, wet meadow, bottom land, woods, streams, grass lands, and shrubland), which draws numerous species of migrating birds and butterflies.

Historical/Cultural Features
The proposed route of the Black Diamond Trail travels through areas that reveal past and present cultural settings of Tompkins County. Some of the historic and present-day cultural features of the trail corridor include exposed ballast from the abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks and old agricultural fences that paralleled the rail bed during the railroad era, the Cayuga Nature Center an ecological learning center housed in an early 20th century tuberculois preventorium, views of the Cargill Salt Mine, landscapes of agricultural land use to successional forest, views of Ithaca College and Cornell University, urban setting of the City of Ithaca, the Coreogonel Indian Settlement historical marker, and the Cayuga Inlet Creek fish ladder.

III-20

sites where traces of occupation were found are located on points of land along the west shore of Cayuga Lake. The five other sites are located in the Cayuga Inlet valley corridor. Historic properties with the trails study area include remnants of railroad operation, mills, tradesmens shops, school houses and boat landings. At the time the Pratt & Pratt sensitivity study was completed, the majority of the property involved in the proposed trail alignment was still privately owned. Therefore, an on-site assessment was not completed. Once OPRHP has finalized the master plan and corridor property is secured, a Stage 1B field survey will be needed in the areas identified in the sensitivity study as having a medium to high probability of having resources present. The preferred trail name, the Black Diamond Trail, has historical/cultural significance throughout the entire trail corridor. The name Black Diamond originates from the locomotive that powered the passenger train that traveled through the Ithaca area over a century ago. The northern portion of the trail is proposed to follow the railroad bed of the former Black Diamond passenger train, owned and operated by the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. This elegant train provided its passengers with

Remains of railroad trestle crossing Glenwood Creek

Pratt & Pratt Archaeological Consultants, Inc. conducted a Stage 1A Cultural Resource Survey for the trail corridor in 1993. The goals of the Stage 1A cultural resource evaluation were to identify any known historic properties/sites within an area three miles to either side of several potential trail routes, to predict the probability of finding additional historic properties/sites within the various trail alignments, to identify the ecological parameters which may effect the sampling procedures during the Stage 1B field inspection, and to provide a historical basis from which to evaluate the significance of any historic property/site. The Pratt and Pratt study documented thirty-four historic property sites within the six-mile-wide study area from Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park. From Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, the study identified fourteen prehistoric property sites and seven historic property sites. This study also noted ten prehistoric property sites and ninety-six historic property sites within their study area from Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to the Cayuga Street trailhead in the village of Trumansburg. Within the study area boundary selected for the Master Plan/DEIS (approximately one-half mile on either side of the proposed trail alignment), eight prehistoric sites were documented. Three of the

Parlor observation car Seneca with lavishly appointed Victorian decor. It brought up the rear of the 1896 Black Diamond Express. (Courtesy of the Dewitt Historical Society of Tompkins County.)

III-21

breathtaking views of natural scenery associated with the Cayuga Lake area. During the railroad era, this area was heralded as the Switzerland of America. The Black Diamond train obtained its name from the Lehigh Valley Railroads earliest means of revenue, transporting anthracite coal, which was then known as black diamonds.

Scenic Features
Along the entire Black Diamond Trail corridor, scenic overlooks or vistas reflect the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes Region. There are many pleasing views at each stream crossing as well as at various higher-elevation points, which overlook Cayuga Lake, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, and agricultural/natural hillside areas. Spectacular waterfalls and numerous small gorges as well as open fields, wet meadows, and floodplain forests also line the proposed Black Diamond Trail.

Agricultural Resources
The proposed alignment of the Black Diamond Trail through the Town of Ulysses traverses through New York State registered Agricultural District #2. Agricultural districts are locally formed to protect valuable agricultural land from non-agricultural uses. The regulations are contained in the New York State Agricultural and Markets Law, Article 25-AA, Section 303 and 304. One provision of the law is the requirement that all State-funded projects be examined for their potential impact on land within agricultural districts before they are approved. The linear extent of trail within the agricultural district is 4,700 feet. The agricultural land use adjacent to the trail corridor is predominantly crop farming including grains and hay. At the time the plan was prepared, no animal husbandry use existed. Additionally, land-use trends in the portion of the Town of Ulysses that is proposed to host the Black Diamond Trail have been gradually shifting away from farming to rural residential. Where larger parcels of land have been acquired from farmers some of the lands remain in hay production with the intent to retain grassland habitat.

View of Cayuga Lake from trail corridor

The southern valley forest segment of the trail, between Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls State Park, parallels the course of the Cayuga Inlet as it weaves through the Cayuga Inlet Valley. Some of the scenic features of this trail segment include a floodplain forest canopy of stately cottonwood, willow and sycamore trees, and regenerating meadows of former agricultural fields. The trail traverses through the City of Ithacathe urban core of Tompkins County. Much of the city was built on the vast wetland that occupied the Cayuga Inlet valley. The wetland complex was filled in over the years to accommodate urban development. Scenic features along this portion of the trail are man-made and include the flood control channel and levee and the fish ladder. The northern portion of the Black Diamond Trail includes hillside glens as well as a towering canopy of maple, hemlock, and hickory trees that line the trail route. Although the trail traverses alongside NYS Route 89 for the first 3 miles of the segment, the thick woods provide a sense of seclusion.

Hayfield adjacent to trail corridor

III-22

Various hillside gorges and glens, like Indian Creek, Glenwood Creek and Taughannock Creek ravines, periodically cross the trail, and provide views of the unique geology of the area.

slope in addition to cross-country ski opportunities. CCC-era cabins as well as tent and trailer sites are provided for three-season camping.

Swim area at Taughannock Falls State Park Upper gorge at Taughannock Falls State Park

Recreational Features
The Black Diamond Trail will provide for a variety of trail-based recreational opportunities including biking, walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, jogging, and in suitable areas, in-line skating and horse-back riding. By nature of the relatively flat terrain that the trail will utilize, it will be a recreational resource for people with all levels of skill and ability including people with disabilities. One of the objectives for the Black Diamond Trail is to connect the four state park facilities in the areaTaughannock Falls State Park, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Robert H. Treman State Park. Each of these state parks provides a variety of recreational activities and scenic natural features. At the northern end of the trail, Taughannock Falls State Park provides swimming in Cayuga Lake and a playground, picnic areas, pavilions and fishing piers along the parks lakeshore. Hiking trails along the 300+-foot high gorge rim and to the base of the 215-foot high falls provide inspiring experiences. The marina has seasonal and transient docking spaces and a 3-lane boat launch. Winter-time activities include ice skating ponds and a sledding

Located in the city of Ithaca at the southwest end of Cayuga Lake, Allan H. Treman State Marine Park is one of the largest inland marinas in New York State. The marina provides 399 seasonal and transient slips for sail- and power boats up to 51-feet long. The ability to accommodate a variety of sizes and types of boats makes it a valuable resource along the Erie Canalway system. The park also has an 8-lane boat launching ramp, comfort stations, as well as lake and inlet fishing opportunities. A small picnic area and trails located in the northern half of the park provide space to relax along the lake or bird watch in the number of different habit types located in the park.

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

III-23

Just outside the City of Ithacas southern corporate boundary, Buttermilk Falls State Park offers swimming in a natural pool at the base of the main falls. Two and three-quarter miles of scenic hiking trails follow the Buttermilk Creek gorge past the creek and through the woodlands of the park. In the upper part of the park, the Lake Treman trail, 1-1/2 miles long, offers opportunities to watch the lifecycle of the resident beavers. On the 1-mile Larch Meadow Trail the remnant swamp-forest complex gives visitors the sense of what the area looked like before early-American settlers came to the area. The park also offers camping sites and CCC-era one-room cabins on the eastern hillside overlooking the city of Ithaca. Pavilions and picnic areas are located in both the upper and lower areas of the park. A portion of the Finger Lakes Trail passes through the southern end of the park with a spur trail leading to the Lake Treman area.

archaeological digs are unearthing more of the hamlets history.

Historic Old Mill in upper Robert H. Treman State Park

Table III-1, on page III-25, shows the 2006 attendance figures for the four state parks for the five months of the year when they experience the most visits. During these months, nearly 630,000 people took advantage of the recreational opportunities at the Tompkins County state parks. The trail will also build on the significant number of recreational and cultural resources already available in Tompkins County, several of which will be accessible directly from the Black Diamond Trail. The resources include facilities operated by the City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca and private operators. Figure III-4, on page III-26, depicts the relationship between the proposed Black Diamond Trail and other area leisure-time facilities. The City of Ithacas Cass Park provides Tompkins County residents with year-round recreation opportunities including an outdoor ice rink, olympic-sized swimming pool, multiple athletic fields for baseball, softball and soccer, tennis courts, playground equipment, and the paved Cayuga Waterfront Trail for walkers, bikers and roller-bladers. Also within Cass Park is the Ithaca Childrens Garden, currently under construction. The mission of the Garden is to create a sustainable public garden with successful educational and outreach programs where children of all ages can discover,

Visitors on a nature hike around Lake Treman in Buttermilk Falls State Park

Two miles south of the city of Ithaca, Robert H. Treman State Park provides visitors another opportunity to experience the old swimming hole. The in-stream swim area is located at the base of Enfield Falls, one of the parks many waterfalls. Standing on a ledge at the base of Enfield Falls, patrons can cool off under the water of the falls. The historic stone bathhouse complements the intimate gorge setting of the swim area. Pavilions, picnic areas, and play areas are located in both the upper and lower sections of the park. Five plus miles of hiking trails follow the Enfield Creek Gorge. The historic hamlet of Enfield Falls is highlighted at the restored Old Mill located in the upper, or west end, of the park. Ongoing

III-24

explore, create and enjoy the plant world. (Ithaca Childrens Garden Web page, July 24, 2005) On the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel, from the confluence with Cayuga Lake south to its channelized end, is the Cornell University and Ithaca College crew courses. During the crew racing season, the east and west banks of the Inlet are lined with local, alumni and college-aged supporters rooting on their favorite teams. South of the City of Ithaca, between Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Parks, are two hiking-only trail opportunitiesthe Finger Lakes Trail and the Lick Brook/Sweedler Preserve. The Finger Lakes Trail, also part of the long-distance North Country Trail, provides hikers with a variety of landscape and habitat experiences in the southern portion of New York State. Along the eastern slope and the floodplain of the Cayuga Inlet valley, lies the Lick Brook area which features several waterfalls. A portion of the Finger Lakes Trail passes through this preserve. Two trails, including the FLT, provide access to the property. North of the city of Ithaca, in the town of Ulysses, the Cayuga Nature Center offers many hands-on experiences to learn about the natural world on

its 120+ acres. The center has over 40 animals in both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a six-story observational tree-house, five miles of interpretive trails and many educational programs offered throughout the year. Future connections to existing and new community facilities include the City of Ithacas Southwest Natural Area park, the Town of Ithacas South Hill Recreationway and the Paleontological Research Institutes Museum of the Earth.

Community Character
Tompkins County is home to 96,501 people. Twenty-eight percent of the population includes students attending the three higher education institutionsCornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College. The presence of the three colleges significantly contributes to a unique demographic profile in the county. One third of the Countys population is under the age of 21. Ethnic diversity is also influenced by the colleges, adding 6 percent to races other than White above the number represented by the population in the County minus the student population. The influence of the diversity of staff and students at the colleges is evidenced by the

TABLE III-1 State Park Monthly Attendance May to September, 2006

May Buttermilk Falls State Park 15,617 Robert H. Treman State Park 14,942 Taughannock Falls State Park 41,706 Allan H. Treman State Marine Park 16,248 22,861 34901 32,614 18,643 125,267 49,401 81,880 69,728 42,051 284,766 18,335 37,267 28,969 14,712 114,225 17,717 28,834 25,189 16,315 103,672 June July August September. Total

III-25

Trumansburg

Taughannock Falls State Park

Smith Woods

N
Cayuga Nature Center

Paleontological Research Institute's Museum of the Earth Cass Park Ithaca Children's Garden Southwest Natural Area

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

Cayuga Waterfront Trail

Ithaca
Cornell University & Ithaca College Crew Course South Hill Recreationway

Robert H. Treman State Park

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Lick Brook/Sweedler Preserve

Finger Lakes Trail (hiking-only trail)

LEGEND
BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL COMMUNITY RESOURCE

Figure III-4
1.5

1.5

3/4

Base Map by: New York State Department of Transportation New York State County Base Map Series, 1996

Proposed Black Diamond Trail Community Recreational & Cultural Resources Accessible from the Trail
NEW YORK STATE PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION - FINGER LAKES REGION BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL MASTER PLAN

III-26

number of museums, live-theater companies, festivals, ethnic restaurants and ethnic commodities on the shelves in the area chain grocery stores. (Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan, 2004) Economically, the educational job sector represents the largest employment opportunities in the county. This job sector has had the affect to insulate Tompkins County from an upward trend in unemployment rates as seen across upstate New York counties and much of the Northeast, areas hardhit by the loss of manufacturing jobs. The influence of the colleges also shows up in a look at the housing sector. Slightly over half of the homes in the county are owner-occupied, compared to the National figure of two-thirds. The transient nature of the student and staff populations places pressure on the traditionally owner-occupied stock to be converted to rental units. And, with a high demand for both types of housing the cost of both owning a home and renting homes or apartments has pushed the rates significantly higher than the surrounding counties. The upward trend in housing costs and the tight housing supply is having an increasing affect on the number of employees in-commuting from the six counties surrounding Tompkins. The increase in traffic from in-commuters is beginning to impact the transportation infrastructure throughout the county.

Few off-street, non-motorized transportation linkages currently exist within the Black Diamond Trail corridor. Historically, the focus on transportation infrastructure in Tompkins County has been for vehicular traffic and to a lesser extent bus transit. Up until the early 1990s, little attention was given to pedestrian and bicycle facilities beyond the sidewalk system in the core of the City of Ithaca. Yet commuting to work by foot, bicycle and other non-motorized means is significantly higher in Tompkins County than in New York State as a whole. According to the 2000 Census, 17 percent of the commuting population in the county walked to work versus 4.6 percent in the state. For the category other, 1.0 percent of commuters in Tompkins County traveled to work using an alternate mode compared to 0.7% in the state. Within the City of Ithaca, the walking and other alternate mode participation rates jump to 45 percent for walking and 2 percent for other. These participation rates are inspite of the very hilly terrain surrounding the city. The unique demographics of Tompkins County also support investing in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. As noted in the previous section, the county is home to three higher-educational facilitiesCornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins-Cortland Community College. The student population attending the three facilities contributes significantly to the countys population. Many of the students attending the colleges rely on alternate modes of transportation, including walking and biking, to reach classes, shopping and employment destinations. The impacts on the Countys economic and housing sectors from the higher-educational institutions are a mixed bag. While economically their presence in the county has minimized wide swings in unemployment rates, the pressure on the housing market has created a situation where in-commuting is on the rise. An increase in in-commuting traffic is putting a strain on the state and local highway, street and roads system.

Transportation System
In addition to its role as a multi-use recreational trail facility, the Black Diamond Trail is expected to be used as an alternate transportation opportunity, allowing people to move between destinations on foot or bicycle. In recognition of its transportation role, trail development is supported by ISTEA funding awarded the project during the first round of Federal multi-modal transportation initiatives in the early 1990s. In addition, the Ithaca/Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC), the areas metropolitan transportation planning organization, supports the project by recognizing the trail in its 10-year planning process.

III-27

Bolstered by the Federal multi-modal transportation initiative, communities across the country are realizing the importance to the health and quality of life of their residents of providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Assisted by the ITCTC, communities throughout Tompkins County have joined the planning and implementation effort to provide alternate transportation systems. The long-range transportation plan for Tompkins County, produced by the ITCTC, recommends that community facilities eventually be linked with on- and off-road bicycle and multi-use trails. OPRHPs Black Diamond Trail will be an integral component in the Countys efforts to reach its goal. The trail will link: four state parks, the village of Trumansburg to the city of Ithaca, two city parks, and several natural areas. Also in support of a truly multi-modal transportation system in the county and in recognition of the already significant number of bicycling public, the Tompkins County Area Transit has been installing front-mount bicycle racks on their transit buses. In 2003, the Bikes on Buses program recorded 8,952 bicycles loaded onto transit buses at the main downtown transfer stop. Systemwide, 17679 bicycles were loaded onto buses. These numbers are impressive for a Northeast city and demonstrate an interest in multimodal transport in the county.

route. The trail segment between the City of Ithaca and Taughannock Falls State Park crosses two county highways, six town roads and runs parallel to N. Y. S. Route 89 for most of its way. Within the City of Ithaca, the trail runs parallel to three state highways, 13A, 89 and 96, and is accessible from three city streets. Between the City of Ithaca and Robert H. Treman State Park, the trail intersects with two town roads and runs parallel to N. Y .S. Routes 13, 34 and 96. The Black Diamond Trail will also link to other area trail systems including the Cayuga Waterfront Trail (multi-use), Clinton Street and West Hill Bikeways (on-street) in the city of Ithaca and the pedestrian-only Finger Lakes Trail in Robert H. Treman State Park. In the future, the extension of the South Hill Recreation Way to Buttermilk Falls and the City of Ithacas Southwest Natural Area Park across the Gateway Bridge will expand access to the citys developing southwest commercial area.

Infrastructure
The success of the Black Diamond Trail relies in part on the availability and quality of supporting infrastructure. Supporting infrastructure includes roads, bridges, public water and sewer systems and public utilities. The following sections identify facilities in place that will contribute to the successful completion of OPRHPs trail initiative.

Trail Infrastructure by Others

Various roadway upgrade and reconstruction projects within the Black Diamond Trail corridor have included provisions for the OPRHPs trail or improvements to facilitate access to the trail. These include underpasses, bridge abutments, trail segment construction and road repaving and shoulder repair. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) completed significant highway improvement projects within the trail corridor during the 1980s and 1990s that included trail features.

Tompkins County Area Transit bus with front-mount bicycle rack.

The proposed alignment of the trail will connect it to the existing street, road and highway system in Tompkins County at multiple locations along the

III-28

The reconstruction and realignment of N.Y.S. Route 13/34/96 near Robert H. Treman was completed in the mid-1980s. To accommodate the future OPRHP trail, NYSDOT lengthened the bridge structure over the intermittent stream to allow the trail to pass under the busy state highway.

State Park from Robert H. Treman State Park. The paved trail segment from the east side of the state park to the west side under the N.Y.S. Route 13/34/96 overpass. Construction of bridge abutments along the highway to accommodate a future bridge to connect the east and west sides of the city of Ithaca and to connect the South Hill Recreation Way to the Black Diamond Trail.

Trail underpass of N. Y. S. Rtes 13/34/96 at Robert H. Treman State Park

The N. Y. S. Route 96/89 realignment (Octopus Redevelopment) project on the city of Ithacas west side included the following elements: Reconstructing the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, the BDT connection to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, from the existing State Street bridge north to the new N. Y. S. Route 89 bridge. Constructing a new trail segment under the N. Y. S. Route 89 bridge to the west side of Cass Park and the future Black Diamond Trail connection. Purchase of land along the flood control channel for the BDT trail as replacement lands needed for the highway project through Cass Park. On the City of Ithacas south side, the reconstruction, including the widening to four lanes, of N. Y. S. Routes 13, 34 and 96 included the following trail infrastructure. Construction of bridge abutments along the Cayuga Inlet to accommodate a future bridge for the trail connection into Buttermilk Falls

Bridge abutments constructed by NYSDOT for bridge over Cayuga Inlet to Buttermilk Falls State Park

In 2000, the City of Ithaca, utilizing special state transportation funding, installed the Gateway Bridge on the NYSDOT-constructed abutments over N. Y. S. Routes 13/34/96 for the future extension of the South Hill Recreation Way to connect to the Black Diamond Trail.

Gateway Bridge over N. Y. S. Rtes 13/34/96

Other components of these road improvement projects within the city of Ithaca that support a pedestrian and bicycle system include improved lighting, traffic calming at intersections, intersection improvements, upgrading sign controls,

III-29

and pavement overlays on parallel or intersecting roadways. Overall, the roadway infrastructure, including State, County and Town roads, supporting vehicular traffic to future trail access points is in adequate condition. On roadways outside the city of Ithaca, repaving of N. Y. S. Rte. 96 from the Ithaca city line to Perry City Road in the Town of Ulysses was completed in 2001. N. Y. S. Rte. 89 was repaved in 1998 from the Ithaca city line to the Tompkins County/Seneca County line. Krums Corners Road, from Perry City Road to Dubois Road was repaved in 1998. Four-foot gravel shoulders were installed along Agard Road, from Jacksonville Road to Willow Creek Road in 2000.

Lehigh Valley Rail Bridge over Cayuga Inlet

Crossing the Cayuga Inlet at the southwest corner of the City of Ithacas future Southwest Natural Area Park uses a historical rail crossing that has largely been destroyed, except for abutments on the north side which can be used as a retaining wall. The grade difference between the south and north banks is approximately fifteen feet. The span is approximately 150 feet. Ramps will be required at each abutment to meet adjacent grade. The creek is fast flowing and will require rip-rap to prevent erosion.

Existing Structures
There are several existing structures that formerly served the Lehigh Valley Railroad that can be incorporated into the trail project to carry the trail over or under terrain barriers. From south to north, these include the following.

Norfolk Southern Rail Bridge

Along the trail segment between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks the proposed trail corridor must cross an active low-traffic rail line. The opportunity exists to have the trail pass under the rail line using one bay of a rail bridge. Crossing the rail line and using the bridge bay will require agreement by Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Existing bridge abutment from former lehigh Valley rail crossing of the Cayuga Inlet

Norfolk Southern At-Grade Rail Crossing

At the north-western end of the OPRHP-owned former rail corridor property, near the beginning of the flood control channel, an existing at-grade railroad crossing is available for the trail to cross the active low-traffic Norfolk Southern line. This crossing is also anticipated to be developed and used by the City of Ithaca to access its future Southwest Natural Area Park. The following photo illustrates the existing at-grade crossing condition.

Rail bridge that can accommodate a trail underpass

III-30

Lehigh Valley Rail Bridge over Trumansburg Creek and Lake Street
This existing bridge is located at the north end of the OPRHP-owned abandoned rail corridor. It is a very large, high multi-span structure that is in salvageable condition. Structural investigation of the abutments will need to be conducted as there are several cracks visible. The concrete piers at the center and end spans appear structurally sound. The deck still has railroad ties, which will need to be replaced with a new deck. The span is approximately 300 feet.
Existing at-grade crossing of the active low-traffic Norfolk Southern Line

Crossing Under State Street Bridge

The New York State Department of Transportation constructed ramps and a trail under the State Street bridge in association with the N. Y. S. Rte. 96 reconstruction. Vertical clearance on the existing trail under the State Street bridge is only 7 feet.

Existing rail bridge spanning Trumansburg Creek and Lake Street in the village of Trumansburg

Lehigh Valley Rail Bridge near Kraft Road

South of Kraft Road in the Town of Ulysses is an existing railroad bridge with an approximate span of 100 feet. The deck has been removed and will require installation of a new deck. The superstructure is structurally sound. Minor repairs will be needed to bottom plates and cross frames. The existing abutments appear sound but will also require some minor surface repairs, i.e. pargetting.

Culverts and Spillways

There are over 80 drainage structures along the trail. Most are still functioning well; however, several will need repair or replacement. Some have outstanding stone work, the most illustrative of which can be seen upslope from N. Y. S. Route 89 along some of the deeper gullies draining to the lake.

Lehigh Valley Rail Bridge over Taughannock Creek

The former high span railroad bridge is currently used by the rim-trail hikers in Taughannock Falls State Park. Resurfacing of the existing cracked concrete deck will be necessary for the Black Diamond Trail use. The bridges south end concrete abutment is deteriorating and should be considered for replacement in the future. At the juncture of the approach bridge with the railroad bridge, a three-foot by eleven-foot steel deck plat is to be removed and replaced as part of the deckresurfacing project. Also, vegetation clean up will be required along the fence lines on each side of the railroad bridge. The railroad bridge span length is approximately 125 feet.

Municipal Services
Municipal sewer and water service are not available along most of the proposed trail corridor. Public sewer and water are available within developed areas within the city of Ithaca and village of Trumansburg. Cass Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park have both services. The other state parks have on-site sewage disposal systems and public water in developed sections.

Emergency/Public Services
The Black Diamond Trail will have fire protection services available from the Town and City of Ithaca as well as the Village of Trumansburg. The

III-31

Ithaca Fire Department has four fire stations in close proximity to the trail. These stations include: the South Hill Fire Station #5 located on N. Y. S. Routte 96 B in the Town of Ithaca; the Central Fire Station located on Green Street in the city of Ithaca; the Fall Creek Fire Station #7 located on Tioga Street in the City of Ithaca; the West Hill Fire Station #6 located on N.Y.S. Rte. 96 in the Town of Ithaca. The Village of Trumansburg has a volunteer fire department located on Main Street (N. Y. S. Route 96). Ambulance services are available from a private ambulance business and a municipal service in the village of Trumansburg. Police response to emergency situations within the trail corridor will be handled primarily by the New York State Park Police. Supporting the Park Police, Tompkins County has an enhanced-911 system. Calls for assistance are made to a central dispatch center where police services are sent according to the unit closest to the scene. Therefore, police units from the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County Sheriffs Department, New York State Police, or Village of Trumansburg Police Department could be sent to a call associated with the trail. The Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca is the areas major medical service center. The center is located very close to the northern portion of the trail corridor off N. Y. S. Route 96.

III-32

CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS AND ALTERNATIVES
Before proposing specific trail construction elements and management policies, a focused look at the trail setting is necessary to identify the natural and cultural resources that may be sensitive to changes brought about by implementing the trail project. In the sections that follow, natural and cultural resources sensitivity issues are identified for the varied landscapes proposed for the trails development. The analysis section is followed by a discussion of trail development alternatives.

The objective to use abandoned railroad corridor and previously developed/disturbed land for the majority of the Black Diamond Trail is intended to minimize or avoid adverse impacts on natural and cultural resources located within the trails study area. Through the inventory-gathering phase, which included detailed field visits, public information meetings, and meetings with individuals, groups and business owners, resource sensitivity issues were identified for several areas within the study corridor. The following resource analysis section presents the natural and cultural resources found in the trail corridor that could be impacted by trail development and management.

honeysuckle and multi-flora rose, have become well established. The most biologically sensitive area proposed for trail development exists in the Cayuga Inlet Valley between Robert H. Treman State Park and the south end of the flood control channel in the city of Ithaca. Within this stretch exist pockets of remnant wetland and floodplain forest habitats. Both of these types of habitats declined dramatically during the years of settlement of the flats at the south end of Cayuga Lake. The extensive wetland that once existed from the lake shore south to the area of Robert H. Treman State Park was drained and filled over the years to take advantage of the fertile soils for agriculture and accommodate the expanding population of the city of Ithaca. The pockets of vegetation that survived sustained some of the plant communities unique to the lowland habitats. Over the years, farming has progressively decreased as urban and suburban land uses expand south, making it difficult for farmers to move equipment to their fields. Left undisturbed over the decades, pockets of wetland, wet meadow and floodplain species are reclaiming some of the abandoned agricultural areas. As noted in Chapter III, in the biological resources section, field studies of the trail corridor located

Resource Analysis The Natural Landscape Flora

A variety of habitats exist along the 15-mile trail alignment supporting a wide variety of plant life. Over the majority of the length of the proposed trail alignment, the land has been disturbed by development activities including roads, a railroad, flood control structures, farming and suburban and urban development. Much of the vegetation that exists consists of second-growth species. In many places non-native, invasive species, such as

IV-33

populations of rare native plant species within the southern section of the corridor Kentucky coffee tree and green dragon. Both of the plants are protected under New York State law. Measures will need to be taken to avoid them to ensure their longterm survival. The Kentucky coffee tree is listed in New York State as endangered. Its occurrance is rare and it has a very small range in central New York. The two groves of the tree found within the trail corridor study area are located immediately adjacent to N. Y. S. Route 96 near Cass Park and N. Y. S. Routes 13, 34, 96 near the intersection with N. Y. S. Route 13A, within the trail segments linking Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Robert H. Treman State Park. Trail alignment should avoid these two areas. The green dragon is a floodplain forest species. It is listed in New York State as exploitably vulnerable, which means that the native plant could become threatened in the near future if causal factors continue unchecked. In this case, the causal factor would be the destruction of the remaining floodplain forest habitat. Several populations of the green dragon were located in the pockets of floodplain forest that remain in the Inlet Valley. Due to the larger number of occurances of the plant throughout the stream bottomland, building the trail through the area will require careful layout of a very specific trail alignment. The consultant botanist that conducted the field inventories tentatively flagged a trail route that will avoid any disturbance of the plant populations. Well in advance of the start of construction, a final field visit with the consultant botanist will be performed to verify the best trail route layout. Because these plants are dependent on rich, moist soils, trail construction in the vicinity of a population must not disturb the natural flow of surface or ground water. Other plant life along the trail corridor is well represented in the area and New York State and will not require any special consideration during construction, operation and management for the recreational trail. However, to maintain the scenic

appeal, interpretive/educational value and habitat diversity value, trail construction and maintenance should strive to minimize the disruption and removal of native vegetation. The field study also located many pockets of non-native, invasive plant species throughout the corridor. The removal of invasive, exotic species by prescribed methods should be undertaken when possible. Replacement with native plants should be pursued to restore the diversity that sustains the health of the native habitats.

Fauna
The biological sensitivity study also identified two animal species historically recorded to be present in the trails study areathe bog turtle and tawny emperor butterfly. The bog turtle has not been located in the Cayuga Inlet valley since the early 1940s and is suspected to have moved out of the area due to the dramatic alteration of its habitat in the valley. The tawny emperor butterfly is likely still to be present in the area since its last sighting in 1993. The favored plant of the butterfly, the hackberry tree, is located in pockets in the southern half of the trail corridor study area, roughly from Allan H. Treman/Cass Park south to Robert H. Treman State Park. The majority of the tree groves are located at the outer limits of the study area. A very small grove of the tree was found within Buttermilk Falls State Park and trail alignment should avoid this grove. Other wildlife dependent on the habitats within the trail corridor are well represented in the area and New York State. Of the many species present, those that may be most sensitive to introducing more human activity into an area are in the avian category. Birds that demonstrate secretive behavorial patterns, such as veery, brown thrashers and warblers, may be impacted by trail development in the Cayuga Inlet valley. The removal of vegetation thickets favored by these birds should be avoided. Also, vegetation clearing for trail construction and post-construction

IV-34

maintenance should be kept to a minimum in all areas to reduce creating an edge effect that would encourage nest depredation. To assist with future operation and maintenance policy decisions post trail construction and to support the interpretive/educational programming for the trail, an ongoing inventory/monitoring of the animal species observed in the vicinity of the trail should be implemented.

non-consumptive uses occur in wetland areas. Construction of commercial or residential structures in wetlands can be limited by the features that make them valuable including wildlife sensitivity, high water table, and low-bearing-strength soils. The small pockets of wetland in the trails study area are located between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks. These areas have been mapped and through careful planning with the field assistance of a wetlands consultant and the NYSDEC Wetlands Unit they can be avoided. Floodplain Forest As noted earlier, the valley south of the head of Cayuga Lake was once a vast wetland habitat including cattail marsh and floodplain forest. Drained and filled over time, the lions share of these ecological communities disappeared from the landscape. The remnants of floodplain forest that remain are located along the Cayuga Inlet stream south of the city of Ithaca and in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and Cass Park. The majority of the pockets of forest are or will be protected from further degradation or loss through public ownership. Trail alignment between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls will require passing through segments of the floodplain forest habitat. Field assistance of a botanist will be used to identify the most appropriate final alignment through the area to minimize impact on the forest.

Ecological Communities
Wetlands and floodplain forest habitats historically vulnerable to destruction for human development are located in the southern half of the trails study corridor. The pockets of these habitats that remain through the Cayuga Inlet stream valley are now reclaiming acreage as land once used for agricultural purposes is abandoned and allowed to revert to natural habitat. In recognition of the biological value of these areas, several parcels of land are now under public and not-for-profit organization ownership and/or stewardship and will be forever protected. Through the Black Diamond Trail development program, several parcels, totalling 131 acres, surrounding the Cayuga Inlet stream between Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Parks will be acquired and protected through New York State ownership. Trail development through the stream bottomland habitat areas will require careful planning and design. Construction and operation should follow best practices techniques. Wetlands Wetlands are an essential part of the natural landscape. A functioning wetland filters surface and ground waterremoving toxins, sediments, and nutrientsand stores floodwater, reducing the extent of a flood event. Wetlands also promote ground water recharge and provide a valuable and diverse habitat for many species of wildlife, which may include threatened or rare species. Rich in wildlife, recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, bird watching and other

Water Resources
Most prominent in the trails study area is Cayuga Lake. The lake is a resource for domestic and commercial water supplies, many water-based recreational activities, and habitat for many aquatic-dependent plant and animal species. The destruction of wetlands at the head of Cayuga Lake, elevated levels of sediment and pollutants carried by increasing volumes of stormwater runoff from the expansion of impervious surfaces, and failed septic systems, however, have begun to take a toll on the waters in the southern end of Cayuga Lake. Recognition and action to reverse the trend

IV-35

is needed in all public and private sectors in the Cayuga Lake watershed. Throughout the length of the Black Diamond Trails corridor, waterways large and small pass by and under the proposed trail alignment on their way north and east to Cayuga Lake. The majority of the stream crossings anticipated along the course of the proposed trail already exist. Any new construction or rehabilitation of existing structures will require using best-management construction practices to eliminate the potential for contributing sediment load or pollutants to Cayuga Lake. In addition, trail design elements should be included to minimize stormwater run-off and discourage stream-bank erosion caused by trail patrons leaving the trail corridor and cutting paths to the waterways.

will require field surveys to ensure that pre-historic and historic resources are not destroyed by trail construction.

Agricultural Resources
As noted in the inventory chapter, the preferred alignment of the Black Diamond Trail will pass through agricultural lands in the north end of the corridor in the Town of Ulysses. The Town of Ulysses is one of three towns in Tompkins County that still supports active agricultural economic resources due to the location of the most productive soils and level to moderately-sloped topography. Both Tompkins Countys and the Town of Ulysses comprehensive plans recommend implementing land-use planning initiatives that support and protect agricultural land uses. As a high priority at both governmental levels, consideration will be given, through local land-use control mechanisms, to how non-agricultural focused development will impact the operation of farms and the demand to convert farm land to residential or business enterprises. Once land converts from farming to development, it is usually a permanent lose to future agriculturally-focused activity. The Town of Ulysses, in support of its Comprehensive Plan goal to promote agricultural enterprise in the town, has created in its new zoning ordinance an agricultural zone. The intent of the zone is to encourage appropriately-scaled land development in the areas of the town where agriculture is still the primary land use. The new zoning ordinance was adopted on August 30, 2005. The Black Diamond Trail trail alignment in the Town of Ulysses takes advantage of an existing corridor developed for railroad transportation. Thus, the acquisition of agriculturally-dedicated land will not be necessary to develop the trail. Also, the trail is located in an area of the town that is zoned rural residential development, recognizing that the area has less productive soils, encompasses the steeper slopes of the Cayuga Lake basin and is in the process of converting to rural residential.

The Cultural Landscape Archaeological Resources

A search of records chronicling the history of Tompkins County identified sites and structures within the study area important to documenting the past lives of residents of the area. Knowledge of these resources is significant to guide trail construction and plan interpretive/educational materials that will enhance the trail users experience. Once again, the area identified as requiring additional investigation and care during construction is in the Cayuga Inlet valley. The resources provided by the fertile valley, including water, plant and wild game for sustenance, lead archaeologists to recommend the need to investigate the area for relics of pre-historic cultures that settled in the area before European settlement. As these areas come under public ownership, historic preservationists will have an opportunity to conduct site-specific investigations of the land. In some areas, trail construction will require ground disturbance to land not previously used for development or agricultural purposes. These areas

IV-36

Through the public scoping process for the trail, meetings with adjacent landowners engaged in farming businesses and members of the Tompkins County Farmland Protection Board were held to focus specifically on how trail development and operation could impact traditional farming practices. Issues discussed included eliminating or regulating farmfield access where the farmer must cross the trail to access fields on the opposite side, crop damage from trail patrons trespassing on private land and trail users objecting to the application of herbicides and pesticides on crops. The concerns expressed by the Tompkins County farm community have been echoed across the United States where other trails have been proposed for development through agricultural lands. To assist trail planners working on new trail development projects, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) reaches out to trail managers across the country to gain feedback on whether farmers concerns materialized and how they were handled. The information gained from the realworld experience allows trail planners to identify the most appropriate design and management policy options to build into a new trails master plan. In the case of the Black Diamond Trail, the three main issues expressed by farmers in the corridor can be adequately addressed employing the recommendations documented by the RTC. With respect to impacts on movement to or between agricultural lands, a review of historic railroad acquisition records provides documentation that rail corridor crossings for multiple land uses were secured for adjacent owners. This provision ensures that current owners of adjacent lands continue to enjoy the right to cross the former rail corridor. When OPRHP acquired the former rail lands, title was taken with the knowledge that these agreements are to be honored. Retaining and supplementing the dense vegetation growing between the trail tread and adjacent land is one of the most effective ways to minimize trespassing. Posting trail property boundaries should also be employed to discourage trail users from leaving the trail corridor. In addition, installing appropriate and adequate orientation

signage communicates to trail users where and how they can obtain support services along the trail to reduce the chances of them leaving the corridor to seek out support services on private property. In areas where pesticide or herbicide applications occur to enhance crop production, protecting both the farmer and trail users can be handled by posting the trail to alert trail patrons of the spraying or closing the trail segment during the application period. Either action requires a close working relationship between the farmer and the trail manager.

Recreational Resources
Overall, the impact of developing the Black Diamond Trail on recreational resources in the trails service area will be positive. Sensitivity to two existing recreational activities however, will be necessary during construction and operation of the trail. Crew Racing The Cornell University and Ithaca College crew courses utilize the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel for intercollegiate crew races. Before the construction of the flood control channel, the races were held on Cayuga Lake. Rough lake waters frequently disrupted the ability to conduct races. During the construction of the flood control channel in the 1960s, Cornell University worked with the flood control structural designers to incorporate the intercollegiate course into the alignment of the new flood channel. In addition to the preferred alignment, placement and spacing of the highway bridge piers were designed to meet the needs of the crew course. Bridges added over time have also been designed to maintain the crew course alignment. The Black Diamond Trail alignment through the City of Ithaca may require the construction of a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel. Should the new bridge span require pier supports placed in the flood control channel, they will need to match the spacing of the

IV-37

three bridges to the north so as to maintain the crew course alignment. Hunting In the rural landscape of Tompkins County, smalland large-game hunting are still actively pursued at various times throughout the year. Privately-owned lands adjacent to the proposed Black Diamond Trail alignment between the city of Ithaca and Taughannock Falls State Park are still hunted by property owners, their family and friends. Trail development through tracts of land that are still hunted will result in more human traffic through areas previously seeing low and intermittent use. Two primary hunting seasons that could be impacted by trail development are the white-tail deer season, beginning in October and ending in December, and the fall and spring turkey seasons, running from the end of October to midNovember and the month of May. As has been documented by the RTC and OPRHP, hunting and trails activities can and do co-exist in the landscape. While hunting will not be permitted on the Black Diamond Trail property, hunting will continue to occur on the private adjacent lands. To encourage a safe and enjoyable climate for both outdoor user groups during hunting seasons, signs posted at all trailheads and periodically along the length of the corridor will alert trail users to the opening and closing days of hunting season and remind them to practice hunter-safety precautions, such as wearing bright orange clothing. Additionally, where vegetation cover makes it difficult for trail users and hunters to observe one another in the landscape, segments of trails can be temporarily closed.

be necessary at all points where the trail crosses streets, roads, highways and the active railroad line. One of the main objectives of the Black Diamond Trail is to provide an off-road connection between the four state parks in Tompkins County. Along the way, the trail will provide users the opportunity to reach many other destinations in the Towns of Ulysses and Ithaca and the City of Ithaca. Spur connections from multiple locations along the Black Diamond Trail alignment should be encouraged and planned for by OPRHP in concert with town, city and county officials. Other support infrastructure, including commuter parking and bicycle racks at trailheads, should be considered where the trail will, or in the future could, interface with the Countys transit system.

Community Resources
Adding to the transportation options available in Tompkins County, providing a recreational venue for people of all ages and abilities, and promoting a healthier lifestyle through walking or bicycling are the benefits to developing the Black Diamond Trail. With the development, however comes change in the use of lands that have not seen activity for several decades. The reuse of the former railroad corridor, particularly in the Town of Ulysses, drew the most discussion at public informational meetings held about the proposed trail development. For the people that live along the abandoned rail corridor, the conversion of the corridor back to a traveled way will result in a noticeable change to their surroundings. The concerns adjacent residents cited most included the loss of privacy in their backyards with people moving along the trail corridor past their homes, the potential for trail users to trespass on their property seeking water, bathrooms or other assistance and lastly, the potential for criminal incidents, including vandalism and theft. These issues cited by future neighbors of the Black Diamond Trail are not new to multi-use, multipurpose trail development in general. Once again,

Transportation System
Integrating the Black Diamond Trail into the existing transportation system will benefit Tompkins Countys transportation plan to develop a fully multi-modal system. To ensure that the trail maximizes its contribution to the Countys system, safety features, including signs and gates, will

IV-38

drawing on research conducted by the RTC on existing trails nationwide and information gained from local trail managers, real-world data provides valuable guidance on how and/or if the issues actually manifest with trail development. Generally, the concerns cited by adjacent residents do not arise with development of a multi-use, multi-purpose trail. Overall, the majority of people using the trails are out for the values the trail provides and are focused on pursuing the trailbased activity. To continue the success of multi-purpose trail development, it is important to work cooperatively with adjacent owners and build a long-term positive relationship by including infrastructure to minimize impacts. Design elements that can decrease impacts include infilling existing vegetation to increase the buffer between the trail and neighbors yards, installing appropriate fence structures to create physical barriers where a residence is close to the corridor, providing adequate services at or near trailheads, posting the property limits of the trail corridor and providing orientation information about support services locations at all trail access points.

Trail Alternatives
Identifying and understanding the sensitivity of the natural and cultural landscape in the proposed BDT corridor lays the groundwork for considering trail development alternatives. The goal of selecting the preferred alternative is to avoid impacts to resources to the greatest extent possible and reasonable and where resources cannot be avoided to mitigate impacts by following prescribed methods for construction and management. As the review of the resource sensitivity issues progressed, the resource issues noted as potentials in advancing the trail development divided out, for the most part, by association with three distinct settingsstream valley bottomland, urbanized area and rural residential/agriculture. With respect to the trails location to meet the objective to link the four state parks in Tompkins County, the three landscapes equate to three trail segments: Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park - stream valley bottomland setting Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park - urbanized area setting Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park - rural residential and agricultural setting Table IV-2, on the following page, summarizes the resource issues by each trail segment. Generally, natural resources impacts are expected primarily in the segment proposed to connect Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls. While cultural resources impacts are expected in the two segments linking Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman and Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls.

IV-39

TABLE IV-2 Resource Sensitivity Issues by Trail Segment

TRAIL SEGMENTS
Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls
Flora Location of Kentucky coffee tree and green dragon.

Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman

Water Bridge crossings of the Cayuga Inlet and Flood Control Channel required. Recreation

Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls

Water Bridge crossings of hillside intermittent streams required.

Fauna

Agriculture Active agricultural use still exists adjacent to trail. Recreation Hunting occurs on adjacent private lands. Transportation Trail crosses several county and town roads. Community Trail passes close to rural residential properties.

RESOURCES

Possible tawny emperor Design of bridge over the butterfly habitat, good avian Flood Control Channel must habitat. consider crew racing course. Ecological Communities Small pocket wetlands located in area. Transportation Active railroad line is located along this segment.

Water Bridge crossings of the Cayuga Inlet required. Archaeological Potential for pre-historic resources located in area. Transportation Active railroad line is located along this segment.

IV-40

Using the trail segment breakdown, trail development alternatives can be proposed for consideration. Decisions about trail treadway location, treadway surface treatment, who the trail will serve, treadway width, support amenities, access and spur trails can be recommended for each segment considering the types of resource issues associated with the setting. The following sections present general trail development alternatives.

or recreational resources that exist under water. Environmental Education covers sites and areas with a focus or specialization on natural resources such as fish hatcheries, environmental education centers and summer camps. With respect to the Black Diamond Trail, the facility could be classified under two of the categoriesParks and Land Resources or Linear Systems. Since the trail will link the four existing state park facilities, the BDT could be viewed as an extension of the existing parks, thus pointing to a classification of the Parks and Land Resources category. As a trail, the Linear Systems category seems an appropriate classification for the BDT. Under the Parks and Land Resources category, there are seven subcategoriesMetro Park. Recreation Park, State Campground, Scenic Park, Management Areas, Forest Preserve and Park Preserve. Three of the categories, State Campground, Management Areas and Forest Preserve, apply specifically to lands within the Adirondacks and Catskill Regions. Generally, for the four that remain for OPRHP, the facilities classified provide a varied and wide-range of recreational program opportunities. Recreational programming for the BDT will be singularly limited to trail-based recreation with primary support facilities provided at the existing parks. Therefore, it is not recommended that the BDT be classified in the Parks and Land Resources category. More appropriately, the BDT fits the Linear Systems classification. Under this category there are four subcategoriesParkways, Linear Parks, Recreationways, and Primitive Trailway - Wild and Scenic Rivers. The BDT is expected to provide a venue for a variety of trail-based recreational opportunities and provide a transportation link between community destinations including the state parks. Parkways are limited-access highway facilities for auto traffic focusing on linking parkland resources. Linear Parks encompass a landscape feature, such as a waterway, which may include multiple small park sites that provide a variety of activites that are linked by a recreationway. The Recreationways subcategory applies to lands dedicated to trails that can serve many types of uses including pedestrian,

Park Land Classification

In the 1970s, the OPRHP established a park land classification system to help in preparing park master and management plans and Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. The system helps to identify appropriate recreational program and resource management activities for lands under OPRHP and DEC jurisdiction. The system uses natural and cultural resource characteristics, levels of improvements, physical capacity and other management related data to assist the agency in setting operation and management policies for a state park facility. The system is continuely assessed and updated as new information is gathered. The current system consists of five (5) major classification categoriesParks and Land Resources, Water Access, Historic Resources, Linear Systems, Underwater Sites and Environmental Educationwith 23 subcategories. Facilities classified in the Parks and Land Resources category include land areas that can sustain active and passive day-use and overnight recreational program opportunities. Water Access facilities main functions are to provide boat facilities to a wide range of water resources in the state. Historic Resources are sites, parks, buildings and landscapes that have historical significance. Linear systems include recreation ways, parkways and trails that provide movement corridors that link recreation areas to population centers and other tripdestination resources. Many of the recreationway and trails facilities are gaining recognition for expanding transportation opportunities within communities in addition to serving as recreation opportunities. Underwater Sites cover historic

IV-41

bicycle, equestrian and snowmobile. The final subcategory, Primitive Trailway - Wild and Scenic Rivers, include areas that are natural facilities that encourage primitive, usually non-motorized uses requiring a low intensity of development. In considering how the BDT will be operated and managed, it is recommended that the trail facility stand alone rather than be considered an extension of the existing parks. As the trail will also serve the function as an alternate transportation facility and be jointly developed and managed with other local entities, the operations and management policies need to be flexible and unique to the facility to allow it to serve as a multi-purpose, multi-use trail facility, e.g. after dark use. Including it under the umbrella of the other parks could cause confusion and misinterpretation for use of existing trail facilities within Robert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls and Taughannock which are strictly pedestrian-only trails. As a separate facility, it is recommended that the Black Diamond Trail be classified as a Recreationway.

A corridor within or immediately adjacent to highway/road rights of way. A corridor significantly separate from road rights of way. Considering these two options, alternatives for each segment of the Black Diamond Trail can be presented and evaluated.

Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park

To establish a corridor between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks involves either the acquisition of a trail corridor along N. Y.S. Routes 13, 34, 96 or within the Cayuga Inlet valley. To use the existing investment in trail infrastructure completed by the New York State Department of Transportation, the preferred alignment between the two parks places the trail on the east side of the highway corridor. Focusing in on this area, listed below are the resources and development issues related to each location option. Trail Developed in the N. Y. S. Routes 13, 34, 96 Corridor Several residential and commercial properties are located very close to the highway right of way. Establishing the corridor along the highway would require acquisition of buildings as well as land. Utility lines occupy the same corridor that would be used for the trail. Poles and lines would need to be relocated. Steep banks exist along the highway. Significant fill and stablization would be needed to create a platform on which to build the trail. A grove of the Kentucky coffee tree is located along the highway and would be impacted by establishing the trail along the highway.

Trail Location
Establishing the preferred trail alignment is primarily guided by three objectives: link the four state parks together by a trail network, provide an off-road trail connection between the four state parks, and provide opportunities to link other community destinations to state parks by a trail network. These parameters focus trail development to a specific area within Tompkins County, the trail corridor study area. More specifically, over the years that the trail has been studied and progressed, significant financial investments have been made by New York State and the City of Ithaca to locate the trail within a defined corridor. The investments also commit the trails location to a specific area. Within the study area, following the guiding objectives, two viable location alternatives exist for trail development:

IV-42

A new at-grade crossing of the active railroad line would be necessary to be able to utilize the bridge abutments constructed by the New York State Department of Transportation south of Buttermilk Falls State Park for a trail bridge. Establishing a dedicated trail corridor on the N. Y. S. Routes 13, 34, 96 bridge over the railroad and Cayuga Inlet south of Buttermilk Falls State Park could impact the traffic flow as designed for by the N. Y. S. Department of Transportation. Future expansion of the N. Y. S. Routes 13, 34 & 96 segment in the Inlet Valley to four lanes could eliminate the trail corridor. Trail Developed in the Cayuga Inlet Valley Corridor Acquisition of property in the Cayuga Inlet bottomlands involves only vacant land. Pockets of wetlands and floodplain forest could be impacted by trail development. Potential flooding of the bottomland could periodically affect trail use. Crossing the existing active railroad line can be accomplished by developing an underpass at an existing railroad bridge. Weighing the issues associated with the two trail location options for this segment, the preferred alternative is to establish a new corridor in the Cayuga Inlet bottomland area. The cost and complexities of purchasing and developing a corridor along the state highway would be significantly higher and would create a project beyond the scope of what OPRHP could accomplish.

by OPRHP and the City of Ithaca along a defined course which included abandoned railroad corridor and property along the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel. Considering the previous investment by both entities, the preferred route continues to be establishing a new corridor using abandoned railroad corridor running northwest from Buttermilk Falls State Park to the intersection with the channalized portion of the Cayuga Inlet, then adjacent to the flood control channel to the intersection with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. This alternative will require constructing a new bicycle and pedestrian bridges over Buttermilk Creek and two new bridges over the flood control channel. The alternative alignment would require establishing a separate corridor along either N. Y. S. Route 13 through the heart of the City of Ithacas commercial area or along N. Y. S. Route 13A. Both of these highway corridors pose significant financial and physical constraints, i.e. right of way acquisition and utility relocation.

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park
In the late 1980s, OPRHP added the link to the fourth state park, Taughanock Falls, to the Tompkins County trail project. At the time, several corridor alternatives were explored for the trail including establishing the trail along N. Y. S. Route 89. Over the course of the study and development for the current Black Diamond Trail project, OPRHP had the opportunity to secure abandoned railroad corridor between the City of Ithaca and the Village of Trumansburg for the trail. The corridor meets the objective of having a separate, dedicated corridor property for the trail. Considering the investment already made by OPRHP in the property for the Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls segment, the preferred alternative for this segment is the abandoned railroad corridor.

Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park
The trail connection between these facilities has been studied and discussed since the mid-1970s. In the later 1980s corridor acquisition was progressed

IV-43

Treadway Surface Treatment

To assist in identifying options for trail treadway surfacing, direction set down by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is key. Where reasonable, new facilities need to accommodate people with disabilities. For trail surface materials to meet ADA guidelines, they must provide a firm and stable surface. Materials that have proven to meet the ADA standard and that will be considered for the Black Diamond Trail include: compacted stone and stonedust, asphalt, concrete, boardwalk and fabricated surfaces. Selection of a preferred ADA-recommended surface should also consider the physical setting of the trail and type of uses appropriate for the trail segment.

Developing facilities primarily for non-motorized transportation modes is also guided by the federal Transportation Enhancements fund, which is earmarked to support the development of pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The Black Diamond Trail received funding through the federal Enhancements program in 1992. Additional funding from the current program, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), will be pursued in the future to complete trail construction. One of the two exceptions to the non-motorized regulation for the trail will be to meet the objective to make the trail accessible to people with disabilities in support of the ADA. Motorized wheelchairs will be allowed on the trail. As noted earlier, short segments of the trail will be considered to be made available to snowmobile clubs to allow for a pass-through opportuntity between private and public lands. This allowance supports OPRHPs mission to provide trail opportunities for snowmobiles within state parks. ATVs and other all-terrain, off-road vehicles are prohibited from state park lands and will not be allowed to use the Black Diamond Trail. Trail-based travel modes that may be accommodated on the Black Diamond Trail include: walking, jogging, bicycling, in-line skating, in-line skiing, skateboarding, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and to a limited extent snowmobiles.

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Throughout the years that the Black Diamond Trail has been discussed and planned, one of the main objectives has been to provide a multi-purpose trail resource for non-motorized uses. This objective will continue to be pursued for the Black Diamond Trail through the master plan process; although consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis to some winter use by snowmobiles. In particular, snowmobile use will be considered allowable where the Black Diamond Trail can serve to connect snowmobile trail segments which are established and maintained by a state-recognized snowmobile club. The decision to provide opportunities primarily for non-motorized uses is supportive of the goals and objectives set forth for the trail. It also supports several of the goals and objectives of the IthacaTompkins County Transportation Council for trail transportation resources to serve the segment of the Countys population that travels by walking and bicycling.

Treadway Width
Factors that guide the decision on width of the trail treadway include how the trail will be used (i.e. recreation, transportation, both), who will use the trail (i.e. the number of different types of users by mode), volume of traffic and trail location. For single-purpose trails, recommended widths vary from 6 feet to 14 feet. Where multiple uses and purposes will be accommodated, a minimum width of 10 feet to 14 feet is recommended. Multiple uses may also be accommodated on separate treadways that run parallel to one another within the same

 The term motorized used in this document refers to any means of transporting or moving people or objects for any purpose by a mechanism that uses petroleum products or battery power. Mechanisms used by people with disabilities such as wheelchairs will be allowed per ADA requirements.

IV-44

corridor. This option is recommended for trails that will accommodate horseback riding.

which provides a connection to other important destinations near but not directly accessible from the main trail treadway.

Support Amenities Spur Trails

Support facilities include several elements that when provided can enhance the effectiveness and experience of the trail for the multiple users. Included in this category are: benches, bathrooms, picnic tables, traffic safety signs and gates, lighting, emergency contact systems, orientation signs, interpretive signs, bicycle racks and lockers, fencing and gates and vehicle parking. The intent of the Black Diamond Trail is to develop an off-road, multi-use, multi-purpose trail link between the existing state park facilities in Tompkins County. The trail will pass by and through many other properties serving many other community uses along the way. To maximize the trails utility as a transportation venue in the community, spur trails linking other facilities to the main trail corridor are recommended.

Access
Access to the Black Diamond Trail can include primary and secondary points of entry. It can also include access for only maintenance and operation functions. A primary point of entry is referred to as a trailhead. Trailheads can provide a variety of elements in addition to parking and orientation signage such as bathrooms, picnic tables, interpretive signs, etc. Secondary points of entry include access to a trail where it intersects with a road or street, a gated fence from a neighborhood, or a spur trail,

Alternatives by Trail Segment

The following tables present a summary of the alternatives considered for the trail development generally by segment followed by tables summarizing the issues considered in selecting the preferred alternatives by segment. The recommendations consider trail goals and objectives presented in Chapter II, natural and cultural resource sensitivity issues and general development options presented in this chapter.

The existing setting the trail will occupy helped direct selection of trail development alternative. .A farm lane in Cayuga Inlet stream corridor between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks provides an opportunity for trail location.

IV-45

TABLE IV-3
Trail Development Alternatives
Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3

Alternatives
Classification
Parks and Land Resources - Recreation Park Linear Systems - Recreationway

Robert H. Treman Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman to to Buttermilk Falls Allan H. Treman Taughannock Falls

Trail Location
Within or adjacent to highway/road rights of way Separate from highway/road rights of way

X X X

X X

Treadway Surface Treatment

Compacted stone and stonedust Asphalt Concrete Boardwalk or fabricated surfaces

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Walking, jogging Bicycling In-line skating, in-line skiing, skateboarding Horseback riding Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing Snowmobiles - limited X X X X X X X X X X X X

Treadway Width
Single-purpose trails - 6 feet to 14 feet wide Multiple-purpose trails - 10 feet to 14 feet wide

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Support Amenities
Bathrooms Benches Picnic tables Signs - Interpretive Signs - Orientation Bicycle racks or lockers Safety gates and bollards Fencing and gates Vehicle parking

Access
Primary Secondary

Spur Trails
Within state parks To adjacent destinations (services, neighborhoods)

IV-46

TABLE IV-4 Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls State Park Trail Alternatives
This 2.3-mile trail segment is more specifically defined as the proposed trail from the day-use area in Robert H. Treman to the abandoned railroad corridor north of West Buttermilk Falls Road.
Separate from Highway Right of Way: Trail to follow the Cayuga Inlet corridor. Where previously disturbed areas exist ( i.e. farm field access roads, property access roads, utility corridor) these areas should be considered first before developing a new route through floodplain vegetation areas. Considering the meandering nature of the Cayuga Inlet, the trail should be developed significantly away from the creek. The trails location within the Cayuga Inlet corridor requires consideration of the impacts of periodic flooding of the area on the trail surface and the aesthetics of the natural setting. The use of compacted limestone dust is recommended for this section because it will be less expensive and easier to repair after a major flood event and resembles the farm-road appearance formerly present in the valley. For the portion of this trail segment within the boundary of Buttermilk Falls State Park, the trail surface is recommended to be asphalt in keeping with the NYSDOT developed trail and the future link with the City/Town of Ithaca Gateway Trail which will be paved. The recommendation to use compacted limestone dust as a surface for the Cayuga Inlet corridor segment limits the use of the corridor by skateboards, rollerblades and roller skis. The short trail segment and lack of connection to other trail options for horseback riders also limits use by horseback riders. The uses to be accommodated therefore include: walking, jogging, bicycling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Within Buttermilk Falls State Park the paved surface will allow in-line skaters and skateboarders to use the trail. Considering the natural setting of the trail and the lower number of modes to be accommodated, the treadway width is recommended to be 10 wide. Benches and interpretive signs highlighting the natural and cultural features in the segment are appropriate. Their design should fit the setting and potential for flooding. Traffic safety and orientation signs should also be included where necessary. Vehicle-access control gates and bollards should be installed at entry points. Primary Access - Trailheads at the two state parks where parking, bathrooms, emergency contact system and picnic areas already exist. Trail specific amenities such as bike racks and orientation signs need to be added. Secondary Access - Administrative access (for maintenance purpose only) should be obtained at a near halfway point. To Robert H. Treman for access to trails, swimming area and camping area.

Trail Location

Treadway Surface Treatment

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Treadway Width

Support Amenities

Access

Spur Trails

To commerical areas along N.Y.S. Route 13. To Buttermilk Falls State Park south side.

IV-47

TABLE IV-5 Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman State Park and Cass Park Trail Alternatives
This 2-mile trail segment is more specifically defined as the proposed trail from the abandoned railroad corridor north of West Buttermilk Falls Road to the west side of the Cass Park baseball/softball fields area.

Trail Location

Separate from Highway Rght of Way: Trail to follow abandoned railroad corridor and top of bank of the flood control channel. Majority of corridor already owned by OPRHP and the City of Ithaca. Asphalt is the recommended surface for this portion of the trail as it will serve the urban population of the City of Ithaca. It will also connect to the City of Ithacas Waterfront Trail, a paved trail, and the future Gateway Trail, that will also be paved. Use is expected to be the highest along this segment of trail due to the location within the City of Ithaca, the connection to the Cayuga Waterfront Trail and the Citys on-street bicycle routes, and links to neighborhoods and the Southwest Park business area. Uses to be accommodated will include: walking, bicycling, in-line skating and skiing, skateboarding. Winter use may vary if the City desires to plow the trail. Considering the high use expected and likely higher travel speeds, a 12 to 14 width is recommended. A parallel path system could be considered whereby a softer surface is provided for walkers and joggers. Benches, interpretive and orientation signage. Traffic safety and vehicleaccess control infrastructure for road and railroad intersections, including signs, gates and bollards. Lighting may be considered as the trail interconnects with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Primary Access - Trailheads at Buttermilk and Allan H. Treman/Cass Park where parking, bathrooms emergency contact system and picnic areas already exist. Trail specific amenities such as bike racks and orientation signs need to be added. Secondary Access - Patron and administrative access from city streets. Patron access from neighborhoods and businesses. To Buttermilk Falls State Park north side.

Treadway Surface Treatment

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Treadway Width

Support Amenities

Access

Spur Trails

To Southwest Park Commerical District To Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and Cass Park

Top of bank along the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel through the City of Ithaca between Buttermilk Falls and Allan H. Treman State Parks/ Cass Park.

IV-48

TABLE IV-6 Allan H. Treman/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Trail Alternatives
This 8.4-miles trail segment is more specifically defined as the proposed trail from the west side of the Cass Park baseball/softball fields area to the Jacksonville Road parking area of Taughannock Falls.
Separate from Highway Right of Way: The trail will follow an abandoned railroad corridor already owned by OPRHP. Compacted limestone dust is the recommended surface for this portion of trail. Much of the trail passes through undeveloped forest land or agricultural land. Installing a compacted stone is more in keeping with the aesthetics of the area. This segment of trail is expected to be used at a moderate level for both transportation and recreation. The uses to be accommodated include: walking, jogging, bicycling, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Snowmobile use on a segment near Taughannock Falls State Park is being considered to allow snowmobiles to travel between private trail segments. Considering the number of uses to be accommodated, the trail width is recommended at 10 to 12 wide. Consideration may be given to providing a parallel trail system to separate horseback riders from other trail users. Benches, interpretive and orientation signage. Traffic safety and vehicleaccess control infrastructure, including gates and bollards, for road intersections. Gates and fencing where appropriate along transition with private adjacent residences. Primary Access - Trailheads at Cass Park, Cayuga Nature Center (Houghton Road area) and Taughannock Falls. Support facilities will need to be constructed at Cayuga Nature Center and Taughannock Falls. Orientation signage will be needed at Cass Park. Secondary Access - Administrative and patron access at road crossings. To Palentological Research Institute To Cayuga Nature Center

Trail Location

Treadway Surface Treatment

Recreational and Travel Mode Options

Treadway Width

Support Amenities

Access

Spur Trails
To Taughannock Falls State Park day-use and camping areas. To Village of Trumansburg.

Abandoned railroad corridor between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Parks

IV-49

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

IV-50

CHAPTER V
TRAIL MASTER PLAN
The following chapter synthesizes the resource analyses and alternatives into the master plan for the Black Diamond Trail. The plan will guide the construction, operation and management of the multi-use, multi-purpose trail.

Design Criteria
The construction and operation recommendations for the multi-use, multi-purpose trail presented in this chapter adhere to guidelines set forth by the following sources. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Architectural & Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (oversight group for implementing the American with Disabilities Act) New York State Department of Transportation Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Trail Corridor
Figures MP-1 through MP-6 present the master plan for the Black Diamond Trail, including the preferred alignment, spur trails, links to community facilities, corridor acquisition needs and other physical amenities that will enhance the function and enjoyment of the trail. The maps are accompanied by graphics and text that cover in more detail design elements for each trail segment selected to mitigate trail construction and operation impacts. The maps cover the trail following the trail segment breakdown introduced in Chapter IV and illustrated below.
Taughannock Falls
Village of Trumansburg
.Y. S. R ou te
89

C
N

N
S Y.

Trail plan Standard Trail Construction Treatments

Many of the physical elements of the multi-use, multi-purpose trail will be standard across the entire system. Surface treatment; treadway construction; safety, orientation and interpretive signage; trail/ road interfaces and screening will be consistent over the length of the trail. Figures V-18 through V-24, on pages V-115 to V119, at the end of this chapter present the plans for the standard construction treatments. Use of the elements along the corridor are defined/identified on the draft trail corridor plans that follow.

K E LA G A

ou .R
te
9
6

Town of Ulysses

Town of Lansing

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park
Town of Enfield

.S. Route 13 N.Y

Allan H. Treman
Town of Ithaca

City of Ithaca

Robert H. Treman State Park

to

Buttermilk Falls State Park

Robert H. Treman

Black Diamond Trail corridor segments

ou

1 te

Buttermilk Falls

V-51

Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park: Figure MP-1 & MP-2, pages V-61 and V-62 Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park: Figures MP-2 & MP-3, pages V-75 and V-76 Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park: Figures MP-3to MP-6, pages V-95 to V-98 The thick, black line on the maps represents the proposed centerline of the trail, stationed at increments of 1,000 linear feet. The stationing on the maps and referred to in the following text is an approximate measurement to provide points of reference.

The corridor through the valley will have limited road frontage. A dedicated administrative access for maintenance and emergency services use should be acquired at or near the halfway point along this trail segment. A permanent grant of easement is the recommended option for the access. Temporary construction easements may be required from adjacent property owners to facilitate the installation of the surface treatment.

Trail Uses
Walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Surface and Width

The location in or adjacent to the floodplain of the Cayuga Inlet and the setting through the floodplain forest habitat presents a challenge in selecting the most appropriate surface treatment. For the segment of trail between the two state parks, compacted limestone dust is recommended for the area. The advantages of this surface selection include: The surface is less susceptible to tree root damage, While compacted to provide a trail ADAcompliant surface, the stonedust still retains absorption properties to minimize rapid run-off of rain and snowmelt, Sections of the trail may flood periodically and replacement cost of limestone dust is more economical than asphalt or concrete. Aesthethically, the limestone dust surface is more in keeping with the natural setting of the trail, i.e. in close appearance to a farm lane. Within the state parks, asphalt-surfaced trails are recommended. Asphalt trails within the parks can provide expanded, safer opportunities for rollerblading and skateboarding. The width of the treadway is recommended to be 10 feet. This width provides adequate space for the

Figures MP-1 & MP-2, SP 0+000 to 12+300 Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park Location
The portion of the trail outside of the two state parks, SP 1+600 to SP 9+750, will be located on the flats on the westerly side of the Cayuga Inlet stream as it heads north through the valley on its way to Cayuga Lake. As noted in Chapter IV, the exact location of the treadway will follow old farm lanes where possible to minimize the cutting of new corridors through regenerating stream bottomland vegetation. Through the floodplain forest, trail treadway location will be as identified by the consultant botanist. Within the state parks, the trail will be placed in lawn, utility and existing trail corridors to connect to day-use and camping areas.

Land Acquisition
Three parcels remain to be acquired to complete the corridor. Fee acquisition of sufficient acreage to allow for the trail to be located away from the Cayuga Inlet and rebuilt if the stream changes course over time is recommended. Acquisition will be accomplished through willing seller and buyer negotiations.

V-52

types of uses to be accommodated on this section of the trail and minimizes the volume of vegetation that will be removed from landscape.

be necessary at the trailhead and at the FLT access point alerting Black Diamond Trail patrons that the Finger Lakes Trail is for foot traffic only. Figure V-5 on page V-63 shows the relationship of the trail within the state park day-use area and its connection to other patron use areas. Photos on page V-54 illustrate the existing conditions of the trailhead area and main trail and spur corridors within Robert H. Treman. SP 1+500 to 9+700: Cayuga Inlet Valley This roughly 1.5-mile segment of the proposed trail requires establishing a trail corridor through property that is, for the most part, in a state of reversion to floodplain forest. Evidence of former farmfield access drives were found during field inspections for the trail corridor and will be used for the trail treadway, where practical, rather than cutting a new corridor through denser vegetation. Three parcels of land remain to be acquired for this segment. The trail treadway will be compacted limestone dust following Section 1, Figure V-18, page V-115. Where feasible the trail should be built to match the existing grade to mitigate the impact of altering the natural ground surface from vegetation to stonedust. Where fill is required to raise the trail due to excessively wet conditions, underdrains and culverting will be installed to maintain the existing surface water flow across the land. Wetter conditions exist in the northern reach of the trail segment through the floodplain forest where small pockets of wetland exist. This area is also where small groves of green dragon exist and must be avoided. Final trail alignment will be as directed by the consultant botanist to minimize impact on the green dragon populations. At the northern end of this trail segment, the trail encounters the active railroad line currently operated by Norfolk-Southern. The opportunity exists to have the trail pass under the rail line, avoiding an at-grade crossing. Development of this trail feature will require obtaining a grant of easement from the railroad company and working closely with railroad engineers to design

Existing Conditions and Recommended Design Treatments

SP 0+000 to 1+500: Robert H. Treman State Park Robert H. Treman State Park is the Black Diamond Trails primary access point at its southern extent. The setting for the trailhead is in the eastern dayuse area of the park. A trail kiosk will be built in the vicinity of the existing bathroom building. Bicycle parking facilities and seating will be added near the kiosk. Trail development will be located on the fringe of the day-use area along the south and east sides through second-growth woods and meadow where a utility corridor exists along the north side of Enfield Creek. Treadway construction with compacted limestone dust will follow Section 1 illustrated on Figure V-18, page V-115. A seasonal-flow stream located at the northeast extent of the trail within Robert H. Treman will require bridging. Several options are available. Further design study is required for this feature to integrate it with the existing bridge underpass constructed by NYSDOT in the mid-1980s. The treadway material for the short segment of trail under the highway is recommended to be built of concrete to withstand seasonal high-velocity flood events. Spur Trail and Links to Other Facilities A spur trail from the trailhead area west to the swim area and gorge trail parking lot will be built along the edge of the lawn/meadow area following the paved surface, Section 3, Figure V-18, page V-115, design detail. Where the spur trail intersects with the park road, warning/identification signs and bollards will be installed. The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) passes through Robert H. Treman along its southern boundary. The FLT is a pedestrian-only trail. Signage will

V-53

ROBERT H. TREMAN STATE PARK EXISTING CONDITIONS SP 0+000 to 1+500 and Spur Trail

SP 0+000: View northeast of day-use area. The southern-most trailhead for the Black Diamond Trail is located in Robert H. Treman State Park. In 1999, an enclosed pavilion, restrooms and large parking area were constructed at the east end of the park. An trail orientation/information kiosk, bicycle parking and seating will be constructed near the building complex.

SP 0+000: View east where trail will pass south of the pavilion through the existing electric line utility corridor.

SP 1+000: View north to Victorian-style building. Trail to be constructed between playing field and young evergreen screen plantings.

SP 1+500: The trail will cross the intermittent creek on a new trail bridge, then pass under N. Y. S. Route 13 on north side of creek. Trail surface will be concrete under the bridge.

Spur Trail: Trail spur will follow south (right) edge of meadow and end at the swimming-area parking lot. Cyclists can use internal park road system to access camping areas south of Enfield Creek.

V-54

CAYUGA INLET VALLEY EXISTING CONDITIONS SP 1+500 to 9+700

SP 1+600: View east from N. Y. S. Route 13 bridge of meadow between intermittent creek and terrace at adjacent property. Stonedust trail to be along the north edge of the parcel.

SP 3+000: View north of meadow between terrace bank to west (left) and woodland on east. Proposed trail is to be located in the middle of the space.

SP 3+600: Proposed trail to be located on gravel/dirt farm road that links small meadow (south) and long meadow (north.) This existing road provides a stable and cost effective base for stonedust trail surfacing.

SP 5+200: The meander in the Cayuga Inlet is an area of heavy beaver activity causing the log jams. Log jams have caused the Inlet to overflow into adjacent fields.

SP 6+500: The proposed trail passes through a triangular shaped forest bounded by the railroad on the east and N. Y. S. Route 13 on the west. One intermittent creek crossing is required.

SP 8+800: View south of forest from Norfolk Southern Railroad. Proposed trail route that minimizes tree removal and avoids wetland areas has been marked with orange tape.

V-55

the underpass structure to Norfolk-Southerns standards. To enhance the experience of trail patrons, lowprofile interpretive signs are recommended for installation along this stretch of trail. The best opportunities to present information on the value of wetlands and floodplain forests are provided along this trail segment. The area also provides the setting to explain stream dynamics, the impacts of altering the landscape from a soft to hard surface and erosion impacts.
SP 9+000: The trail is proposed to cross the active railroad line under the east (right) bay of this bridge structure. The trail will have to be protected from above with metal or concrete box culvert.

Photos on page V-55 illustrate the existing conditions of the trail corridor and interpretive opportunities through the Cayuga Inlet stream valley. SP 9+700 to 11+700: Buttermilk Falls State Park On the northeast side of the Cayuga Inlet, the trail enters Buttermilk Falls State Park. The main line of the trail will pass between the northwest side of N. Y. S. Route 13 and the Cayuga Inlet for approximately .5 of a mile before leaving the park and heading north through the city of Ithaca to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park and Cass Park. Spur trails will enter the park from the north and south. The southern spur trail to the lower day-use area of Buttermilk Falls will be constructed on an existing path system in the Larch Meadow Nature Trail area of the park, located on the southeast side of N. Y. S. Route 13. From the north, a spur trail will be constructed on the abandoned railroad corridor using the pedestrian bridge over N.Y.S. Route 13 built by the City of Ithaca. This spur trail will become part of the Gateway Trail that is scheduled to be built by the City and Town of Ithaca. The trail crossing of the Cayuga Inlet will be facilitated by bridge abutments installed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) during a major reconstruction of N.Y.S. Route 13 in the mid-1990s, illustrated in photo SP 9+700. In the early 1990s, OPRHP staff conducted a field examination of the Inlet Valley to assess the conditions of the stream banks along

SP 9+500: View south of area between active railroad line and Cayuga Inlet. An earthern trail ramp will be constructed to the top of the rip-rap mound adjacent to concrete bridge abutments.

SP 9+700: Concrete bridge abutments were constructed for the Black Diamond Trail by NYSDOT when N. Y. S. Route 13, to the west (left) was reconstructed.

V-56

the length of the Inlet between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls for a bridge crossing. Staff determined that crossing the Cayuga Inlet Creek near Buttermilk Falls provided the best stream bank conditions. The opportunity to piggyback trail abutment construction with the NYSDOT project afforded an excellent option for ensuring that appropriate stream-bank protection for the trail bridge was integrated into the major highway overpass abutment protection. With the bridge abutments in place, the purchase of a pre-fab bridge unit will complete this structure for the trail. After crossing the Cayuga Inlet, the main line of the trail will follow the NYSDOT constructed asphalt trail under the highway bridge to the existing highway pull-off parking area, constructed for fishing access to the Inlet. The trail will skirt the parking area to the west then shift southeast between the highway and the man-made wetland. The wetland was created by NYSDOT as mitigation for the highway widening and provides an interpretive opportunity for the Black Diamond Trail. North of the wetland, a trail corridor will be created through second-growth floodplain forest, an area formerly used by Buttermilk Falls State Park staff for short-term storage of compost materials and a former farm field now in reversion to shrub and floodplain forest. Along this segment, the trail will cross Buttermilk Creek and West Buttermilk Falls Road. The crossing of Buttermilk Creek will require construction of a new bridge structure. The location will need to be evaluated with respect to stream bank stability. The crossing of West Buttermilk Falls Road will not require any special treatment as this is a deadend road and gated by OPRHP. The trail will cross the road west of the gate. A sign will be placed west of the gate to direct all trail users to access Buttermilk Falls State Park on the Gateway Trail to facilitate safe crossing of N.Y.S. Route 13. North of West Buttermilk Falls Road to SP 12+300, the trail will pass through a former agricultural field

in succession. The parcel was acquired for the trail. Placement of the trail through the former farm field should again consider the stream dynamics of the Inlet and be located a significant distance to the east to allow for changes in the stream course. In keeping with the trail work already done by NYSDOT, the trail segments through Buttermilk Falls will be paved following Section 4, Figure V-18, page V-115. Photos on page V-59 illustrate the existing conditions of the trail corridor through the western portion of Buttermilk Falls State Park. Spur Trails and Links to Other Facilities Two spur trails will connect the main line of the Black Diamond Trail to the primary day-use area of Buttermilk Falls State Park. Trail users traveling south from the city of Ithaca will enter the park on a spur trail to be developed on the abandoned railroad corridor, purchased by OPRHP in the 1980s. Trail users traveling north from points south of Buttermilk will access the park from a spur trail developed on the existing westerly leg of the Larch Meadow Trail. The northern spur trail will be developed jointly by the OPRHP, City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca as the Gateway Trail. The trail will utilize the Gateway Bridge installed by the City of Ithaca in 2000 and the OPRHPs land purchased in 1984. The Gateway Trail is intended to link the developing trail network in the City of Ithaca to the Town of Ithacas trails south and east of the city. For much of its course, the Gateway Trail will use the abandoned railroad corridor that traverses the south hill. The trail will also link the Citys south and east neighborhoods to Buttermilk Falls State Park, the Black Diamond Trail and the City of Ithacas developing Southwest Area, including the future Southwest Natural Area Park. The southern spur trail will require upgrading the Larch Meadow Trail to accommodate multiple uses. As the trail leaves the Larch Meadow area, a new path will be developed through the ballfield area of Buttermilk. The trail will skirt the south side

V-57

of the ballfield parking lot for approximately 200 feet, cross the parking lot, then cross Sandbank Road. At both the parking lot and road crossing, the prescribed intersection treatment of gates and bollards will be installed. After crossing Sandbank Road, the trail enters the parks picnic area, crossing on its westerly side then along the south side of Buttermilk Creek. The trail will cross the creek on an existing bridge that is a remnant from Sandbank Roads former alignment. Figures V-6, page V-64 and V-7, page V-65 illustrate the spur trail routes and construction details. Coupled with the main line of the Black Diamond Trail, the two spur trails will provide a looptrail segment for day-use patrons and campers at Buttermilk Falls, expanding park-based trail opportunities. A paved trail, following Section 4, Figure V-18, page V115, is recommended for the spur trails to expand rollerblading and skateboarding opportunities at the park. Photos on page V-60 show existing park conditions.

V-58

BUTTERMILK FALLS STATE PARK EXISTING CONDITIONS SP 9+700 to 12+300

SP 9+800: View northeast of existing asphalt trail under N. Y. S. Route 13 between the Cayuga Inlet and the bridge abutment. Section of trail built by NYSDOT as part of highway reconstruction.

SP 10+000: View northeast of existing trail constructed by NYSDOT to provide linkage from fishing access parking area to the Cayuga Inlet and future Black Diamond Trail.

SP 10+200: View northeast along parking area. A state historic marker is located here commemorating the Coreogonal Indian village destroyed by the Sullivan Campaign in 1778.

SP 10+800: Northeast of the fishing access parking area the trail will follow the shoulder of N. Y. S. Route 13 for a few hundred feet, then turn to the north through the woodland.

SP 11+400: The trail will cross Buttermilk Creek approximately 500 feet northwest of N. Y. S. Route 13. The bridge will be approximately 80 feet in length.

SP 11+800: North of Buttermilk Creek the proposed trail passes through a successional meadow/old field. Numerous invasive Russian olives should be removed in this area as the trail is developed.

V-59

BUTTERMILK FALLS STATE PARK EXISTING CONDITIONS SPUR TRAILS

Spur Trail North: City of Ithaca installed the Gateway Bridge on abutments reconstructed by NYSDOT during the widening and reconstruction of N. Y. S. Route 13. The bridge will provide the linkage between the state park, the Citys Southwest area and the Town of Ithacas south and east trail systems.

Spur Trail South: View northeast on existing asphalt trail constructed by NYSDOT as part of the N. Y. S. Route 13 project. This trail links the future bridge over the Cayuga Inlet to the Larch Meadow Trail.

Spur Trail South: The westerly leg of the Larch Meadow Trail will be extended to the ballfield parking lot area, providing an additional access point for the Black Diamond Trail. Trail to be located south of the boulders.

Spur Trail South: Proposed trail through the picnic area, following an existing service lane.

Spur Trail South: The trail will cross Buttermilk Creek on an existing bridge. The bridge is currently used by pedestrians and occassionally by park maintenance vehicles.

Spur Trails: Trail users will have access to bathroom, swimming, picnicking and gorge-trail hiking upon entering the park. Adequate bicycle parking facilities will need to be added.

V-60

V-61

V-62

LEGEND Black Diamond Trail Spur Trail Trail Bridge Cross Walk Trail Crossing - Road, Rail, or Waterway

CONCRETE TRAIL O N N O RT H SIDE OF STREAM UN D E R ROUTE 13 OVER PA S S BRIDGE OVER STREAM

SE

AS

Trailhead

ON

AL

ST

RE

AM

PARK MAINTENANCE BUILDINGS

PLAYING FIELD

TR AI L
DI AM ON D
EL D E CR EK

RESTROOM PARK ROAD L I N KAGE TO SWIMMING A R E A AND LOWER FALLS PARKING

PICNIC PAVILION

T
BLACK DIAMOND SPUR TRAIL TO SWIMMING AREA

A BL

CK

TE NY ROU
FINGER LAKES TRAIL EXISTING TRAIL TUNNEL

I NF

ON ROAD LINKAGE TO CAMPING AREA AND FINGER LAKES TRAIL

Figure V-5

Black Diamond Tr a i l
Robert H. Treman State Park Enlargement
A TR IL
Not to Scale D a t e : 4-2-02

FI

NG

ER

E AK

P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e a s t Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k State O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a tion and Historic Preservation

13

V-63

LEGEND B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr ail S p u r Tr a i l Tr a i l B r i d g e Crosswalk Tr a i l C r o s s i n g - R oad, Rail, or Waterway

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL ON RAILROAD GRADE TO SOUTHWEST NATURAL AREA

LE

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL THROUGH OLD FIELD.

FUTURE LINKAGE TO SOUTH HILL RECREATION WAY

T I

Tr a i l h e a d

OA

CA

YU

Interpretive Site

TRAIL LINKAGE BETWEEN B.D. TRAIL AND BUTTERMILK TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY CITY ON OLD RAILROAD GRADE EXISTING GATEWAY TRAIL BRIDGE TO CITY BUTTERMILK CREEK TRAIL BRIDGE
.

ROUTE 1 3A

RN

RA

ILR

K S OU TH E

TRAIL THROUGH FLOOD PLAIN FOREST

GA

IN

BU

TT

OL

TRAIL ALONG ROAD SHOULDER

ER

MI

TRAIL LINKAGE BY CITY

LK CR EE

PA
K

RK

RF

NO

MAN-MADE WETLAND

RO

AD

LD

SP

E NC

R.

.W

TRAIL CROSSES ENTRY ROAD THROUGH ISLAND

SWIMMING AREA

NYSDEC FISHING ACCESS SITE. HISTORIC MARKER FOR COREOGONEL TRAIL ON EXISTING PAT H C O N S T R U C T ED BY NYSDOT

NY

RO

E UT

13

PA R LO KING T
TRAIL CROSSES PARKING LOT AND SAND BANK ROAD

T
B.D. SPUR TRAIL ON LARCH MEADOW TRAIL TRAIL ALONG EDGE OF PARKING LOT

Figure V-6
Scale: 1"=200'

B l a c k D i a m o n d Trail
Buttermilk Falls State Park Enlargement
Date: 4-2-02

RO

PLAYING FIELDS
BA

AD

Scale: 1" = 200' (+/-)

TRAIL BRIDGE TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON EXISTING ABUTMENTS TRAIL UNDER RAILROAD BRIDGE, OVER DRAINAGE WAY

NK

P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e a s t Gr e e n w a y s P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-64

SA

NK

Retaining Wa l l BDT on Spencer R d . R . O . W. t o Gateway Bridge

Bus Stop

BD
Crosswalk

Tr a

il S pur

San
Create refuge in median for trail crossing

d B ank Roa d

Ex

.S id

Create safe parking lot crossing

ew

Crosswalk

al

k
Existing Pavers

Exi

stin

g B all Fie ld P ark ing

BD
E x i s t i n g Tr a i l B r i d g e

Tr a

il

Bike Racks Kiosk Benches

Bu

To Trailhead at Sand Bank Rd. Parking

tte

rm

To Res troo ms
Figure V-7

ilk

re

Tr a i l h e a d a t P l a y i n g F i e l d s
ek

Scale: 1" = 20' (+/-)

B l a c k D i a m o n d Trail
Buttermilk Falls State Park Trailhead and Road Crossings
S c a l e : Va r i e s D ate 12-20-01

Trail Crossing at Main E n t r y t o S t a t e P a r k

Scale: 1" = 10' (+/-)

P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e ast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w York State O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r eation and Historic P r e s e r v a t i o n - F i n g e r Lakes Region

V-65

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

V-66

Figures MP-2 & MP-3, SP 12+300 to 23+000 Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park Location
This section of the proposed trail is located primarily within the city of Ithaca and passes along the west side the Southwest Natural Area, then along the Flood Control Channel to State Street where it meets the City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail (CWT) at the south end of Cass Park. The BDT will use the existing CWT in Cass Park to access both the proposed mainline trail to Taughannock Falls State Park and the spur to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park.

etc. Horses will not be allowed in this urban section of the trail. If surfaced with asphalt, then inline skaters and roller skiers will also be able to use the trail and its utility for people with disabilities will be enhanced.

Surface and Width

Considering the location of the trail in the urban area and its connection in Cass Park to the City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail (CWT) system, it is recommended that the trail be asphalt surfaced. The width of the treadway is recommended to be at least 10 feet to match the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Upgrading to a 12-foot-wide trail may be considered if experience with the level of traffic using the CWT appears to be increasing and user conflicts are occuring. Consultation with the City of Ithaca is recommended before construction commences on this segment of trail.

Land Acquisition
The majority of the property needed for this segment of the trail is owned by either New York State or the City of Ithaca. One area of ownership that remains in question exists at the southern end of the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel where the Norfolk Southern rail line crosses the Inlet. Ownership of the parcel along the southwest side of the inlet is unclear and will require an abstract search of the chain of title. The tripartite agreement, entered into by OPRHP, the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca in the mid-1980s, stipulated that OPRHP would take responsibility to construct the trail infrastructure. In order for OPRHP to expend agency capital funds on lands owned by the City of Ithaca, the City will need to grant OPRHP a permanent easement. Temporary construction easements are not expected to be required on this segment.

Existing Conditions and Recommended Design Treatments

The paved trail treadway construction for the segment of trail between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/ Cass Park will follow Section 3, Figure V-17, page V-113. As noted earlier, the trail width is anticipated to be 10-foot wide. However, prior to final construction, a review of traffic volumes on the completed portions of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail will be reviewed to see if a 12footwide path should be considered. SP 12+300 to 15+375: Buttermilk Falls State Park to Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel The trail segment heading north from Buttermilk Falls State Park into the City of Ithaca begins on abandoned railroad corridor, illustrated in the following photo. The rail line was purchased by OPRHP in the mid-1980s. The trail will utilize the railroad embankment to SP 14+875.

Trail Uses
Located within the city of Ithaca, this section of the trail will serve a wide variety of users including walkers, bicyclists, runners, families with strollers,

V-67

two corridors, following the design on Figure V-18, page V-114, is recommended to be placed along this section of trail.

SP 12+500: Abandoned railroad corridor owned by OPRHP.

This segment of trail passes adjacent to remnant floodplain forest. Construction disturbance should be constrained to the top of the prism of the old rail corridor to minimize impact to the forest. At SP 13+200 the trail will cross the Cayuga Inlet. A new 150-foot long bridge will be required for the crossing. Old concrete railroad bridge abutments, seen in the photo below, remain at this crossing but are not in useable condition for the new bridge. The old abutments will be left in place to serve as erosion-control retaining walls and new abutments will be constructed behind the old walls.

SP 14+625: Trail to be located on former railroad line that is parallel to the active Norfolk Southern Railroad. Safety fence is recommended to be installed between the two corridors.

At SP 14+875 the trail will cross to the west side of the active railroad at an existing gravel access road crossing, as shown in the photo below. The access road links Floral Avenue/N. Y. S. Rte 13A to the City of Ithacas Southwest Natural Area. At present, the City of Ithaca has not developed any patron facilities in the SWA. The BDT crossing of Inlet Road and the railroad line will require upgrading the crossing to protect trail users. OPRHP and the City of Ithaca will need to work with Norfolk Southern Railroad to design and construct the new crossing.

SP 13+200: Trail bridge to be constructed over the Cayuga Inlet along the abandoned railroad line. North abutment is intact.

North of the Cayuga Inlet crossing, the trail continues on the abandoned rail corridor. This 500+-foot section of trail parallels the active Norfolk Southern rail line along the railroads east side, as seen in the following photo. For the safety of trail users and to minimize the impact on the active railroad operation, a fence separating the

SP 14+875: Existing at-grade crossing of active Norfolk Southern rail line. Crossing will be upgraded for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

The 375-foot segment of trail between the access road and the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel will be constructed west of the active railroad.

V-68

Property ownership in this area is unclear and will require further research. If not owned by New York State or the City of Ithaca, the OPRHP will need to acquire title to the property. Fencing between the trail and the railroad may be required in this area.

construct two new bridges with their associated long-term maintenance. However, historically, railroad companies have been adverse to allowing new at-grade crossings to be installed along their rail lines. Any effort to request Norfolk Southern to consider and allow this new pedestrian crossing should involve, at a minimum, OPRHP, NYSDOT, the City of Ithaca, and the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council. If a new at-grade crossing is not allowed by Norfolk Southern, this alternate route should be considered by OPRHP and the City of Ithaca as a spur trail to new development in the Southwest Commecial District area of the City of Ithaca located east of the rail corridor. This area is currently undergoing a planning process to build out the undeveloped property in the southwestern area of the city, potentially including a new residential neighborhood. SP 15+375 to SP 20+800: Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel On the north side of the Flood Control Channel, the BDT will follow the east side of the channel into Ithacas west side. The trail will be built in a wide grass area bordered by second growth woodland and wetlands to the east and the channel on the west. At SP 18+800, directly west of Cecil A. Malone Drive, the trail will cross the Flood Control Channel. The new bridge span required for this crossing will be approximately 300 feet. Design of the bridge will need to be coordinated with NYSDECs Flood Control Unit to insure the bridge does not impede or impact the operation of the flood control facility. In addition, if the bridge design requires piers, the placement of the support structures must match the bridges to the north so as not to impact the Cornell and Ithaca College crew race course. After crossing the flood control channel, the trail will continue along the west side of the channel north to where it will intersect with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, south of the State Street/N.Y. S. Route 79 bridge. The trail will be built in a wide grass area between the channel to the east and Floral Avenue/N. Y. S. 13A to the west. Parallel to

SP 15+125: Southern crossing of the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel. Trail bridge will be located parallel to the active railroad bridge.

As illustrated in the previous photo, the trail will cross the Flood Control Channel at SP15+250. A new bridge is needed for this crossing. The length of the span will depend on the exact location. Retaining walls associated with the existing active railroad bridge must be considered in the design of the new bridge. As a result, the span could range from 120 feet to 200 feet in length. Alternate Trail Route A potential alternate route exists between SP 13+000 and SP 15+625 for the Black Diamond Trail. Figure V-8, on the following page, illustrates an alternate route that would elminate the need to construct two new bridges over the Cayuga Inlet. This alternate route would pass through the City of Ithacas Southwest Natural Area parcel located on the south side of the creek, skirting the edge of remnant floodplain forest through successional shrubland. The trail would pass over the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control levee structure then continue along the toe of the levee travelling northwest to the interesection with the active Norfolk Southern rail line. Photos on page 71 illustrate the landscape setting of this alternate trail route. This alternate route is a preferred option for OPRHP since it would eliminate the need to

V-69

LEGEND Black Diamond Trail T R A I L B R I D G E Spur Trail OVER INLET Trail Bridge Crosswalk Trail Crossing

Trailhead INLET ROAD

AT- G R A D E CROSSING OF NORFOLK S O U T H ER N RAILROAD IS R E Q U I R E D TO CONSTRUCT A LT E R N AT E ROUTE

T
TRAIL CROSSES RAILROAD AT EXISTING CROSSING TRAILHEAD BY CITY OF ITHACA TRAIL ON EAST SIDE OF FLOOD LEVEE

HE

RN

RA

IL

RO

AD

TRAIL BRIDGE OVER INLET

A LT E R N

AT E T R AIL ROU TE

TRAIL A L O N G WOOD L A N D E D G E

Figure V-8
TRAIL ON RAILROAD CORRIDOR

Black Diamond Trail

Southwest Natural Area
Not to Scale Date: 4-2-02 Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - Finger Lakes Regio n

V-70

FLOOD LE VEE
TRAIL CROSSES FLOOD LEVEE

RF

OL

SOUTHWEST N AT U R A L AREA

C AY U

NO

GA IN LET

SO

UT

SOUTHWEST NATURAL AREA ALTERNATE TRAIL ROUTE OR SPUR EXISTING CONDITIONS

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: View of the Cayuga Inlet meandering through the Southwest Natural Area. Proposed alternate/spur trail will follow the southern edge of the Inlet and Inlet floodplain forest.

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: The trail will be located on the edge of the woodland and meadow to minimize impact on the remnant floodplain forest and take advantage of views of Buttermilk Falls.

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: The trail will meet the flood control levee and ramp up the west side and down the east side as the traip continues to the north.

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: The existing gravel road on top of the levee is now informally used for walking and jogging. NYSDEC does not allow trail development on top of levees in New York State.

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: After crossing over the levee, the trail would be located along the toe of the levee as it heads northwest toward the main Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel.

SWNA Alternate Trail or Spur: The alternate trail requires a new atgrade crossing of the active Norfolk Southern Railroad line.

V-71

CITY OF ITHACA EXISTING CONDITIONS SP 15+375 to 23+500

SP 15+400: View to north at south end of the flood control channel. Trail will gently turn left (west) then head north on the east ban of the channel to Cecil A. Malone Drive.

SP 18+000: Trail passes the Cherry Street Industrial area to the east. Trail will cross on a new bridge over the channel in the vicinity of Cecil A. Malone Drive.

SP 20+900: View from State Street/N. Y. S. Route 79 bridge to where BDT will intersect with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.

SP 21+000: View north of the trail north of the Buffalo Street/N. Y.S. Route 96 bridge on the west side of the flood control channel where trail will continue to use the Cayuga Waterfront Trail into Cass Park.

SP 22+500: View south of asphalt trail on west side of Taughannock Blvd./N. Y. S. Route 89. BDT

SP 23+000: View north of proposed trail corridor between the NYSEG utility corridor and Cass Park road. The BDT trailhead in Cass Park will be located in the lawn to right of second utility pole.

V-72

the planning process for the BDT, the City of Ithaca is preparing plans to develop a pedestrian facility along the west side of the flood control channel extending south on the property owned by the City to support future residential development along Floral Avenue/N. Y. S. Route 13A. Photos on page 72 show the existing conditions along the channel. SP 20+800 to 23+500: Cayuga Waterfront Trail/ Cass Park From SP 20+800, the Black Diamond Trail will join up with and follow the City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail (CWT), passing under the State Street/N. Y. S. Route 79 and Buffalo Street/N. Y. S. Route 96 bridges, along the west side of the flood control channel. At SP 22+125, the trail enters the City of Ithacas Cass Park on the CWT, continuing along the CWT to SP 23+500 where a BDT trailhead facility will be developed jointly with the City of Ithaca. The trailhead will be developed directly across from the Ithaca Childrens Garden. The trailhead facility construction will follow the design illustrated in Figure V-10, page V77. The focus of this trailhead facility will be a restored caboose. OPRHP obtained the caboose through surplus from the New York State Office of Mental Health, Elmira Unit. The caboose will be developed as a trail interpretive and local railroad history center. In addition, the Tompkins County

Convention and Visitors Bureau has expressed interest in co-locating a tourist information service during the main tourist season between June and October. Photos on page V-72 illustrate the existing conditions of the areas along the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel proposed for the Black Diamond Trail. Spur Trail and Links to Other Facilities Allan H. Treman State Marine Park is located directly north of the City of Ithacas Cass Park at the southwest corner of Cayuga Lake. Access to Allan H. Treman from the Black Diamond Trail will be through Cass Park on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Once within Allan H. Treman a spur is proposed to be constructed to provide a paved path system in the park out to the waterfront. Figure V-9, on the following page, illustrates the proposed spur trail layout at Allan H. Treman involving managed lawn area in the day-use area of the park. The trail construction proposed in this master plan is consistent with the trail system proposed in Allan H. Tremans master plan, adopted in 1997. The following photo illustrates the relationship between Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, Cass Park and the Black Diamond Trail.

Spur Trail: The complex of recreational lands along the west side of the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel and the southwestern end of Cayuga Lake include Allan H.Treman State Marine Park, closest in view, the City of Ithacas Cass Park and Cayuga Waterfront Trail immediately south and the Black Diamond Trail along the west side of the complex, west of N. Y. S. Route 89 (second corridor in view along the right side of the photo.)

V-73

LEGEND
B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr ail S p u r Tr a i l Tr a i l B r i d g e C r o s s Wa l k Tr a i l C r o s s i n g - R oad, R a i l , o r Wa t e r w a y Tr a i l h e a d

CAYUGA LAKE

C AY U G A

HOG HOLE

IN LE T

MARINA ALLAN H. T R E M A N S TATE M A R I N E PA R K

BL
9 E 8 UT IL RO RA NY D T ON IAM K D

T
PA RK IN

AC

BOAT LAUNCH

H ANGAR T H EATRE
C AY U G A WAT E R F R O N T TRAIL

CASS PARK

Figure V-9

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l
Allan H. Treman State Marine Pa r k Spur/Cayuga Waterfront Trail
Not to Scale Date: 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-74

V-75

V-76

Caboose Touri s t I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t e r Ramp Up to Deck Benches

M ai n Tr

ai

Benches a n d B i k e P a r k i n g
l
Sign

Stone Dust Plaza

Sign

Ben c h e s

C o n c r e t e Wa l k t o Parking Area and Children's Garden

Sign

Sign

Kiosk

C a yu g a Wa t e r f r o n t Tr a il - A sphalt

F i g u r e V- 1 0

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l
Tr a i l h e a d a t C a s s P a r k
Scale: 1" = 10 (+/-) Date 4-2-02 Prepared by: Northeast Gr e e n w a y s Prepared for: New York Sta t e Office of Parks, Recreation a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lake s R e g i o n

Post and Rail Fence Picnic Area

V-77

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

V-78

Figures MP-3 to MP-6, SP 23+000 to SP 67+500 Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/ Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Location
The Black Diamond Trail between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park will be located on the State-owned, former Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor where the renowned Black Diamond luxury train traveled. The corridor passes through woodlands, agricultural fields and meadows, crossing many hillside creeks along the way. The condition of the corridor varies along the route north. Some sections have been kept open by adjacent landowners or are informally used as a walking trail. Where no maintenance or use has occurred the corridor has begun to fill with secondgrowth native and invasive plant species.

Ithaca, Inc. This access could also be considered for a permanent administrative access easement for emergency services access and long-term maintenance access.

Trail Uses
The trail will be designed for walking, running, biking, and use by families with strollers. During winter months the trail can be used by crosscountry skiers and snowshoers. The trail surface recommended for this segment of trail is compacted limestone dust, which is not be suitable for bicycles with thin, racing wheels, inline skates, or roller skiing. During the public input sessions, two other potential user groups expressed interest in having access to portions of this trail segment. The groups include a snowmobile club and equestrians. With respect to the snowmobile club use, consideration will be given to allowing the group to use a portion of the trail near the west end of Taughannock Falls State Park as a pass-through corridor for the clubs existing trail system. Equestrian use may be allowed on the trail if adequate room is available in the former railroad corridor to construct the recommended facilities. For the safety of all trail users and to provide an appropriate surface for horses, a separate dirt/grass trail or wide grass shoulders are recommended for trails that will accommodate equestrian use. The final decision on this trail use will need to be made as construction progresses.

Land Acquisition
OPRHP owns, through permanent easement and fee, most of the trail corridor, with the exception of a short section near SP 31+250. The parcel is associated with three additional parcels that total approximately 107 acres under single ownership. The current owners are in the process of preparing preliminary residential development plans for a portion of the property nearest to N. Y. S. Route 96. They have indicated a willingness to convey some of the property to progress the Black Diamond Trail. Negotiations to finalize a state acquisition are underway. A trailhead facility is planned east of SP 50+300 on property owned by the Cayuga Nature Center. OPRHP will need to acquire a permanent easement over the property to develop the BDT facilities. A temporary construction easement may be desired along the trail between SP 23+000 and SP 41+250. This is the longest unbroken stretch of trail where trucking surface material for installation would benefit by having an intermediate access point. The likely point of entry would be to utilize an old service road located off the east side of property owned by the Cayuga Medical Center at

Surface and Width

This approximately 8-mile-long trail segment will pass through a rural, formerly largely agricultural, landscape. In keeping with the setting, the trail surfacing recommended for the segment is compacted limestone dust. Consistent with the other segments of the Black Diamond Trail, the treadway width is recommended to be 10 feet. As noted previously, consideration may be given to constructing a trail facility

V-79

that could accommodate equestrian use. As construction plans proceed, a determination will be made whether the land available for the trail can accommodate either two parallel treadways or extra-wide grass shoulders for horse use.

moderate to low traffic volumes. All road crossings will conform to design guidelines on Figure V-19, and Figure V-20, pages V-115 and V-116, which include gates, bollards and traffic safety signage. The following sections further detail the existing conditions of the old Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor. SP 23+000 to SP 32+500: Co-location with Utility Transmission Lines The proposed Black Diamond Trail will leave the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park across from the Ithaca Childrens Garden and at the foot of the a gravel trail that leads from the Cliff Street/ N. Y. S. Route 96 West Hill parking area down to Cass Park. Figure V-10 on page V-77 shows a concept sketch of the proposed trailhead that will begin this segment of the BDT. From this point north to Taughannock Falls State Park, the trail is on the old Lehigh Valley Railroad right-of-way. Between SP 23+000 to SP 32+500 the trail will co-exist with a New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) overhead electric transmission line. The trail will pass on either the east or west side of the utility poles in this area, depending on where the poles fall within the corridor. The exact location of the trail is to be determined in consultation with NYSEG at the time of trail construction. Photos on the following page illustrate current conditions along the transmission line segment. At SP 24+800 there is an existing gravel access road from the railroad grade down and east to N.Y.S. Route 89, northwest of the Cass Park ballfields. This access road can serve as an emergency vehicle or maintenance access, being a more direct access point to the northbound BDT from Cass Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park off N. Y. S. Route 89. Development of this access road will require approval and coordination with the City of Ithaca, the property owner. Between SP 23+000 and SP 43+000, the surrounding hillside is steeper than the section north to Taughannock Falls State Park. There are

Existing Conditions and Recommended Design Treatments

This 8-mile segment of the future Black Diamond Trail is the rail-to-trail component of the project, occupying the corridor where the Lehigh Valley Railroad line ran between the cities of Ithaca and Geneva. Unique to this segment are the existing railroad-era structures, or remnants thereof, including bridges, culverts, fences, and foundations. These will be incorporated into the trail. Also unique to this segment are the at-grade road crossings. The compacted limestone dust trail treadway construction will follow Section 1 illustrated on Figure V-17, page V-113. Generally, over the length of the abandoned rail corridor second-growth vegetation has encroached into the corridor where it has not been maintained for utility or adjacent neighbor uses. The vegetation will need to be removed to establish the recommended vertical and horizontal clearances for the trail, as shown on Figure V-18 on page V114. Vertical clearance is typically 10 feet above trail surface. Much of the encroaching vegetation includes invasives species like honeysuckle, autumn olive and multi-flora rose. The multiple culverts and drainage structures that are along the corridor range from single corrugated -metal culvert pipes to stone and concrete box culverts. Each drainage unit will be assessed and replaced accordingly. If a unique railroadera structure exists, it will be be evaluated for restoration. There are eight at-grade road crossings along this segment of trail. The most heavily-traveled of the roads is Perry City. This road is a County Route and serves as a connector between N.Y.S. Routes 96 and 89 for the southern area of the Town of Ulysses and the northern area of the Town of Ithaca. The other seven roads are town secondary roads with

V-80

ABANDONED RAILROAD CORRIDOR EXISTING CONDITIONS SP 23+000 to 32+500

SP 24+000: Between the Cass Park Trailhead and approximately SP 32+500 the trail will co-exist in the corridor with an existing electric transmission line. The trail weave around the poles.

SP 24+800: Dirt access road from N. Y. S. Route 89 near Cass Park. Road could provide emergency and maintenance access to the trail.

SP 25+000: Typically there is only one utility pole in the right of way. Two poles exist where the line shifts direction. Under these conditions the trail will pass between the poles. Distance between poles is 12 feet.

SP 27+500: Proposed location for a trail overlook and interpretive site. This is located at where the trail crosses Williams Creek.

SP 32+500: Double utility poles mark the location where the transmission line turns west, off the trail corridor. The trail will transition to a more enclosed overhead canopy.

SP 32+500: For the first 4 miles north from Allan H. Treman, the trail passes through a woodland setting. Glimpses of Cayuga Lake through the woods occur occassionally at hillside stream crossings.

V-81

numerous locations where the railroad corridor crosses over hillside creeks. Each of the crossings has a culvert structure built by the railroad to accommodate the creek water flow. Over time some of the structures have been modified. All of the drainage/culvert structures will require cleaning and some will require upgrading to accommodate runoff volumes that have changed over time with changes in upslope land uses. The creek crossings also are areas that due to their aesthetic qualities are appropriate locations for seating, rest areas and overlooks. Often the views to the west upslope to the creek beds and waterfalls are very attractive. To the east, the vegetation is generally less dense due to the creek and associated culvert structures, thus views of Cayuga Lake are generally more open than in other wooded sections. In addition, the sound of water cascading down the hillside is enjoyable and can help to mask road noise where the corridor is adjacent to N. Y. S. Route 89. At SP 27+500, one such overlook is possible with filtered views of Treman Marina, Lighthouse Woods, the City and Cayuga Lake. Figure V-11 provides a concept plan for this overlook area. The overhead utility lines in the railroad corridor end at SP 32+500, where they turn due west. From this point north the corridor is clear of utility poles and lines to Taughannock Falls State Park. SP 32+500 to 41+300: North of Utility Line to Glenwood Heights Road The BDT continues north from SP 32+500 on the railroad grade. This section of the trail is relatively clear and passes through dense second growth woodland. The Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) developed walking trails from the hospital downslope to the trail corridor near SP 33+000 and utilized 3,600 linear feet of the railbed under a license with NYSEG, the previous owner. CMC surfaced the corridor with 2 - 4 diameter stone. The stone will provide a firm base for the stonedust surfacing.
SP 35+000: View west from the trail corridor to Indian Creek. This site is a proposed overlook and interpretive site.

SP 33+000: This section of trail was formerly used by the Cayuga Medical Center, under license agreement with NYSEG, as part of their fitness trail.

The hospital trails are steep, which make them difficult for any therapeutic program uses offered at the hospital, but they can serve as access for employees to commute to and from work on the trail or exercise during their lunch breaks. At SP 34+000 the trail passes an access road, the site of the former hospital heating plant, which was demolished and removed. This roadway can provide emergency or maintenance access to the trail. At SP 35+000 there are very nice views of Indian Creek, one of the larger hillside creeks, to the west. The area provides an excellent spot for a seating and rest area.

V-82

Existing Utility Pole

Blues t o n e Bould e r s Benches

Interpretive Panel

Vi e w s t o Ithaca and East Hill

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l

Low Native Shrubs

Existing Concrete Headwall

Post and Rail Fence Vi e w of Creek Benches

Post and Rail Fence

Figure V-11

Black Diamond Trail

Typical Trail Overlook
Not to Scale Date 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o ric Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-83

From SP 35+000 to the crossing of Glenwood Heights Road, at SP 41+300, the trail is clear and open with a packed gravel and dirt surface as illustrated in the photo below. Between SP 39+000 and Glenwood Heights Road, the adjacent property owners are preparing their lands on both sides of the trail corridor to accommodate a bison farm. The farm will use an existing farm crossing from the days of the railroad operation to periodically move the bison between pastures. Special signs alerting trail users to the bison farm operation and crossing conditions will be required along this trail segment.
SP 41+300 W: View west at intersection of the trail crossing of Glenwood Heights Road. Site distance is adequate in the upslope dircection from both north and south trail approaches.

SP 36+000: Railroad corridor north of segment of trail with NYSEG transmision lines. Trail will pass through a second-growth forest landscape.

The intersection at Glenwood Heights Road has good visibility to the west, as illustrated in the photo SP 41+300 W, but the road is very steep on the uphill side. East of the crossing, the site distance from the trail traveling north is limited, due to the continued steep gradient and a curve to the south before the road intersects with N. Y. S. Route 89, as illustrated in photo SP 41+300 E. Roadside swales will require culvert installations and grading to meet ADA requirements to create a smooth and accessible transition from the road to trail. The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Departments.

SP 41+300 E: View southeast at the intersection of the trail and Glenwood Heights Road. Site distance for trail users traveling north is limited downslope. Selected clearing of vegetation may improve the condition with the support of the warning sign program.

V-84

SP 41+300 to 43+700: Glenwood Heights Road to Perry City Road This 2,400 linear feet of the BDT continues on the former railroad corridor, which is currently a grass, dirt packed surface with remnant railroad ballast. At SP 42+250 the trail will cross Glenwood Creek. Up to the mid-1990s, an earthen embankment with culverts served as the crossing of the creek. Two large winter thaw/rainstorm events in the mid1990s resulted in the earthen embankment washing out. The remains of the structure include a trestlelike support system, as seen in the following photo. A new crossing will be required in this location. Options include a box-culvert system or a bridge. The span for a bridge is approximately 150 feet in length.

SP 42+250: View west of Glenwood Creek.

North of Glenwood Creek the corridor is packed gravel and clear of vegetation. Property to the east of the corridor has been developed for residential use. Screening between the trail and buildings on the property is recommended between SP 42+500 and SP 43+000.

SP 42+250: A new structure for the trail crossing of Glenwood Creek is required. A bridge unit could allow the old trestle-support timbers to be left in place for an interpretive opportunity.

The scenic quality of the Glenwood Creek would be better supported by a bridge structure. In addition, if possible, some of the former trestle structure could be stabilized and saved for interpretation as it illustrates how trestle crossings were constructed in the 19th century. South of the creek, on the west, uphill side of the proposed trail, there is an access ramp down to the creek level that was likely constructed for maintaining the culvert pipes. The uphill views of the creek and falls, represented in the following photo, are very scenic and present a unique opportunity to develop a seating area in this location.

SP 42+500: A residence has been built along the east side of the corridor. A screening treatment is recommended between the trail and adjoining land use.

Views of Cayuga Lake and the lakes basin are found between SP 43+000 and Perry City Road. The adjacent property owners have managed the vegetation on their property to maintain the views. A cooperative effort between the owner and OPRHP should be established to maintain the views for trail users as well. Perry City Road has higher traffic volumes than Glenwood Heights Road. Visibility from the trail crossing and for motor vehicle traffic on the road both uphill and downhill is good. To the east the

V-85

road steepens as it approaches N. Y. S. Route 89. The following photos illustrate the crossing conditions at Perry City Road.

SP 43+700 to 48+500: Perry City Road to Garrett Road North of Perry City Road, between SP 43+700 and SP 47+000, the corridor surface is grass and packed dirt and fairly clear of vegetation encroachment, though some additional clearing will be required, as represented in the following photo. Drainage swales upslope of the former railbed will need to be re-established along this segment.

SP 43+700: Trail crossing of Perry City Road. View downslope to N.Y.S. Route 89. Visibility is good in both directions.

SP 44+500: Former railroad corridor north of Perry City Road is accessible but will require clearing of shrubs and small trees to achieve the required 16-foot horizontal clearance.

SP 43+700: View of the trail south of Perry City Road. Road crosses at a 45-degree angle and has a steep cross slope towards the east (left in photo.)

The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on both roads in consultation with the Town of Ulysses and Tompkins County Highway Departments.

North of SP 47+000 the corridor has been used as a driveway for a house located east of the trail at SP 47+000. No permanent agreement exists for the corridor to be used in the future. The property owner was notified that the residence access will have to be relocated to their road frontage on N. Y. S. Route 89. The trail surface to Garrett Road is packed gravel and the corridor is clear of vegetation. Between SP 47+250 and 48+300 the landscape adjacent to the corridor upslope, or to the west of the trail, changes to rural residential. In the meetings with adjacent property owners, the installation of screen plantings or fencing was discussed to create a more pronounced visual or physical barrier between adjacent houses and the proposed trail. The trail intersection at Garrett Road, SP 48+500, has very good visibility in both directions and the road is relatively flat. North of the road, an asphalt

V-86

driveway is located west of and adjacent to the trail corridor, separated from the proposed trail by a narrow hedgerow. The following two photos

SP 48+500 to 50+200: Garrett Road to Houghton Road As the trail travels north toward Taughannock Falls State Park, the surrounding landscape characteristics transition from forested hillside to active and inactive agriculture. The abandoned rail corridor takes on the characteristic of a hedgerow between the crop fields. Within this area, the agricultural lands surrounding the trail corridor now lay fallow and some fields have been subdivided and sold as house lots, changing the character to rural residential. Much of the vegetation that is reclaiming the inactive portions of the corridor is non-native, invasive species like honeysuckle and multi-flora. In reclaiming the corridor for the Black Diamond Trail, OPRHP will have the opportunity to remove the invasives and replant with native species that enhance the habitat for the variety of wildlife migrating through and inhabiting the area. The trail intersects with Houghton Road at SP50+200. Visability for both trail users and motorists is good in both directions at this intersection. On the southwest side of the Houghton Road/BDT intersection, a driveway to serve an adjacent property will be developed similar to the situation existing at the Garrett Road intersection. Grading and culvert installation will be required to make smooth transitions from the road to the trail. The following photos document the existing condition at the trail/road intersection.

SP 48+500: View of trail corridor south of Garrett Road intersection. An adjacent property owner has used the corridor to reach a residence. The property has road frontage on N.Y.S. Route 89, owner notified a new driveway will have to be constructed.

SP 48+500: View of trail corridor north of Garrett Road. Adjacent property owners reconstructed their driveway, to the left, to eliminate a perpendicular crossing of the trail.

represent the existing condition at Garrett Road. The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Department.

SP 50+200: View of trail corridor from Houghton Road intersection. Trail corridor located to the right of the utility pole in the forefront of the photo.

V-87

SP 50+200: View of trail corridor north from Houghton Road intersection. This segment of trail is fairly overgrown and difficult to locate in the landscape.

SP 51+700: The lack of maintenance on the drainage structures/ system along the abandoned railroad has resulted in several of them failing. Repair and replacement will be needed on many.

The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Department. SP 50+200 to 55+500: Houghton Road to Kraft Road In cooperation with the Cayuga Nature Center, a trailhead facility for the Black Diamond will be developed on CNC property northeast of the trail after it crosses Houghton Road. A spur trail will connect with CNC trails and provide the opportunity for BDT patrons to visit the nature centers many exhibits. Figures V-13 and V-14 on pages V-99 and V-100 illustrate the proposed interface concept between the two facilities. OPRHP and CNC will work together to refine the final layout. From Houghton Road to SP 54+000 the trail corridor is not excessively overgrown with second-growth vegetation. There are two drainage structures noted on the trail plan, at SP 51+700 and SP 52+800, that require repair or replacement. The following photo illustrates the culvert situation at SP 51+700.

Between SP 54+000 and SP 55+000 the corridor has been maintained by the adjacent landowners who own land on both sides of the trail. In onsite meetings with the adjacent owners options for discouraging trail users from venturing off the trail to visit private facilities included vegetation screening, gates and potentially fencing. Prior to the start of construction, OPRHP will meet with adjacent owners again to finalize the treatment that will be most effective.

Safety railing, as illustrated in this photo, can also serve to discourage trail users from leaving the corridor and trepassing on adjacent private property. This installation is on the Catharine Valley Trail in the Finger Lakes State Parks Region.

At SP 55+000 the trail will cross Willow Creek on an existing steel railroad bridge. A preliminary assessment of the steel structural members and abutments determined them to be in good condition. A more extensive review will be conducted prior to the start of construction. The bridge is approximately 100 feet in length. At a

V-88

minimum, the bridge will require new decking and safety railing following ASHTO and NYDOT specifications for bicycle facilities. The existing bridge structure is illustrated in the following photo.

The Kraft Road intersection has good visibility and is relatively flat in both directions, southwest and northeast. The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Tompkins County Highway Department.

SP 55+100: View, looking south, of the existing railroad bridge over Willow Creek. Redecking and safety railing are needed to put the structure in use for the trail.

Between the bridge and Kraft Road there is an area including OPRHP and private property formerly used by the Tompkins County Highway Department to store road-repair materials. During the railroad era, the area was a siding for a hay, grain and coal storage building. The area would lend itself easily to be developed as a small trail access/parking area. With the privately-operated, 200-site Spruce Row Campground within three-quarters of a mile to the west, an access point in this location might be appropriate. OPRHP will explore this option in the future after the trail is open and operating to assess the need for additional access points.

SP 55+500: Trail crossing at Kraft Road has good visibility in both directions.

SP 55+500 to 58+900: Kraft Road to Agard Road Heading northwest from Kraft Road, the trail corridor has been maintained by the adjoining landowner as lawn. Two residences flank the trail corridor, both with frontage on Kraft Road. There is sufficient vegetation screening between the trail and the residence to the west, but to the east a visual or physical separation may be needed. After passing the residences, the corridor is overgrown with vegetation and will require clearing to meet vertical and horizontal trail clearances as identified on V-18 page 114. As experienced on the sections to the south, the majority of regenerating vegetation is the invasive species honeysuckle, autumn olive and multi-flora rose.

SP 55+500: Potential future trail access point along trail corridor between Willow Creek bridge and Kraft Road.

Between SP 55+750 and SP 57+500, the adjacent landowner has property on both sides of the corridor. Agricultural use is still active on this

V-89

property. The existing, grandfathered farm crossing will need to be maintained and the trail signed to alert trail users of periodic farm equipment crossing the trail. OPRHP will work with the landowner to address appropriate gate facilities and vegetation screening. There are two drainage and erosion problem areas in this section, requiring repair or placement of small drainage structures under the proposed trail. Between SP 58+500 and the intersection of Agard Road, enhancing the existing vegetation to buffer and provide privacy screening for a residence located southwest of the trail is recommended. The intersection at Agard Road will require the installation of culverts for the trail to cross drainage ditches in road shoulders. Visibility toward the west is moderate and good toward the east. The road is gently sloped toward the northeast. The following photo illustrates the southwest condition of the trail crossing of Agard Road. The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Department.

SP 58+900 to 60+500: Agard Road to Willow Creek Road As the trail proceeds north, after crossing Agard Road, it passes close to two residential properties. Screening with vegetation and fencing will be needed in this area to preserve the adjoining owners privacy as the houses sit very close to the corridor. The majority of this 1,600 linear-foot trail segment was the subject of a volunteer clearing day in October 2006. Some minor clearing for recommended trail clearances will be needed prior to the start of construction. The trail crossing of Willow Creek Road is nearly flat and has good visibility in both directions. The corridor, however, crosses the road at an acute angle. It is recommended that the trail be realigned closer to a 90 degree crossing if possible as illustrated in Figure V-12 on page V-91. The following photo illustrates the trail crossing of Willow Creek. The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Department.

SP 58+900: Trail intersection at Agard Road. Trail crosses road at a cross-slope. Culverts will need to be installed for the trail crossing on both sides of the road.

SP 60+500: View looking south of trail intersection with Willow Creek Road. Trail realignment at this crossing is recommended to have trail users approach the road at a 90 angle.

V-90

ill

ow

re

ek

Tr a i l

oa

Signs

Tr a i l C orrido r

Prope
Signs

Signs Signs Signs

rty Lin e

Tr a i l C orrido r

Prope

Crosswalk

rty Lin e

Signs

Gate and Bollards

When the trail crosses roadways at an acute angle, such as the Willow Creek Road intersection, trail alignment should be adjusted to create a crossing p e r p e n d i c u l a r, o r a s c l o s e t o p e r p e n d i c u l a r a s p o s s i b l e t o t h e r o a d w a y. N o t o n l y w i l l t h i s e n h a n c e v i s i b i l i t y, b u t t i g h t r a d i i will slow down trail users as they approach the intersection. It is important to maintain s i g h t l i n e s t o t r a ff i c c o n t r o l d e v i c e s ( g a t e s and bollards) and signage for trail users approaching the intersection.

Figure V-12

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l
Tr a i l I n t e r s e c t i o n a t Wi l l o w C r e e k R o a d
Not to Scale Date 4-2-02 Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-91

SP 60+500 to 66+300: Willow Creek Road to Gorge Road This section of trail was cleared by volunteers working with State Parks crews in 2000 and park maintenance staff in 2005-2006 and again by volunteers in spring 2007.

Gorge Road is approximately 8 feet higher in elevation than the surrounding landscape and will require constructing ramps on both approaches for the trail to meet ADA slope requirements. Visibility at the crossing is good in both directions and the road is level at the point of crossing.

SP 61+000: In 2000, a group of volunteers came to clear brush from the trail corridor between Taughannock Falls State Park and Willow Creek Road.

SP 66+300: View south from Gorge Road to trail corridor. Gorge Road is 8 feet above the trail elevation. Ramps will need to be constructed in this area.

Much of the trail corridor along this section still has remnant railroad ballast (2-4 in diameter) as the surface. The ballast will provide good base for the trail treadway. At times the corridor is raised on an embankment with nice views into the surrounding woods and field. In other areas it is in a cut with steep banks on either side of the proposed trail. There are many wet areas in the cut sections and drainage improvements will be needed when surfacing the proposed trail.

The trail/road interfaces will include the standard gate/bollard system with traffic warning signs as illustrated in Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116. Signs warning motorists of the trail crossing will be installed on the road in consultation with the Town of Ulysses Highway Department. SP 66+300 to 67+500: Gorge Road to Taughannock Falls State Park North from Gorge Road, the trail enters Taughannock Falls State Park. This corridor was cleared in 2000 with volunteers and maintained in 2005-2006 by state park crews. Remnants of the Taughannock railroad station, built in 1873, exist along the west side of the corridor and will provide an opportunity to interpret the railroad era and Taughannock as a prominent vacation destination in the late 1800s.

SP 65+000: Sections of the railroad corridor south of Gorge Road are below the elevation of surrounding fields. These areas tend to be wet and will require establishing better drainage systems.

V-92

SP 66+500: Former railroad corridor north of Gorge Road. The Taughannock railroad station was located on the left side. Remnants of the station foundation still exist.

The trailhead at Taughannock Falls State Park is proposed to be located off Gorge Road, to the west of the trail corridor. Currently an existing parking area is located off Jacksonville Road at the bottom of a short, steep incline to serve patron using the rim trail system. Site distance to the south exiting this existing lot is very limited. Relocating and developing a joint park and trail access point is recommended. Figures V-15 and V-16 on pages V100 and V-101 illustrate the association of the Black Diamond Trail and the Taughannock Falls State Park trails facilities. Spur Trails and Links to Other Facilities Opportunities exist along this trail segment to develop links to facilities adjacent or near to the trail corriodor. At the time of construction, spur trails should be considered to connect the BDT to the following areas: Paleontological Research Institute/Museum of the Earth (PRI) Cayuga Nature Center (CNC) Village of Trumansburg Future connections are encouraged as other facilities are developed within the vicinity. The connection to the PRI facilities will require land acquisition or an easement from NYSEG to use the existing utility corridor up the west slope above the trail corridor. As noted earlier under the discussion for the trail segment SP 50+200 to 55+400: Houghton Road to Kraft Road, a BDT trailhead facility will be constructed on CNC property in cooperation with the Center. Spur trails to link the BDT with the core CNC facilities have been discussed with the Center and will be progressed as funding can be secured. A spur link to the Village of Trumansburg can be accomplished on the existing abandoned railroad corridor transferred from NYSEG to OPRHP.

The trail will cross Taughannock Creek on an existing railroad bridge that is currently used as a creek crossing for the parks Upper Rim Trail. The bridge should undergo some decking repairs and a structural analysis to determine the condition of its abutments and its overall structural integrity. A new railing system will also be needed. The views of the gorge from this bridge are exceptional in both upstream and downstream directions. Design of the railing system should take the aesthetics into

SP 67+200: Existing railroad bridge over Taughannock Creek gorge. The bridge is currently part of the state parks rim trail system. Upgrades to the structure will be needed.

account. The BDT will continue north on a short section of the Upper Rim Trail until it turns to the northwest and ends where it intersects with the Taughannock Park Road. Bicyclists can use this park road to access the parks camping, swimming and picnicking areas at the lower elevations to the northeast or follow existing roads to the Village of Trumansburg and surrounding countryside.

V-93

While this spur can be progressed as part of the mainline trail development, this sole connection will not provide the best situation to serve the interests of the community or vacationers to the area. It is recommended that OPRHP meet with the Town of Ulysses and Village of Trumansburg boards to discuss opportunities to develop multiple connections from the Black Diamond to the village and surrounding town neighborhoods.

V-94

V-95

V-96

V-97

V-98

LEGEND Black D i a m o n d Tr a i l Spur Tra i l Trail Bri d g e CrossWa l k Trail Cro s s i n g - R o a d , R a i l , o r Wa t e r w a y

TREE TO P S CNCF H E A D Q U A RT E R S / LODGE TREE TO P S TRAIL

NY RO UT

Trailhea d

E 89

FUTURE COMPOST TRAIL

N AT U R E C E N T E R TRAILS FUTURE TRAIL FROM T R A I L TO C N C

BL

AC

DI

AM

ON

P R I VAT E D R I V E CROSSING. PROVIDE WA R N I N G A N D R E G U L ATO RY SIGNAGE

CNC FA R M

Figure V-13

TR

AI

CNC TRAILHEAD ENLARGEMENT

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l
Cayuga Nature Center Enlargement
Not to Scale Date: 4-2-02

T
F E S T I VA L PA R K I N G HO U G H TO N R O A D TR A I L C R O S S I N G
HO UG HT ON RO AD

P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e a s t G r e e n ways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d Historic P r e s e r v a t i o n - F i n g e r L a k e s R e gion

GA

RR

ET

T R OA D

V-99

Restroom Trail to CNC Headquarters and Treetops

B enches and B ike Parking Screen Planting Kiosk

Handicap Parking

Old Pumphouse

Expanded Gravel Parking Area

Bl

ac

Di

am

on

Tr

ai

Gate Signs Crosswalk Signs Figure V-14

Black Diamond Trail

Cayuga Nature Center Trailhead

Houghton Road

Scale: 1" = 20' (+/-)

Date 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways

Signs

Signs

P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-100

RO

AD

LEGEND B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l S p u r Tr a i l Tr a i l B r i d g e C r o s s Wa l k Tr a i l C r o s s i n g

HA

RO

AD

NN

FA

LL

PA R K R O A D TRAIL CROSSING
TA

CK

PA

RK

UG

BL AC K DI AM ON D TR AI L

T
RIM TRAIL

Tr a i l h e a d

CR

EE

UG

HA

NN

WID E N RIM T R A I L

OC

RENOVATE EXISTING RIM TRAIL RR BRIDGES RIM TRAIL

G O R G E R O

TA

AD

EXISTING PARKING AREA

T
JAC KSO NVI LLE ROA D

GORGE ROAD TRAIL CROSSING

FUTURE TRAILHEAD A N D PA R K I N G TA U G H A N N O C K TRAILHEAD ENLARGEMENT

BLA C TRA K DIAMO IL

ND

Figure V-15

Black Diamond Trail

Taughannock Falls State Park Enlargement
Scale: 1" = 200' Date: 4-2-0 2 Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and His t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-101

Figure V-16 Existing Wo o d l a n d

B l a c k D i a m o n d Trail
Trailhead at Tau g h a n n o c k Falls State Park
Scale: 1" = 20 (+/-) Date 4-2-02 P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e a st G r e e n w a y s P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

Bl ac iam k D on ra d T il

New Gr a v e l Parking A r e a

Kiosk

Restroom
Gate

Stone Dust Surface

B enches

Bike racks

Preserve Stone Retaining Wall. Provide Interpretive Display.

5% Ma x. Ra mp
Bollard Gate

Post and Rail Fence Existing Utility Pole

Boulders

Gorge Road

V-102

LEGEND Black Diamond Trail Spur Tra il Trail Bridge Cross Walk Trail Cro ssing

YU

ST

EE

T
RAILROAD TRESTLE BRIDGE WILL REQUIRE DECKING AND RAILING R O U T E 1 A O N R A I L R O A D C O R R I D O R . P R O V I D E F EN C I N G A N D S C R E E N P L A N T I N G A L O N G P R I VAT E R E S I D E N C E . ROUTE 1B UNDER OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES. PROVIDE FENCING OR SCREEN PLANTING ALONG EDGE OF POND.

Trailhead

LA

KE

R ST

EE

T C RU R M E E AN K S

ERY RO AD

GROVE C E M E T E RY

A LT E R N AT I V E R O U T E 2 G O E S T H R O U G H P R I VAT E LY O W N E D OLD FIELD BETWEEN RAILROAD C O R R I D O R A N D C E M E T E RY

CEMET

TRAIL ON C E M E T E RY R O A D S

FA LL S RO AD

F i g u r e V- 1 7

Black Diamond Tr a i l
NY RO UT

S p u r Tr a i l t o Tr u m a nsburg G r o v e C e m e t e r y E n l argement
E
SMITH WOODS

SCHOOLS

96

Not to Scale

Date: 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Prepared for: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

FAIRGROUNDS

V-103

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

V-104

OPERATION, MANAGEMENT and Maintenance

The Black Diamond Trail will primarily be the responsibility of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP.) The following sections outline the standards that the agency will operate, manage and maintain the multi-use, multi-purpose trail facility.

Channel within its municipal boundary for trail development. OPRHP will obtain a permanent easement from the City to construct the trail and support facilities on City property. A portion of the Black Diamond Trail will follow the existing City of Ithacas Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Cass Park. As the trail infrastructure is already in place, no ownership issues need to be addressed.

Ownership of Trail Facilities

The majority of the land the Black Diamond Trail will be constructed on and the infrastructure of the trail will be owned by OPRHP. There are, however sections of the trail corridor that will be built on lands owned or managed by other entities. The following sections identify the other parties that own or have interest in portions of lands of the trail corridor and which OPRHP will need to coordinate with for the construction, operation and maintenance of the trail.

New York State Department of Transportation

The trail intersects with state highways along the route between Robert H. Treman State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park. In all cases, the trail will pass under the state highways. While the property is owned by the State of New York, OPRHP will need to obtain joint occupancy agreements and work permits from the Department of Transportation to construct and maintain the trail within the boundaries of the state highways.

Norfolk Southern Railroad

The trail will encounter the active Norfolk Southern Railroad line in two places along the trail between Robert H. Treman and Allan H. Treman/Cass Park. OPRHP will obtain a permanent easement to construct and operate the trail across railroad land.

Tompkins County
Along the segment of trail between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park, the trail will cross, at grade, two Tompkins County roads. OPRHP will need to obtain a work permit from Tompkins County to construct and maintain the trail within the boundaries of the Countys road rights of way.

New York State Electric & Gas Corporation

The Black Diamond Trail will be co-located with a electric transmission line on the trail segment between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park. The New York State Electric & Gas Corporation granted OPRHP a permanent easement to construct the trail on the corridor. Construction and long-term maintenance of the BDT will need to be coordinated with the utility company.

Town of Ulysses
The trail will cross, at grade, seven Town of Ulysses roads along the segment of trail between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park. OPRHP will need to obtain a work permit from the Town of Ulysses to construct and maintain the trail within the boundaries of the Town of Ulysses road rights of way.

City of Ithaca
In accord with the 1983 Tripartite Agreement, the City of Ithaca secured property along the east and west sides of the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control

V-103

Management
Management responsibility for the Black Diamond Trail will be shared between OPRHP, the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca according to the following schedule. Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park: OPRHP, oversight by Robert H. Treman/Buttermilk Falls/Allan H. Treman park manager. Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park: OPRHP, oversight by Robert H. Treman/Buttermilk Falls/Allan H. Treman park manager; Town of Ithaca, and City of Ithaca. Exact extent of each partys management area will be defined prior to the official opening of the trail. Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park: OPRHP, oversight by Taughanock Falls park manager.

Hours of operation - including equipment requirements for after-dark use for trail use as a transportation corridor Allowable trail uses - clear statement of prohibited activities as well as the accommodated uses (e.g. no cars, trucks, motorcycles/scooters, atvs) Trail courtesy advisories - trail etiquette to minimize user conflicts. Safety equipment requirements - bicycle helmet requirements for children under 14 and recommendation to all others to wear helmets. To the extent practicable, signs will include the universal symbol associated with the expected behavior to address communication with multilingual trail user needs.

Fees
OPRHP does not anticipate instituting a user fee for the trail. Fees that will apply to trail use are specialuse permits and those that are already in place at the existing state park facilities, such as the vehicleentrance fee. Special-use permits are required for events and activities not regularly provided at a state park facility and that are sponsored by private or public groups. Fees for these events vary depending on the size and complexity of the events. Black Diamond Trail patrons that begin their use of the trail in either Robert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls or Taughannock Falls State Park may be required to pay a vehicle entrance fee if visiting the park during the main operating season when the fee is in effect.

Operation Rules and Regulations

Public use of property under the jurisdiction of OPRHP is governed by the rules and regulations found in Title 9, Chapter I of Subtitle I of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York. In addition to these rules and regulations, trail-specific rules will be implemented for the Black Diamond Trail to minimize conflicts between permitted trail uses and recognize the transportation role the trail will play in the greater Ithaca area community. The expected conduct of trail users will be conveyed on trail signs and kiosks as illustrated on Figures V-22 and V-23, pages V-118 and V-119. The following are issues that will be addressed with rules posted on all orientation and information kiosks, signs and brochures for the Black Diamond Trail.

Trail-Use Zones
The Black Diamond Trail is intended to provide a multi-use, multi-purpose, four-season facility for pedestrian and bicycle traffic and to a limited extent equestrian and snowmobile use. The extended types of uses that will occur on the trail will be dictated by the type of surface treatment of the trail treadway. The following sections identify the different trail-use zones.

V-104

Compacted Limestone-dust Treadway This treadway treatment is recommended for two main segments of the Black Diamond Trail through areas that are less densely populated and have higher natural-features qualities. The surfacing provides a firm treadway that is useable by walkers, joggers, bicyclists, mobility-impaired users and horseback riders during the majority of the year. During the winter months when snow blankets the surface, the trail provides opportunity for use by cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and where allowable snowmobilers. Asphalt Treadway An asphalt treadway is recommended for three sections of the Black Diamond Trail. These areas are expected to experience higher volumes of traffic and provide a wider range of use by equipment type. The areas are expected to accommodate walkers, joggers, bicyclists, mobility-impaired users, in-line skaters, skateboarders and rollerskiers. Winter use will include cross-country skiers and snowshoers, if the trail is not plowed. Equestrian and snowmobile uses will not be allowed on this treadway. Equestrian Use Public input for the trail included interest in using some of the trail corridor for horseback riding. The area of interest in particular is the corridor between Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park where the trail passes through agricultural areas. OPRHP will explore the potential to accommodate this use further during the construction phase. Trail design recommendations to accommodate horseback riding as a use on a multi-use, multipurpose trail include either constructing a separate trail parallel to the pedestrian and bicycle trail or a single wide treadway with wide shoulders to allow users to move aside. Because the Black Diamond Trail will be built on an abandoned railroad corridor with constrained cuts and fills, the separate trail

option may be limited in several areas. On-site assessment is necessary to determine if the trail can accommodate horses. Snowmobile Use Another user group that expressed interest through the public input process in utilizing portions of the Black Diamond Trail is snowmobilers. OPRHP administers and supports snowmobile trail and club activity across New York State. The interest of the snowmobile club includes a portion of the trail between Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park, specifically the trail adjacent to Taughannock Falls. The use of the Black Diamond Trail will be as a pass-through connection to the trail system the club has secured on private lands across the Town of Ulysses. To the extent practical, OPRHP will accommodate the snowmobile use. The segments will be posted and a minimum snow cover will be set so that snowmobile use of the trail does not damage the surfacing.

Interpretive and Special Programs

OPRHPs mission includes providing interpretive opportunities that promote patron respect for natural, historic and cultural resources and expand patron enjoyment by sharing information about the state park facilities. The agency performs its interpretive service mission through printed materials (signs and brochures) and personnal service programs (hikes and special programs.) Environmental educators develop these services, recommending appropriate programs for each facility. An Interpretive Management Guide was prepared for the Black Diamond Trail and is a supporting document to this master plan. In addition to programs provided by OPRHP, organized user groups, civic groups and not-forprofit organizations use state park facilities for special programs. Examples of activities that occur in state parks are: bi- and triatholons, fun runs, fundraisers, art exhibitions, etc. The Black Diamond Trail will provide a venue for several

V-105

different special programs. Use of state park facilities by other entities is operated and managed by a permit system administered by the regional and park management. This system will be adhered to for the Black Diamond Trail.

Security
The Finger Lakes regional unit of the New York State Park Police will be responsible for oversight of the security of the Black Diamond Trail. The New York State Park Police utilize several different transportation modes to perform their patrol duties including bicycles and snowmobiles. It is anticipated that both will be utilized to patrol the Black Diamond Trail.

Physical elements that will be included in the development of the Black Diamond Trail to reinforce the safety and security of trail users include gates, bollards, fencing and signage. Figures V-19 and V-20, pages V-115 and V-116, illustrate designs for trail and road intersection treatments.

Emergency Response Plan

Situations that arise on the trail that require immediate police or medical assistance response will be handled through Tompkins Countys E-911 system. Calls for emergency assistance are received at the central dispatch office of the Countys emergency response office and dispatched to the closest identified police unit. OPRHP will contact Tompkins Countys E-911 center to notify them of the trails operation and provide all relevant information regarding trail access points, mile-marker system for incident reporting, cellphone coverage issues and other facility detail as requested. In addition, access through the trails security gates will be provided to all emergency response units. OPRHP develops Emergency Action Plans (EAP) for each of its facilities. EAPs identify action plans for OPRHP staff to respond to evacuations, chemical spills, severe weather and medical emergencies. In addition to the response protocols for the different situations, the plans identify the chain of command for persons responsible for implementing the plans, contacts with outside emergency responders and contacts with utility companies. A plan will be prepared for the Black Diamond Trail.

New York State Park Police Bicycle Patrol

During the busier operating season, May to September, OPRHP hires park public safety officers to supplement the park police units. Public safety officers perform the following security functions: patrol park facilities and grounds, maintain order, enforce various park ordinances and regulations, distribute tickets for violations of ordinances and regulations, and answer patron questions. Significant interest has been expressed by Black Diamond Trail supporters to establish a Friends of the Black Diamond Trail group that could provide volunteer assistance in the area of operation and maintenance of the trail including a trail steward program to assist with trail safety. OPRHP has significant experience with friends groups and will support establishing a group for the Black Diamond Trail.

Volunteer Services
As noted earlier, volunteer services are encouraged by the OPRHP. Volunteers can provide operation and maintenance support to supplement park staff responsibilities. Volunteer services can be provided through a Friends group or through established civic groups. Use of volunteer services benefit the short- and long-term operation of facilities by

V-106

allowing community members to take a more active part in supporting the success of a facility. OPRHP will use volunteers to operate and maintain the Black Diamond Trail.

Drainage Structures Bridge Inspections Winter Maintenance: plowing or grooming for cross-country skiing.

Staffing
As noted in the Management and Maintenance sections, the portions of the trail owned and managed by OPRHP, will be placed under the care of park managers at the established state parks in Tompkins County. Trail infrastructure choices will emphasize low-maintenance follow up to reduce the need to add additional permenant staff to OPRHP. In addition, volunteer services will be sought for routine maintenance services (i.e. litter collection, clearing to maintain recommended clearances) through either a Friends group or an Adopt a Trail program, similar to NYSDOTs Adopt a Highway program.

In October 2000, volunteers helped with the initial clearing of a segment of the trail corridor near Taughannock Falls State Park to prepare it for future development.

Maintenance
Trail maintenance responsibilities will follow the schedule presented in the Management section on page V-103. Sections of the trail owned and managed by OPRHP will be maintained by state parks staff and volunteers. The segment of trail between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park will be maintained by the City and Town of Ithaca. To ensure that a coordinated approach is taken to maintain the trail, OPRHP will establish a maintenance protocol with the City and Town of Ithaca. At a minimum, OPRHP will establish procedures and schedules for maintaining the following trail features. Surface Safety Striping: pavement markings Safety and Security Structures: fencing, gates, bollards Signs: safety, orientation and interpretive Mowing and Vegetation Management: trailway clearance requirements, buffers and scenic vistas

Equipment
Trail maintenance is greatly facilitated with smaller-than-conventional vehicles. Some trailadapted maintenance equipment is already available in the Finger Lakes State Parks Region to support the miles of existing trails, including the multi-use, multi-purpose Catharine Valley Trail in Chemung and Schuyler counties. Additional surface-grooming units will need to be acquired as segments of the Black Diamond Trail are constructed and opened for public use.

Land Acquisition
Land acquisition needs for the trail development, including short- and long-term maintenance and emergency access, were identified in the Trail Corridor section of this chapter. Other future acquisitions may be required to protect the integrity of the trail for the use, enjoyment and safety of the trails patrons. The segment of the trail where future acquisition of additional lands for buffer may be necessary is the Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass

V-107

Park to Taughannock Falls State Park. Presently the adjacent land uses along the 66-foot-wide trail corridor are complementary or supportive of the trails goals and objectives. However, future land-use changes could negatively impact the operation of the trail for its multiple-use purpose. Construction occurring too close to the corridor or that creates a significant change in land cover upslope of the trail could significantly impact the trail drainage infrastructure. Where appropriate, additional acreage could be acquired to minimize or eliminate such an impact. Either fee or easement (conservation) could accomplish the protection of the corridor. Establishing a strong working relationship with the governing boards, planning boards and zoning boards of appeal of the municipalities that will host the Black Diamond Trail could also assist in instituting a plan that will protect the integrity of the trail through appropriate land-use controls. An example of such a cooperative effort is the Town of Ithacas adoption of a Conservation Zone for the steep slope area adjacent to the Black Diamond Trail corridor between Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park.

Trail construction will progress as funding is available. OPRHPs current plan is to break ground on Phase One Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls in 2009. If the necessary funding commitments are secured in a timely manner, Phase One is projected to require 5 to 7 years to complete. The timeline to complete construction of Phases Two and Three will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of funding and acquisition of the remaining parcels needed for the trail as identified earlier in the chapter. A further breakdown of each phase to progress construction may be explored if funding ceilings limit completing an entire phase. A shorter segment may be considered only if it results in completing a section of trail that links trip destinations.

Cost Estimate
Estimates for the trail construction by phase, as proposed earlier in the chapter, are presented below. The cost estimate represents construction completed by contract with a qualified construction firm. The figures will change, at a minimum, annually, but are provided to present the expected scale of funding that will be needed for any one phase of the trail project and to give a general sense of the total project cost to complete the entire trail system. Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park: $2.6 million Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park: $7.8 million Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park: $3.9 million

Implementation
The Black Diamond Trail consists of three segments. While each segment can exist independently, together they provide a network of trails that connect a significant number of trip destinations in Tompkins County. OPRHP will progress construction of the 15-mile, multi-use, multi-purpose trail in phases. The intended order of the phased construction is as follows. Phase One: Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park Phase Two: Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park: Phase Three: Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park

Funding Sources
To complete the construction of the Black Diamond Trail, OPRHP will have to rely on a combination of funding opportunities. While much of OPRHPs capital construction is accomplished using its State Park Infrastructure Fund (SPIF), this fund source is limited and a significant backlog of existing

V-108

facilities rehabilitation projects will impact the amount of the fund that can be earmarked for new facility construction. Segment development of the Black Diamond Trail will be programmed into the capital fund schedule as additional funding sources are secured and staff resources are available to handle managing the project. The following is a list of viable other sources of funding for construction of a multi-use, multipurpose pedestrian and bicycle trail that OPRHP will seek to secure to help move the construction of the Black Diamond Trail along at a reasonable pace.

State Legislative Initiatives Members of the New York State Legislature have access to funds that can support the development of a variety of community-based projects that improve the quality of life of the residents in their districts. These grants do not require a match.

Federal
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) This is the latest version of the landmark legislation first passed by the United States Congress in 1991. The legislation recognizes the importance of developing a multi-modal transportation system that includes infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles. The Act provides funds to construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities on an 80/20 reimbursementfor-cost basis. The required 20% match can be from local funding or in-kind contributions. Three sub-programs of the Act provide fund options for multi-use, multi-purpose trail projects.

New York State

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) The New York State Department of State encourages local waterfront communities to participate in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program that provides assistance to communities to revisit the use and preservation of their waterfronts. The waterfront municipalities in Tompkins County prepared a LWRP. The Black Diamond Trail is a listed project within this plan. The development of trail-related waterfront projects, such as the construction of the interpretive center in the caboose in Cass Park, could be considered for funding through this program. The Department of State will provide 50% of the project cost to be matched by local funding or in-kind contributions. Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) New York State, through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, seeks grant applications on an annual basis for projects in multiple categories, including park and trail development. Like the LWRP, the EPF is a 50/50 matching-grant program.

The Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP)

This sub-program has been and continues to be the most viable program for funding pedestrian and bicycle projects, like the Black Diamond Trail. At the Federal level, the program requires states to utilize 10% of their Federal Surface Transportation Program allocation for enchancing the transportation system to move to a multi-modal system. Eligible projects for this program include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, preservation of historic transportation infrastructure, scenic beautification, environmental mitigation, safety and education for pedestrian and bicycle traffic and transportation museums. The program is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.

V-109

OPRHP received some funding for the Black Diamond Trail under the 1991, ISTEA legislation. Approximately $500,000 remains of the initial award. At present, NYSDOT is making $150,000 available to complete planning and engineering services for Phase I construction.

New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG)

For approximately 1.5 miles, the Black Diamond Trail will co-locate on a portion of the former railroad corridor, between Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls State Parks, with an electric transmission line owned and operated by the NYSEG. NYSEG granted OPRHP a permanent easement to develop, operate and maintain the Black Diamond Trail jointly on the property. Construction and maintenance standards, will be coordinated with NYSEG.

Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

This program provides funds to develop multi-use trails that focus more on recreational use than on transportation, although projects may still have a transportation component/function. Awards under this program are typically small in size (i.e. under $100,000.) The program is administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

City of Ithaca
Operation and management of the segment of trail between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park by the City of Ithaca is covered under the 1983 Tripartite Agreement. OPRHP and the City will work together to establish rules and regulations and maintenance standards that ensure trail users experience a seamless flow as they travel along the different segments of trail.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)

Historically, this program provides the funds to support the construction and rehabilitation of the traditional transportation system of motor vehicle, transit, rail and airline infrastructure. Facilities for pedestrians and bicycles, like the Black Diamond Trail, not associated with a project proposed for a highway system have not been able to compete for funds under this program. Discussions between the New York State Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) serving upstate urban areas and the New York State Department of Transportation were initiated in 2005 to explore how the larger, more costly pedestrian and bicycle dedicated facilities can be submitted to be considered in the TIP program and compete equitibly with highway projects. Starting in 2006, a portion of the TIP has been set aside to fund bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Town of Ithaca
The Town of Ithaca was included in the 1983 Tripartite Agreement to assist in securing corridor and operating and managing the section of the trail between Buttermilk Falls and Allan H. Treman State Parks. OPRHP and the Town will work together to establish the extent to which the Town will assist OPRHP with the operation and management of the Black Diamond Trail.

Relationship to other programs

The development and operation of the Black Diamond Trail will involve coordination and cooperation with other agencies and entities. Listed below are the primary entities that OPRHP will work with to ensure the Black Diamond Trail contributes positively to the residents and visitors of Tompkins County.

Ithaca/Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC)

The ITCTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning and project funding for the Ithaca urbanized area in Tompkins County. The MPO is the conduit to manage the Federal transportation money allocated for the area. The ITCTC will provide OPRHP assistance for the agencys requests for funding

V-110

under SAFETEA-LU. Additionally, OPRHP will work with ITCTC to fulfill the MPOs mission to develop a multi-modal transportation system for the area.

Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor

The Black Diamond Trail is located within the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor. Joint promotion is strongly encouraged. OPRHP will work with the heritage corridor staff to ensure cross promotion.

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)

NYSDOT constructed trail facilities as part of several state highway reconstruction projects that will become part of the Black Diamond Trail. Some of these features are located within the NYSDOT right of way. OPRHP will coordinate future maintenance with NYSDOT.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

A significant portion of the Black Diamond Trail between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park will parallel the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel managed by the NYSDEC. Long-term maintenance of the channel banks and the trail will require coordination between OPRHP, the City of Ithaca and NYSDECs Flood Control Unit.

Cayuga Nature Center (CNC)

A Black Diamond Trail trailhead facility will be constructed off Houghton Road with a trail connection built by the Cayuga Nature Center to its main building. This project will require coordination for construction and long-term operation and maintenace with the CNC.

Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, Inc.

The Black Diamond Trail parallels the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, on the west side of Cayuga Lake, for approximately 3.5 miles. The two facilities can and will complement one another and joint promotion is strongly encouraged. OPRHP and the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, Inc. will coordinate promotion through established sign, brochure and web-site programs.

V-111

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

V-112

NOTES: 1. THIS DETAIL IS FOR USE ON RAILROAD GRADES WHERE EXISTING BASE IS WELL DRAINED AND SUITABLE FOR USE AS A TRAIL BASE. 2" AVERAGE DEPTH OF SUBBASE COURSE IS CONSIDERED A LEVELING COURSE IF FILL IS REQUIRED TO SMOOTH BASE BEFORE PLACEMENT OF TRAIL SURFACE. 2. PITCH TRAIL SURFACE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING DRAINAGE PATTERN OR AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 3. SMOOTH AND COMPACT SUBGRADE PRIOR TO PLACING SUBBASE AND TRAIL SURFACE. GRASS SHOULDER: SPREAD TOPSOIL OR SUITABLE EXCAVATED MATERIAL AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. FEATHER FROM 2-4" DEPTH AT TRAIL EDGE TO 0" DEPTH 2' FROM TRAIL EDGE. SEED TO ESTABLISH TURF IN SHOULDER.

NOTES: 1. PITCH TRAIL SURFACE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING DRAINAGE PATTERN OR AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 2. SMOOTH AND COMPACT SUBGRADE PRIOR TO PLACING SUBBASE AND TRAIL SURFACE. GRASS SHOULDER: SPREAD TOPSOIL OR SUITABLE EXCAVATED MATERIAL AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. FEATHER FROM 2-4" DEPTH AT TRAIL EDGE TO 0" DEPTH 2' FROM TRAIL EDGE. SEED TO ESTABLISH TURF IN SHOULDER.

2'

10' WIDTH TYP. 2" LIMESTONE SCREENINGS

2'

2'

5' OR 10' WIDTH 2" LIMESTONE SCREENINGS

2'

FINISH GRADE

2% MIN. 4% MAX.

6" SUBBASE COURSE N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 4

FINISH GRADE

2% MIN. 4% MAX.

2" SUBBASE COURSE N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 4

EXISTING LAWN AREA

6" SUBBASE GEOTEXTILE AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

EXISTING LAWN AREA COMPACTED SUBGRADE

STONE DUST TRAIL WITH 6" BASE

NOT TO SCALE

STONE DUST TRAIL WITH 2" BASE

NOT TO SCALE

NOTES: 1. PITCH TRAIL SURFACE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING DRAINAGE PATTERN OR AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 2. TYPICAL EXCAVATION IS 10" BELOW EXISTING GRADE UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 3. SEE SITE PLANS AND PLAN ENLARGEMENTS FOR TRAIL WIDTHS. 2' FINISH GRADE 2% MIN., 4% MAX. 10' 2' GRASS SHOULDER: SPREAD TOPSOIL OR SUITABLE EXCAVATED MATERIAL AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. FEATHER FROM 2-4" DEPTH AT TRAIL EDGE TO 0" DEPTH 2' FROM TRAIL EDGE. SEED TO ESTABLISH TURF IN 5' SHOULDER. EXISTING LAWN 1 1/2" ASPHALT CONCRETE TOP N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 6F 2 1/2" ASPHALT CONCRETE BINDER N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 3 EXISTING GRADE 6" SUBBASE COURSE N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 4 GEOTEXTILE COMPACTED SUBGRADE

NOTES: 1. PITCH TRAIL SURFACE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING DRAINAGE PATTERN OR AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 2. TYPICAL EXCAVATION IS 10" BELOW EXISTING GRADE UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. 3. SEE SITE PLANS AND PLAN ENLARGEMENTS FOR TRAIL WIDTHS. 2' FINISH GRADE 2% MIN., 4% MAX. 10' 2' GRASS SHOULDER: SPREAD TOPSOIL OR SUITABLE EXCAVATED MATERIAL AS DIRECTED BY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. FEATHER FROM 2-4" DEPTH AT TRAIL EDGE TO 0" DEPTH 2' FROM TRAIL EDGE. SEED TO ESTABLISH TURF IN 5' SHOULDER. EXISTING LAWN 1 1/2" ASPHALT CONCRETE TOP N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 6F 2 1/2" ASPHALT CONCRETE BINDER N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 3 12" SUBBASE COURSE N.Y.S.D.O.T. TYPE 4 EXISTING GRADE GEOTEXTILE COMPACTED SUBGRADE

F i g u r e V- 1 7

B l a c k D i a m o n d Trail
Tr e a d w a y C r o s s S e c t i o n s
Not to Scale Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Larsen Engineers Prepared for: New Yo r k S t a t e Office of Parks, Recr e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger L a k e s R e g i o n Date: 4-2-02

ASPHALT TRAIL
NOT TO SCALE

HEAVY DUTY ASPHALT TRAIL

NOT TO SCALE

V-113

Ty p i c a l Tr a i l S e c ti o n
N ot to Scale

E q u e s t r i a n Tr a i l S e c t i o n
Not to Scale

12 Minimum Vertical Clearance

R a i l w i t h Tr a i l S e c t i o n
Not to Scale

Figure V-18

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l Ty p i c a l Tr a i l S e c t i o n s
S c a l e : Va r i e s D a t e : January 2007 P r e p a r e d b y : N o r t h e a s t G reenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t ate O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n and Historic P r e s e r v a t i o n - F i n g e r L a k es Region

V-114

W2-15A

Black Diamond Trail

W5-7C
Tr a i l R u l e s
Users stay to right Pass on left Stay on trail R e s p e c t a d j a c e n t p ro p e r t y Keep dogs on leash P ro p e r l y d i s p o s e o f d o g w a s t e

W
R1-1B

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL

Black Diamond Trail

ill

ow

re

ek

R5-23C 400' MIN.

Tr a i l

oa

Signs

Tr a i l C orrido r

Prope
Signs

Signs
W5-6C

rty Lin e

LADDER STYLE CROSSWALK

Tr a i l C orrido
25' (TYP.) * (TYP.) SEE ADVANCE POSTING DISTANCES IN TABLE BELOW (TYP.)

Signs Signs

r Prop ert

Crosswalk

INTERSECTING ROADWAY

y Line

Signs

Gate and Bollards

R5-23C

W5-6C 400' MIN. 1'-0" (TYP.)

W5-7C
Black Diamond Trail

Black Diamond Trail

Tr a i l R u l e s
Users stay to right Pass on left Stay on trail R e s p e c t a d j a c e n t p ro p e r t y Keep dogs on leash P ro p e r l y d i s p o s e o f d o g w a s t e

R1-1B

When the trail crosses roadways at an acute angle, trail alignm e n t should be adjusted to create a crossing perpendicular,or as cl o s e to perpendicular as possible to the roadway. Not only will this enhance visibility, but tight radii will slow down trail users as t h e y approach the intersection. It is important to maintain sight line s t o traffic control devices (gates and bollards) and signage for tra i l users approaching the intersection.

W2-15A

Figure V-19
85 PERCENTILE APPROACH SPEED (MILES PER HOUR)

Black Diamond Trail

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

Typical Intersection Treatment

Not to Scale Date: 4-02-02

ADVANCE POSTING DISTANCE (FEET)

200

260

355

450

545

640

735

830

920

1015

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways

ADVANCED POSTING DISTANCES FOR SIGNS

P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-115

PROPOSED GATE AND BOLLARD LAYOUT AT ROADWAY INTERSECTIONS

NOT TO SCALE

MATCH HINGE PIN FROM CATHARINE VALLEY GATE 8"X8" WOOD POST

8"X8" WOOD POST

Figure V-20

B l a c k D i a m o n d Tr a i l
Proposed Gate for Tr a i l / R o a d Intersections
Not to Scale Prepared by: Northeast Greenways Larsen Engineers Prepared for: New York Sta t e Office of Parks, Recreation a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes R e g i o n Date: 4-2-02

PROPOSED GATE - SECTION

NOT TO SCALE

V-116

Shrub Planting Along Trail Edge

The use of deciduous, native shrub materials is the preferred technique for providing trail screening for adjacent property owners. Suitable species such as viburnums and dogwoods should be planted 6' on center (+/-) as needed to create a visual barrier or supplement existing hedgerow planting.

P ost and R ail Fence

A post and rail fe n c e p r o v i d e s an attractive edg e t r e a t m e n t f o r the trail. While no t v i s u a l l y screening the tra i l o r a d j a c e n t properties, it sug g e s t s t o t r a i l users that they sh o u l d r e s p e c t adjacent private p r o p e r t i e s a n d stay on the trail.

Conifer Planting Along Trail Edge

Where a dense, year-round visual screen is requested, coniferous tree s including spruce and hemlock are recommended. Trees can be planted from 15' to 20' on center and can range in size from 3' to 7' in height at planting time. Where a dense screen is required a double row of trees or a more random planting pattern can be effective.

B arrier Fence

Where the trail is in close proximity to adjacent residences or other buildings a solid stockade fence is recommended to screen views for trail users and to preserve privacy for adjacent land owners. The fence should be at least 6' in height.

F i g u r e V- 2 1

Black Diamond Trail

S c r e e n i n g Te c h n i q u e s f o r Adjacent Properties
Not to Scale Date: 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yor k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-117

3'-0"

BDT SIGN
30

Black Diamond Trail

1'-6" 6" X 6" BLACK LOCUST POST CONCRETE FOOTER
CONCRETE OR WOOD POST

3'-0"

TWO-SIDED KIOSK

1'-6"

0'-6"

INTERPRETIVE SIGN

1.5 MI 2.25 KM

OPRHP LOGO

MILE MARKER

2'-3"

Black Diamond Trail

BDT SIGN

3'-0"

BDT SIGN

F i g u r e V- 2 2

Black Diamond Trail

Kiosk and Interpretive Sign Designs
0'-3" CONCRETE OR BLUESTONE BOULDER

Not to Scale

Date: 4-02-02

1'-6"

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n - F i n g e r L a k e s R eg i o n

FOUR-SIDED KIOSK

S M A L L U P R I G H T D I R E C TO RY

V-118

3'-0"

Black Diamond Trail

Black Diamond Trail

Black Diamond Trail

Black Diamond Trail

Tr a i l R u l e s
Users stay to right Pass on left Stay on trail Respect adjacent property Keep dogs on leash Properly dispose of dog waste

Taughannock Falls State Park Cayuga Nature Center Village of Tr u m a n s b u r g

Rout and Paint

6" WOOD POST

Black Diamond Trail

Concrete or Wood Post

TRAIL WELCOM E S I G N WITH REGULAT I O N S

T R A I L WAY F I N D I N G S I G N

TRAIL SERVICES

AUTO WAYFINDING SIGN

MILEAGE MARKER

F i g u r e V- 2 3

Black Diamond Trail

Tr a i l S i g n a g e
Not to Scale Date: 4-2-02

Prepared by: Northeast Greenways P r e p a r e d f o r : N e w Yo r k S t a t e O ff i c e o f P a r k s , R e c r e a t i o n a n d H i s t o r i c Preservation - Finger Lakes Region

V-119

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

V-120

CHAPTER VI
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS
Consistent with the intent of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), consideration of environmental impacts are required to evaluate project plan alternatives and select a preferred plan. This chapter presents the potential adverse impacts associated with the preferred plan for the Black Diamond Trail.

Introduction
With a history dating back to the early 1970s, many iterations of the Black Diamond Trail have been studied, presented, refined and advanced through the years. Through these multiple efforts, significant financial investments have been made by New York State agencies and local municipalities to advance the project. These investments have set the course for the trails location and as a result focus the alternatives discussion to a specific area in Tompkins County. The alternatives for the present development scenario of the Black Diamond Trail are presented and discussed in Chapters IV and V. Woven throughout Chapters III to V are discussions about the natural and cultural resources located within the Black Diamond Trail corridor and the significance they have in developing the trail. Overall the benefits of developing the Black Diamond Trail are expected to outweigh the adverse impacts of construction and operation of the multi-use, multi-purpose trail. The impacts that are expected will be mitigated through design and operation recommendations. The following sections summarize the short- and long-term adverse environmental impacts of the two primary alternatives for the trail - Status Quo and Preferred Draft Master Plan.

impacts of alternatives
The core reason or goal to pursue the Black Diamond Trail project through the years has been to develop a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility to link state parks, community resources and neighborhoods in Tompkins County. It has long been envisioned by all the groups involved in progressing the Black Diamond Trail that the facility would be separate from the area road system to encourage people with a wide range of skills and physical abilities to use alternate means of travel to reach multiple destinations within the county. As such, on-road alternatives for the main line of the Black Diamond Trail will not be considered viable for the trail and have not been included in this plan. Two primary options are presented as alternatives for the trail. Status Quo Preferred Draft Master Plan

Status Quo Alternative

This alternative consists of the current situation, no off-road, bicycle and pedestrian dedicated facility linking the four state parks, community resources and neighborhoods in Tompkins County. While this alternative would not result in any new additional adverse environmental impacts, long-term indirect adverse impacts will continue to exist.

VI-121

Many municipalities, governmental agencies and groups in Tompkins County have committed time and money to expand transportation options to residents including bicycle and pedestrian facilitites and to provide programs that improve the quality of life and health of county residents. Generally, the Black Diamond Trail could help decrease traffic volumes and air pollution by reducing the need to travel by automobile to or between community resources. The trail will also encourage healthy lifestyles by providing an alternate way for residents and visitors to move between popular trip destinations and a trail-based recreational resource dedicated to bicycles and pedestrians. Additionally, the approximately 226 acres that will be acquired specifically for trail use and placed under public ownership would be subject to other types of private development that could impact the natural and cultural resources that exist within the corridor.

Each segment can exist alone, but together provide a network that connects a significant number of destinations within Tompkins County. The following sections summarize the anticipated short- and long-term adverse impacts by resource category anticipated to result from implementing the Draft Master Plan.

The Natural Landscape

For the majority of the trail, the corridor selected is landscape that was previously used or disturbed for other uses such as managed lawn, flood control channel and railroad corridor. The choice to use these areas minimizes or eliminates the potential to impact plants and animals that are rare or locally significant or represent a native natural setting that is in danger of being compromised by residential and commerical development. With respect to the natural resources present in the corridor selected for the Black Diamond Trail, the permanent conversion of a vegetation ground cover to trail surfacing is an adverse impact. The two main categories of the natural landscape that will experience impacts from the conversion are ecological communities with the attendant plants and animals and surface-water resources. The area proposed to host the trail that will change most is between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks. This is the only area for a trail segment where a previously disturbed property is not available for trail development and includes ecological communities that historically have been eliminated or impacted by development. Table VI-76, on the following page, summarizes the ground surface alterations that will occur to develop the Black Diamond Trail. Over the course of the 15mile trail, approximately 16.3 acres of vegetation ground cover will be permanently altered to trail surface.

Preferred Draft Master Plan Alternative

The preferred alternative presented as the Draft Master Plan for the Black Diamond Trail is the combination of the recommended design elements to develop an off-road bicycle and pedestrian dedicated facility linking the four state parks in Tompkins County. While there are many positive benefits that will result from building and operating the trail, there are recognized short- and longterm adverse impacts that will result. The draft master plan, presented in Chapter V, considered the impacts on the natural and cultural resources located within the corridor recommending ways to avoid them when possible and when the resources could not be avoided proposing development and management options to mitigate impacts to the greatest extent practical. As presented in Chapter IV, three distinct landscapes are proposed for trail development that equate to the three separate trail segments Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls through the Cayuga Inlet Valley, Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman/ Cass Park through the City of Ithaca, and Allan H. Treman/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls following the abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor.

VI-122

TABLE VI-7 Ground Surface Changes

Acres To Be Converted

Trail Segment

Existing Ground Cover

Future Trail Surface

2.2 acres to compacted limestone dust .6 of an acre to asphalt Asphalt

Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls Main Line 0+000 to 12+300 Robert H. Treman Spur Trail

2.8 0.4

Second-growth Herbaceous and Shrub Species Managed Lawn Managed Lawn & Grass Trail Surface Second-growth Herbaceous and Shrub Species on Abandoned Rail Corridor Second-growth Herbaceous and Shrub Species on Abandoned Rail Corridor

Buttermilk Falls Spur Trail, South

0.5

Aphalt

Buttermilk Falls Spur Trail, North Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman/ Cass Park Main Line 12+300 to 15+000 Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman/ Cass Park Main Line 15+000 to 21+000 Buttermilk Falls to Allan H. Treman/ Cass Park Main Line 21+000 to 23+000 Allan H. Treman/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls 23+000 to 67+500

0.4

Asphalt

0.6

Asphalt

1.4

Managed Lawn Along Flood Control Channel

Asphalt

Asphalt Second-growth Herbaceous and Shrub Species on Abandoned Rail Corridor

Asphalt

10.2

Compacted Limestone Dust

Flora and Fauna While there are no rare, threatened or endangered plant or animals that will be impacted by the conversion of ground covers, some native species of wildlife may be displaced by the short- and long-term removal of vegetation. To mitigate the short-term impact of vegetation removal for trail construction, vegetation removed or cut back will be allowed to regenerate where it does not pose a hazard to trail users. In addition, wildlife may be impacted by an increase in noise generated by people traveling

along the trail. Selection of replacement plantings to supplement existing vegetation will be included in areas where a denser buffer will be a benefit to mitigating visual and sound impacts on wildlife. Floodplain Forest Within the trail corridor between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls, pockets of federallydesignated wetlands occur. While the wetland pockets will be avoided, trail construction will occur within two areas of floodplain forest. Longterm impacts are expected to occur through the alteration of the ground cover of approximately

VI-123

.5 of an acre of this community type. However, total impacts will be minimized by careful route placement determined by the consultant botanist. Water Resources The impact of converting natural ground covers to stonedust and asphalt will result in rain and snow-melt water sheeting off the trail treadway. For a significant portion of the trail, 10.7 miles, the choice of a compacted limestone-dust surface will mimimize sheeting of surface run-off. Though compacted, the limestone dust surface allows water to be absorbed into the surface. For trail sections that will be paved, a courser, more porous asphalt surface that allows water to move through the asphalt through larger pores can be installed to minimize sheeting. In addition, a minimum 2-footwide grass shoulders along the treadway will be maintained to slow run-off and serve as a filter for the run-off. Construction recommendations for the Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls segment through the Cayuga Inlet Valley include placing the trail at as close to existing grade as possible to maintain the existing natural flow of surface water through the area. In areas where fill may be necessary due to wetter conditions, construction practices and techniques to minimize or eliminate the affects of fill are recommended throughout the corridor including culverts and drainage swales.

a sub-surface inspection will be required to ensure that no relics are present and impacted. Agricultural and Community Resources In the present-day cultural landscape of the proposed trail, the issue that was raised most in the public, one-on-one, and stakeholder group meetings was the conversion of the abandoned railroad corridor that will be used for the trail segment linking Allan H. Treman/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls. This former transportation corridor has had little use for over forty years. The conversion to an actively travelled route will result in changes in the landscape for adjacent landowners. In particular, adjacent property owners are concerned about their potential lose of privacy and trail users trespassing on their property. These concerns were expressed by private homeowners and farmers. As outlined in Chapter V, several design techniques can be employed to mitigate the impact of the conversion of the former railroad corridor to a steadily travelled trail. At a minimum they include fencing, as illustrated below; property boundary posting; enhancing existing vegetation buffers between adjacent homes and farms; and orientation signs at all trailhead facilities.

The Cultural Landscape

Cultural resources in and along the trail corridor will provide a significant benefit to the Black Diamond Trail through an integrated interpretive/ educational program. Historic and present-day landscapes will be a part of the trail corridor, either directly or within the viewshed of the trail. Archaeological Resources An archaeological resource sensitivity study of the corridor identified the Cayuga Inlet Valley between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls as having a moderate to high probability of the presence of prehistoric resources. Prior to construction of the trail,
Fencing matching an adjacent landowners fence installed along the Finger Lakes Regions Catharine Valley Trail, in Schuyler and Chemung Counties, to separate trail and private property.

VI-124

In addition, OPRHP will need to employ important operational policies including maintaining accessible and responsive communications with adjacent property owners, establishing a trail patrol (volunteer and staff), and installing orientation signs giving information about the location of services and assistance for trail users. Tax Base The acquisition of property by the State of New York for the Black Diamond Trail will permanently remove the lands from the property tax roles of the towns and county hosting the trail project. Several acquisitions have occurred during the life of the trail project, starting in the early 1980s. As a result of the slow progression of the project, the areas tax base has not been signficantly impacted in any one fiscal year. In addition, positive support of the trail project has been expressed by the Towns of Ithaca and Ulysses, City of Ithaca and Tompkins County, all noting the positive benefits the trail will bring to the health of residents, reduction in traffic and increase tourism appeal of the area. These positive outcomes of the trail can help offset the reduction in the property tax assessment role.

Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources

Implementing the Master Plan for the Black Diamond Trail will result in committing public resources, including money, labor and materials, to construction and long-term operation and maintenance of the trail facility.

Growth Inducement
Communities across the country now include the presence of bicycle and pedestrian dedicated trails in their list of attributes to encourage and entice industry and commerical business to locate or expand facilities to their geographic region. The Black Diamond Trail is viewed by governmental officials and tourism professionals in Tompkins County as a facility that will contribute to the appeal of the area as a place to live and visit. While the trail will not be the sole reason business leaders and people choose to locate or remain in the area, it will build upon other initiatives underway in the County. As such, the Black Diamond Trail is expected to contribute to Tompkins Countys appeal for business expansion and recreational visitation to Tompkins County and the Finger Lakes State Parks Region. The trail has been listed as a component or project in many other plans proposed in Tompkins County. As such, growth inducement impacts will continue to be weighed and studied as other projects are proposed along the trail corridor.

Unavoidable Adverse Effects

Of the adverse effects that will result from developing the Black Diamond Trail the long-term permanent loss of vegetation that will be replaced with compacted limestone dust and asphalt is the primary unavoidable effect of the project. Short-term unadvoidable adverse effects will occur during construction of the trail. Noise from construction equipment and dust emissions are the two main areas that will be present during construction. With respect to dust, if weather conditions are excessively dry, the trail corridor can be watered down to minimize dust emissions.

Supplemental Environmental Review

Overall, the Draft Master Plan/EIS for the Black Diamond Trail outlines specific trail locations and development details and the environmental impacts expected for the trails construction, operation and maintenance. Two of the three trail segment

VI-125

locations are clearly defined, the third - the leg between Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls, will require further field analysis with respect to potential impacts to archaeological resources. If the outcome of the field investigation requires trail relocation which would change impacts to the natural resources, a site-specific additional or supplemental environmental impact analysis will be conducted by OPRHP. Spur trail proposed by OPRHP and other public and private entities will require supplemental environmental impact analysis by the sponsoring entity.

VI-126

CHAPTER VII
COMMENTS AND RESPONSES
The Black Diamond Trail project, and its many iterations over the past 30 years, has been the subject of several public information meetings. On November 21, 2007, a draft master plan for the trail project was finally released for public review and comment. The following chapter presents the summary of public comment and the responses from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Introduction
The Draft Master Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Black Diamond Trail was released for public comment and review from November 21, 2007 to January 15, 2008. Two public workshops and public hearings were held on December 5th and 6th, 2007 respectively. By the close of the comment period, 146 people submitted either oral or written comments on the proposed trail plan. A list of the persons and organizations providing comments is contained at the end of this chapter. The two public workshops and hearings were well attended. At the December 5th session, 99 people registered with 33 attendees speaking during the public hearing component of the evening. At the December 6th session, 100 people registered with 37 attendees providing an oral comment. The oral comments were recorded and transcribed by a court reporting service for OPRHP. The OPRHP received 120 letters and e-mails from interested people and organizations. Comments received included general statements of support or opposition, corrections or updates to the master plan text, requests for clarification on design and operation proposals and specific comments on trail location and infrastructure. All comments, both written and oral, were reviewed, summarized and organized by their relationship to the chapters and subsections of the master plan.

This section of the master plan presents a summary of the comments and OPRHPs responses to these comments. The Final Master Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) includes revisions as noted in the responses to comments. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation values the time and input given by persons interested in the proposed Black Diamond Trail project. Public input ensures that the future implementation of the trail project contributes in a positive way to the Tompkins County areas recreational and transportation opportunities.

response to comments General - Comments of Support

A significant number of comments, provided orally and in writing, expressed general support for the trail project and encouraged OPRHP to move forward with implementation and construction. The following list summarizes the reasons of support for the trail project. A beautiful path linking the equally beautiful parks. With rising gas prices, trail gives people an alternative way to travel. Will encourage people to get out to exercise in a safe environment.

VII-129

Low costs associated with participating in outdoor activity - the cost of a pair of shoes. Asset for Tompkins County tourism - will encourage more people to visit. Name supports area railroad history. Supports a cleaner environment. Appreciated by the non-car-owning population in Tompkins County. Will make family bicycling trips safer. Asset for bicyclists who do not want to use roads and highways. Will enhance the quality of life in area. Good resource for runners. Business owners will benefit. Money spent on trail is a plus to help keep the population healthy. Trail secures a corridor that could be used for some other transportation mode in the future. Trail development will eliminate illicit land trespassing and encroachments on adjacent private property. Great resource for community events, fundraisers. Provides an opportunity to educate young people about the natural resources in the area. Supports a sustainable way to move around the community. Positive addition for seniors with physical limitations.

Parents and grandparents also noted that they look forward to being able to take their children to a safe environment to ride bicycles. Response: Noted. Comment: Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Plan The Black Diamond Trail supports the Transportation Councils long-term plan for a multi-modal transportation system. Response: Noted. Comment: Finger Lakes Trail The Black Diamond Trail will afford the Cayuga Lakes Trail Club the opportunity to develop loop trails to the other state and city park facilities in Tompkins County. Response: OPRHP looks forward to working with other trail groups to expand trail-based recreational opportunities in the Finger Lakes Region.

Chapter III - Environmental Setting and Existing Conditions Local Setting

Chapter II - Guiding Principles Goals and Objectives

Comment: Trail as a transportation corridor Several oral and written comments were received noting that people will use the trail as a transportation corridor between their residences and work or school. Response: Noted. Comment: Safe Resource for Bicycling There were many comments regarding the value of the trail to cyclists in the area who use their bikes for both transportation and recreation and do not want to ride on the busy road system. Comment: Hogs Hole Wetland Understands that the Hogs Hole wetland in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park is a DEC wetland and is confused why it says in the draft master plan that its designation is to be investigated (on pg. III-18). Response: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation determined in 1991 that the Hog Hole wetland area in Allan H. Treman State Marine Park should be designated as state regulated wetland. The NYSDEC noted that the area should be placed on the regulatory map, a process that requires a public comment period. To date, the NYSDEC has not completed the formal process. The text on page III-18 of the master plan has been amended to clarify the status.

VII-130

Comment: Fire Protection On page III-31, it says that the Black Diamond Trail will get fire protection from the Town and City of Ithaca. The Town of Ithaca contracts with the City of Ithaca for fire protection and does not provide it directly. Response: Noted. The text has been corrected.

Response: OPRHP will be a part of the planning process for the Gateway Trail. It is noted that the surface decision for the Gateway Trail has not be made. Page IV-48 of the master plan has been corrected to reflect this comment. Comment: Trail Surface Materials The trail surface materials should be matched to the terrain, particularly considering erosion issues. Response: The majority of the trail will be surfaced with compacted limestone dust which allows absorption of water under most precipitation conditions. Where an asphalt surface is recommended, vegetated swales will be constructed along the trail edges to collect and filter run-off. Comment: Trail Surface for Multiple Uses The trail should be developed with different trail surfaces for different users. Runners prefer softer surfaces like grass. Equestrians also prefer a softer surface. Response: The majority of the trail treadway will be surfaced with compacted limestone dust. This surface material is softer than asphalt, yet meets the guidelines for accessibility for physicallychallenged individuals. The trail design also calls for two-foot wide grass or natural vegetation shoulders along each side of the trail. Where the shoulders will be maintained by regular mowing, e.g. in the urban area, runners can use the shoulders rather than the stone-dust surface. Equestrian use of the trail will be evaluated as construction progresses. The safest trail facility to include equestrian use involves developing a parallel, separated trail corridor for horses. The width of the abandoned rail corridor may not provide the adequate space to develop an equestrian trail facility.

Chapter IV - Analysis and Alternatives Resource Analysis

Comment: Trail Use and Hunting Hunting occurs on lands adjacent to the trail, particularly related to the trail between Ithaca and Trumansburg. Trails users will disrupt game species. Also trail users may not be safe using the trail during hunting seasons. Response: The OPRHP operates many facilities where trails and hunting coexist. Hunting season posters will be installed at all trailheads and access points related to the Black Diamond Trail to inform the public that hunting does occur on adjacent private property. Comment: Temporary Trail Closures Parks & Trails New York works with many trail organizations across New York State and it has been the organizations experience that trails do not need to be closed during hunting seasons or when agricultural lands are being treated with pesticides. Response: Noted.

Trail Alternatives
Comment: Paved Spur Trail around Buttermilk Falls State Park The plan recommends that the trail system, main line and spurs, around Buttermilk Falls State Park be paved to match up with the developing Gateway Trail. The decision on the surface material for the Gateway Trail has not been decided.

VII-131

Comment: Motorized Vehicle Use A number of comments were received requesting that all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles not be allowed to use the trail for safety and trail-user experience issues. Reasons for not allowing the use included speed of operation vs. slow moving walkers and skiers, noise and fumes disrupting a peaceful, quiet walk or ride, and noise disrupting the quiet that adjoining private residents enjoy. Response: OPRHP does not allow all-terrain vehicle use on property under its jurisdiction. Snowmobiles are allowed to use state park property in designated areas. Snowmobile use of the Black Diamond Trail will be limited to a short portion of the trail that passes through the west area of Taughannock Falls State Park. The specific area is to allow use of the old railroad bridge over Taughannock Creek which would remove the snowmobile traffic off Jacksonville Road and the narrow road bridge over Taughannock Creek. In addition, trail projects funded by the Federal Transportation Enhancements Program prohibit motor vehicle use of a facility built for pedestrian and bicycles with the exception of use for maintenance purposes; snowmobiles, when snow conditions and state and local regulations permit; motorized wheelchairs; and electric bicycles, when state and local regulations permit. (Federal Law 23 USC 217) Comment: Allow Some Snowmobile Use The Tompkins County Sheriff encouraged OPRHP to allow snowmobile use in areas that would improve traffic safety, particularly where there are narrow shoulders along local roads. Response: Snowmobile use of the Black Diamond Trail will be limited to a short portion of the trail that passes through the west area of Taughannock Falls State Park. The specific area is to allow use of the old railroad bridge over Taughannock Creek which would remove the snowmobile traffic off

Jacksonville Road and the narrow road bridge over Taughannock Creek. This allowance has been more specifically defined in the master plan on pages IV-44, IV-49 and V-79. Comment: Trail Amenities The trail mentions some support facilities for trail users, but could a warming hut for cross-country skiers be considered, possibly at the Cayuga Nature Center? Response: The OPRHP will monitor trail use over time to determine whether and where additional support facilities will improve the experience of trail users. At this time, the plan does not include warming huts or shelters. Comment: Equestrian Use Consideration should be given to allowing horseback riders to use portions of the trail. Response: OPRHP will continue to explore the potential for allowing equestrian use of segments of the trail, particularly the segment between Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls where it is a more suitable setting for such use. Combining equestrian use with bicycling and walking is most successful when horses can be accommodated on a separate trail corridor. The limiting factor to including equestrian use on the Black Diamond Trail is the narrow width of the former railroad bed. Comment: Trail Width There were several comments on the trail width. Generally, there is interest in keeping it as narrow as safe for multiple uses so as to retain and preserve the natural character of the corridor. There was also recognition that there is the need to find a middle ground for trail width to fit all activities, specifically skiing and snowmobiling, where allowed. The caption for the photo SP 44+500, on page V-86, notes a 16-foot horizontal clearance.

VII-132

Response: The actual travel way width of the trail as proposed is 10 feet. This is the minimum width recommended by AASHTO and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy for a trail that will accommodate walking and bicycling. Two-foot wide grass or natural vegetation shoulders are proposed on either side of the trail to maintain a safe horizontal clearance. The caption for SP 44+500 has been amended to 14 feet, which includes the width of the 10-foot-wide treadway and 2-foot-wide vegetation shoulders on each side of the trail.

Comment: Trail Corridor The plan notes that parcels still need to be acquired to complete the trail corridor, but the reader cannot easily evaluate the significance of the missing pieces. Response: The parcels that still need to be acquired are denoted on the master plan maps, MP1 through MP-6. The parcels yet to be acquired are located in the Robert H. Treman to Buttermilk Falls and Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls segments.

Chapter V - Trail Master Plan General Design Comments

Comment: Other Bridge Structures The City of Ithaca moth-balled pieces of an old truss bridge removed during the Octopus (Routes 79, 96, 89) reconstruction project. OPRHP should consider using the bridge for one of the stream crossings identified in the plan. Response: OPRHP will share the information with the bridge design consultants. Comment: Bridge Design

Design Criteria
Comment: Handicap access There should be multiple access points for handicapped people along a suitable trail. Response: The OPRHP will develop the Black Diamond Trail to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities. Access points will be provided where it is safe and provide adequate space to develop the parking area required by ADA guidelines.

Trail Plan
OPRHP should consider using local artists to help design aesthetic elements into the trail that celebrate the local culture. Response: Noted. Comment: Visual Design of Trail Create meanders in the trail to enhance visual aesthetics. Use shrubs and keep existing vegetation to enhance the aesthetics. Response: OPRHP will consider the suggestion and incorporate curves in the trail where it does not create an unsafe condition and the landscape allows for an alteration. The two trails are shown on the master plan maps but there appears to be an unexplained link between the two trails. Response: The OPRHP, the Town of Ithaca and the City of Ithaca are partnering on the development of the Gateway Trail. The trail segment between the Black Diamond Trail main line and the Gateway Bridge is under the jurisdiction of the OPRHP and will be part of the Gateway Trail.

Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park

Comment: Black Diamond Trail and Gateway Trail Link

VII-133

Comment: Update Photo SP 11+800 on Page V-59 The property shown in Photo SP 11+800 has more second-growth vegetation now than when the photo was taken. Response: Noted. A new photo will be inserted. Comment: Condition of Cayuga Inlet Banks. There is significant erosion along the banks of the Cayuga Inlet near the intersection with Buttermilk Creek. The conditions causing the erosion should be remedied before the trail is constructed or the public funds investment will be wasted. The sediment deposited by the erosion is impacting the Cayuga Inlet Flood Control Channel depth downstream toward Cayuga Lake. Response: OPRHP will work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to determine the appropriate approach to the erosion problem. This issue also exists on the lands south between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park. Comment: West Buttermilk Falls Road Trail users traveling north from Robert H. Treman may attempt to use West Buttermilk Falls Road to reach the day-use are of Buttermilk Falls State Park. The falls themselves are visible from the road location. Response: Trail users traveling north from Robert H. Treman State Park to Buttermilk Falls State Park will be directed off the main line of the trail before reaching the West Buttermilk Falls Road area. Users coming from Robert H. Treman will use a trail through the Larch Meadows area of the park to reach the day-use area. Trail users coming south from the City of Ithaca and other points to the north will be directed to use the Gateway Trail and bridge over N.Y.S. Route 13 to reach Buttermilk Falls State Park prior to reaching the West Buttermilk Falls Road intersection. A warning sign will be placed on the gate at the end

of West Buttermilk Falls Road directing trail users to the Gateway Bridge crossing. The need to install a warning sign at this location has been added to the plan on page V-57. Comment: Gateway Bridge The trail segment map for the trail segment between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park notes that the Gateway Bridge is to be constructed. The bridge is complete. Response: Figure MP-2 is corrected.

Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park
Comment: Trail Bridge over Flood Control Channel Discussion of the aesthetics of the trail bridge over the Flood Control Channel in the City of Ithaca should happen early in the design process and funding for a visually pleasing bridge allocated. It should be more than a utilitarian structure as it will be located along the emerging publicly accessible waterfront in the city. The master plan should include a recommendation to build an aesthetically pleasing trail. Response: Text recommending that an aesthetically pleasing bridge be designed for the Flood Control Channel crossing has been added to the master plan in the discussion of the trail segment connecting Buttermilk Falls State Park to Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park on page V-69. Comment: Cornell Railroad Historical Society Assistance. Members of the Cornell Railroad Historical Society are willing to provide assistance is developing interpretive material about the history of the Lehigh Valley Railroads Black Diamond passenger train. Response: Noted.

VII-134

Comment: Southwest Area Trail Route Alternative The alternate route on Figure V-8 should be pursued in conjunction with the proposed new southwest neighborhood development being explored by the City of Ithaca. This route would provide the new neighborhood with a direct access to the Black Diamond Trail. Response: Future spur links to the Black Diamond Trail will be encouraged and OPRHP is committed to work with partners to expand access to the Black Diamond Trail. The major obstacle to building the alternative shown in Figure V-8 is the construction of a new, at-grade pedestrian crossing across the active Norfolk-Southern Rail line. It is the intent of OPRHP to join with the City of Ithaca, the Town of Ithaca and the IthacaTompkins County Transportation Council, with assistance of the State and Federal elected officials, to engage Norfolk-Southern Railroad in a dialog regarding accommodating bicycle and pedestrian crossings where needed for efficient movement of travelers on foot and bicycle.

of the property would have to be granted by Cayuga Medical Center. It is not OPRHPs intent to develop a trailhead in this area. The master plan map MP-3 has been updated to clarify the relationship of the road with Cayuga Medical Center. Comment: Snowmobile Use to Enhance Local Clubs Trail System The Twin Lakes Snowmobile Club requested that OPRHP consider allowing the club to use portions of the Black Diamond Trail corridor to improve connections between their trail system they maintain on private property. Response: OPRHP considered the request made by the club earlier in the plan development process. OPRHP has identified a segment of the trail that would allow the club safer access between their trail system by allowing use of the existing bridge crossing of the Taughannock Creek east of Jacksonville Road. This opportunity for snowmobile use is included in the master plan for the Black Diamond Trail. The remainder of the trail passes very close to residential property and it will not be appropriate to allow snowmobile use due to noise and some late-night hours of the clubs activities. Comment: Cayuga Nature Center

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park/Cass Park to Taughannock Falls State Park
Comment: Emergency/Maintenance Access near Cayuga Medical Center An emergency access road to the trail (road with no name) is shown on the map plan in the area of Indian Creek Road and the written document refers to it as a road for maintenance and operations purposes. The road is used by neighbors during the summer to walk. Concern was expressed that this could become another trailhead, thus increasing traffic in the neighborhood. Response: The road referred to is located on Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca, Inc. property and was the access road to the boiler plant that served the old hospital complex. OPRHP identified this existing road as a potential access point for emergency services and maintenance access only. This point of access would provide an interim access along this 3.5-mile stretch of trail that is unbroken by any road crossings. OPRHP use

The Cayuga Nature Center will directly benefit by linking the Centers trail system to the Black Diamond Trail and will work with OPRHP to develop and manage a trailhead on the Centers property. Response: Noted. OPRHP looks forward to working with the Cayuga Nature Center to enhance and expand opportunities to share information and appreciation of the natural resources of the area. Comment: Trailhead at the Cayuga Nature Center The location of the trailhead on Cayuga Nature Center property is in an area that is not densely populated. The adjacent property owners are concerned about OPRHPs ability to police and

VII-135

maintain the area. The area would also discourage people from starting their trips from the state park facilities. Lighting the area would not be acceptable to the neighborhood. The installation of a bathroom facility that requires the use of water would impact the local aquifer. If Porta-Johns are used they will be an eye-sore and generate unwanted truck traffic on the rural residential road. Response: The mileage between bathroom facilities on the segment of trail between Allan H. Treman/Cass Park and Taughannock Falls State Park is approximately 8.5 miles. It is the experience of OPRHP on other trail facilities that the availability of bathrooms along longer stretches of trail are desired by trail users. OPRHP will work with the Cayuga Nature Center to determine if there are other options to provide trail users with a bathroom that would lessen the impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Comment: Bison Farm An adjacent property is being developed to host a bison farm. Property for the enterprise is located on both sides of the trail. Concern is raised that trail users will harass the bison or potentially release the animals, views of the bison from the trail will diminish the owners ability to market on-site farm tours, trash receptacles for the trail will result in the bison challenging the fence or create a fly infestation problem, and trail establishment will restrict the property owners from moving between their property that is located on both sides of the OPRHP property. Response: The OPRHP is committed to working with adjacent property owners to design and operate the trail to minimize impacts to the use and enjoyment of the adjacent private properties. Agency staff will meet and work with the owners of the bison farm to ensure design elements are built into the trail project that protect both the property owner and trail users from undesirable interactions. Page V-84 of the plan references the bison farm operation and the need to coordinate with the owners/operators.

Comment: Trail Splits Adjacent Property Where a farm crossing exists and is used several times in a day, who is liable if an accident occurs between a trail user and an adjacent property owner? Response: A traffic safety sign system will be installed where the trail intersects with an adjacent property owners crossing as is similar to the trail and road crossing situation. Accidents between trail users and adjacent owners would have to be evaluated pursuant to the law on a case by case basis. A notation addressing the sign issue for this specific crossing has been added to master plan map MP-5. Comment: Culvert maintenance There are many culverts along the old railroad corridor between Ithaca and Trumansburg that are currently not maintained causing flood damage to adjacent property and need to be replaced. Response: Rehabilitating and in some cases reestablishing the drainage system constructed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad will be one of the first construction related activities that the OPRHP will pursue following the adoption of the master plan. The OPRHP has responded to adjacent owners telephone calls alerting the agency to culvert problems and will continue to do so. Comment: Trail Placement Near Private Residential Property An adjacent owner at the northern end of the Allan H. Treman to Taughannock Falls section of the trail where it enters the Village of Trumansburg is concerned about alignment of the trail and would like to be involved with the creation to be sure that their interests are protected. The trail corridor is very close to their residence. They have proposed in past discussions with OPRHP ending the trail in the northeastern side of Grove Cemetery. They would like to know if their idea was taken into consideration and would like the end point to be well thought out.

VII-136

Response: The OPRHP acknowledges the existing condition associated with this private property. As noted in the master plan, OPRHP intends to expand the discussion of the connection to the Village of Trumansburg with the Village of Trumansburg and the Town of Ulysses before a final option is selected. To more effectively serve the population of the Village of Trumansburg, the potential to have more than one spur trail connection from the village to the Black Diamond Trail should be explored and will be the focus of a joint planning project with the two municipalities. The OPRHP, however reserves the option to use the abandoned rail corridor adjacent to this property. Graphic V-17, page V-104, has been added to the master plan to represent the potential alternative to add an additional route along this spur to the Village of Trumansburg to minimize the impact to the adjacent owner.

with the City of Ithaca to define the extent of snow clearing that will occur on sections located within the city limits. Comment: Trail Users Fee Motorized recreational vehicles must pay a registration fee or user fee to use state parks. Trail users should have to pay a fee as well. This is an expensive project for a few people. Response: OPRHP provides opportunities for a wide variety of recreational activities. Not all activities have a user fee. The OPRHP will encourage the establishment of a Friends of the Black Diamond Trail group that can raise funds through membership and events that can to help maintain trail infrastructure. Comment: Safety and Security

Operation, Management and Maintenance

Comment: Trail Etiquette Multi-use trails do have safety drawbacks if all the users do not know and follow trail etiquette. It will be important to address this issue in the planning stage by building in educational and safety elements. Response: The OPRHP will install orientation signage at all trail access points that will include trail etiquette along with rules and regulations for using the trail. The section of the master plan on page V-106 addressing this issue has been expanded to clarify how the OPRHP will manage the multi-use issue. Comment: Cross-country Skiing The trail should not be plowed in the winter to accommodate cross-country ski use. Response: OPRHP expects to operate the trail as an all-season facility. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing will be encouraged on the trail. OPRHP does not intend to plow sections of the trail outside the urban area. OPRHP will work There are some stretches of the trail that are long and do not have immediate access from a nearby road. What consideration is being given to law enforcement and security for adjacent private property owners? Response: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy studies and correspondence with trail operators cross the country regarding criminal use of trails to burglarize homes and businesses finds that little to no activity of this nature is associated with multiuse trails. OPRHP will employ its New York State Park Police and Park Rangers to patrol the trail corridor to deter illicit use. Comment: Trail Access by Emergency Vehicles How will other law enforcement agencies and emergency responders be given access to the trail? Response: OPRHP works closely with police and emergency responders to ensure that the agencies have access to the keyed security gates systems located in state parks. This policy will continue for access to the keyed gate system for the Black Diamond Trail as noted on page V-108 of the master plan.

VII-137

Comment: Tripartite Agreement A copy of the agreement should be included as an appendix. Considerable time has passed since the agreement was signed. New people at the Town of Ithaca and City of Ithaca will be involved with coordinating implementation of responsibilities. Response: A copy of the agreement will be added as an appendices. Comment: Trail Maintenance What is the projected annual maintenance cost for the trail? Who will be responsible for maintaining the trail and trailheads. Response: The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has collected information from trail operators across the country regarding maintenance and operations costs. On average, non-asphalt surfaced trails require $1,500 per mile annually to maintain. OPRHP will be the primary entity responsible for maintenance. A Friends group will also be encouraged to develop that can assist OPRHP with day-to-day maintenance activities, thus potentially reducing the budget amount the OPRHP will need to maintain the trail. Comment: Dogs Off Leash Dogs allowed to run off leash will be a problem for adjacent landowners. Response: OPRHPs rules and regulations require dog owners to have their dogs under their control at all times on a leash no longer than 6 feet. This rule will be enforced on the Black Diamond Trail. Comment: Dogs on Trail Trail users who bring their dogs impact other users, particularly bicyclists. Response: All trail users are responsible to follow trail etiquette which will be posted at all trailheads and periodically along the way. The OPRHP will encourage a Friends of the Black Diamond Trail group to develop and implement a Trail Stewards

program. Stewards will assist OPRHP to ensure that trail users do not unduly impact other users enjoyment of the trail. OPRHP staff, including park maintenance, security and Park Police, will also be on the trail managing the use. Comment: Parking Along Roadways People will likely park along the roads where the trail crosses to access shorter segments of the trail. This situation will be most relevant to the trail segment between Allan H. Treman and Taughannock Falls where the trail crosses several county and town roads. This will cause unsafe situations along these roads. How will OPRHP handle this? Response: Providing an adequate number of trailheads along the route of a multi-use trail helps to reduce the need for trail users to park along roadways to access shorter segments of trails. OPRHP will also work with the local municipality to post No Parking areas and enforce the posted areas with New York State Park Police patrols, if necessary. Comment: Garbage cleanup Garbage clean up is necessary as there is a lot of trash along the trail. Response: Illegal dumping occurred on the abandoned rail corridor during the years prior to OPRHPs ownership. As part of the trail development, garbage will be removed and disposed of properly. A system of gates and bollards will be installed at all road crossings eliminating the opportunity for illicit dumping on state parks land. Comment: Access Hours Limit trail access to daylight hours. Response: The trail will be used by people for recreation and transportation. The recommended hours of operation for the trail will be the same as other state park facilities which is dawn to dusk. Use beyond the time limits as it relates to

VII-138

transportation movement will be monitored and hours of use adjusted if needed.

Comment: Tompkins County Support The Tompkins County Public Works Department is willing to assist with resources to get the trail under construction. Response: Noted.

Implementation
Comment: Trail Plan Implementation Many oral and written comments were made regarding the long time frame of the construction plan for the trail. Suggestions were made that OPRHP should break down the construction of the trail into smaller sections and develop them to a level that would allow some use of the corridors over a shorter time frame (1 to 2 years) rather than the time frame indicated in the plan (5 to 7 years). Response: OPRHP will make sections of the trail corridor available for some use by the public as sections are cleared and drainage and bridge structures repaired. A paragraph with the recommendation to open the trail to some use in a less-than-finished condition was added on page V-110. Comment: Construction Assistance from Local Community Resources The OPRHP should look to the local community to assist in completing construction activities that could open segments of the trail for some public use before the trail is complete with all the detailed amenities. There are many volunteers, from residents to businesses, who are willing to contribute to the trails construction that could decrease the need to use public funds. For example, the Cornell Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers has offered to design or build bridges and culverts. Response: The OPRHP values community assistance and will follow up on working with groups identified during the public comment period for the draft master plan. The discussion of funding sources, starting on page V-111, has been amended to include a Local Community Assistance category.

Comment: Trail Construction Phasing Several comments requested that construction begin on the trail segment that will link Trumansburg to Ithaca. Response: It is the intention of OPRHP to implement the trail in phases. Phase 1 will be construction of the trail linking Allan H. Treman State Marine Park to Taughannock Falls State Park, which will construct the majority of the trail link between the communities of Trumansburg and Ithaca. The implementation schedule is located on page V-110.

Cost Estimate
Comment: Appropriate use of Federal and State transportation funds. The money to be spent on the trail should go to up keep of the existing park facilities and the state and interstate highway systems. Response: Noted. Resolving the debate on how funds for government sponsored programs should be spent, i.e. roads versus parks and trails, is beyond the scope of this project.

VII-139

Chapter VI - Environmental Impact Analysis

Comment: Privacy of Adjacent Owners Several adjacent property owners noted their concern that trail users will trespass onto their property interfering with their privacy. Response: The OPRHP is committed to work with the adjacent landowners to build elements into the trail design (e.g. fences, additional vegetation plantings) and management that best suit the individual property owners issues and interface with the trail. Comment: Wildlife Developing the trail through relatively undeveloped areas will disrupt wildlife. Response: OPRHPs experience as an operator of hundreds of miles of trails across the State of New York is that trails and wildlife can exist together.

VII-140

Persons/Organizations Who Provided Comments

Name Greg Potter John Coggin Marilyn Kane Tom Myers Victoria Armstrong Will Burbank Joe McMahon John Schroeder Martha F. Ferger Joanna Cummings Jebediah D. Mead Lesley Greene Jan Zeserson Andrea Dutcher Ed Marx David Elliott Diana Ozolins Daniel Touranee Quinn Thomas Ian Golden Tob de Boer Fay Gougakis Fernando de Aragon Gay Nicholson Catherine McCarthy Melissa Garrett Ed Hart Andre Ozolins Pam Mackesey Legislator District 1 Tompkins County Legislature\ Title Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Resident Resident/Councilman Resident Pedestrian Chair Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Biking Enthusiast Commissioner Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Local Running Community Owner Member Resident Bicyclist Director Program Coordinator Resident Resident Resident Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Sustainable Tompkins Finger Lakes Running Company Cayuga Nordic Ski Club Planning & Public Works Tompkins County City of Ithaca Planning & Development Board Town of Ithaca Organization

VII-141

Name Scott Sherwood James and Rita Brown Marvin Pritts Ian A. Merwin Regis Carver Andy Yale Krys Cail Herb Engman Roxanne Marino Dolores Higareda Janice Plante Donald Wilson David A. Tyler Bruce Rich Warren Brown Ashley Miller Eugene Endres Bruce John Harriet H. Sutherland and Richard Welch David Holmberg Tim and Patricia Wach Sandra B. Hill Peter D. Burgevin Jason Koski Connor Burgevin George E. Reynolds Joe Burns Dan Clement Robert Thomas Bill Fearn

Title Owner President Resident Trail Neighbor Vice President Resident, Owner Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Cyclist Resident Member Resident Resident Resident Resident Historian/Editor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident

Organization Spruce Row Campground Twin Lakes Snowmobile Club Board of Directors, Cayuga Nature Center Black Diamond Farm

Town of Ulysses Comprehensive Plan Update Committee

Cornell Railroad Historical Society

VII-142

Name Sharon Bilotta-Withiam Richard Leed Rachael Richards Barbara Page Lucia Tyler Brendan OBrien Edward Sidote Michelle Matro Patricia Bennett Riddle Christine Tonitto Tim Logue Rob Licht Andrew Moore and Cori Vogel John Hamilton Margot Brinn Tommy Beers David Kreinick Gary Hodges Jon Cheetham Lanny Joyce Margo Alexander Judy Burns Elizabeth Thomas Celeste Withiam Thomas Withiam Steven Powell Christine Porter Peter Feitner Linda Waymire Felix Naschold Jonathan Bernstein Denise and David Kooperman

Title Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Resident Councilperson Resident Member Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident City Transportation Engineer Resident Residents Trail Neighbors Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident (8-yr old) Resident (10-yr old) Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Residents Trail Neighbor

Organization

Town of Ulysses Finger Lakes Trail Conference

City of Ithaca

VII-143

Name James W. Hamilton Joan Lawrence Chris Proulx Varya Siegel Robert OConnor Brendan OBrien Christina Tonitto Todd Miner David Means Thomas J. Reimers Mary Weiss-Andersson Cally Arthur Michelle Bamberger Amy Bukowski Nancy Almann Rob and Amanda Champion David Henderson Barbara DeWall Marilyn Bush Shirley and Bill McAneny Don Oliver Donn Carroll Ellen Z. Harrison John DeVivo Diane Florini Gail Steinhart Deborah Jones Roger A. Hopkins Marilyn Kane Johanna Stebbins John M. Andersson Jeff Bateman

Title Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Executive Director Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Residents Resident Resident Resident Residents Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident President

Organization

Cornell Outdoor Education

Cayuga Trails Club

VII-144

Name Kristen Letourneau Susan McCutcheon Susan P. Ashdown Dan Fuller David Ruppert Dave and Cheryl Allen Heinz and Anna Riederer Brenda Smith Sandy Wold Herman Sieverding Michael Ludgate Michael Meador Pam Gueldner Jack Rueckheim Samantha Roberts Merle and Carolyn Stillions Bob Riter Carol Whitlow Ken Zeserson Lois Chaplin Linda Westlake Laurel McIntyre Judy Abrams Mark Holochuck Ken Walkup Steve Gabriel Richard and Maureen Vogt John and Carol Wilson Richard George John and Joyce Wootton John D. Powers

Title Resident Specialist in Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities Resident Resident Environmental Engineer 2 President Residents Residents Resident Resident President Resident Resident Resident and Business Owner President Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Land Use Manager Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident Residents Resident Trail Neighbor

Organization Ithaca Youth Bureau

N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation Finger Lakes Cycling Club

Cayuga Triathlon Club

Cayuga Nordic Ski Club

Cayuga Nature Center

VII-145

Name Warren A. Brown Mike Baehre Kent Johnson Greg and Tammy Reynolds Peter Meskill Nancy Cusumano J. L. Mulrooney Andrew M. Frank Ari Kissiloff Barbara Hotchkiss David Kay George R. Frantz A. Martin Petrovic, John Hrubbs, David Filiberto, Rordan Hart, Christopher Thomas Mary Michael Shelley Fred Bonn Robin Dropkin Lisa Nicholas Jennifer Dotson Maria Coles Steve and Rosanne Lahr Barbara Anger Lesley Greene Jules and Patti Burgevin Marian Mumford Henry Curtin Spencer

Title Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Trail Neighbors Sheriff Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Trail Neighbor Resident Resident

Organization

Tompkins County

Mayor, Trustee, Trustee, Trustee, Village of Trumansburg Board Trustee Resident Director Executive Director Planner Alderwoman, First Ward Alderwoman, First Ward Residents Resident Resident Resident Resident Resident Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau Parks & Trails New York City of Ithaca City of Ithaca City of Ithaca

VII-146

Bibliography
Flink, Charles A., Kristine Olka, Robert M. Searns. Trails for the Twenty-First Century: Planning, Design, and Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails. Second Edition. Washington, D.C., Island Press and Rails-toTrails Conservancy, 2001. Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council. 2025 Long Range Transportation Plan. Ithaca, New York. Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council, 2004. McClennen, Jr., Alan. The Minuteman Trail: Lessons From Maturity. Presented at the International Trails and Greenways Conference, June 27, 2003. Morris, Hugh. Rail-Trails and Liability: A Primer on Trail-Related Liability Issues & Risk Management Techniques. Washington, D.C. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, September 2000. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Conserving Open Space in New York State: Plan & Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Albany, New York, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 1995. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. New York State Open Space Conservation Plan: Plan & Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Albany, New York, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 2006. New York State Department of Transportation. Scoping Procedures Manual, Appendix I, Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Scoping Guide. Albany, New York, New York State Department of Transportation, Corridor Planning and Project Scoping Seciton, 1995. New York State Department of Transportation. Highway Design Manual: Chapter 17, Bicycle Facility Design. Albany, New York. New York State Department of Transportation, 2006. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: People, Resources, Recreation. Albany, New York. Resource and Facility Planning Bureau, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 2002. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. New York State Park Land Classification System: Technical Report No. 3. Albany, New York. Planning Bureau, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 1980. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Finger Lakes Region. Black Diamond Trail Interpretive Management Guide. Trumansburg, New York. Finger Lakes State Parks Region, 1999. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Survey of Users of the Norwottuck Rail Trail. West Springfield, Massachusetts. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, June, 2003.

Pratt, Marjorie K. Stage 1A Cultural Resource Survey: Cayuga Inlet Trail. Cazenovia, New York. Pratt & Pratt Archaeological Consultants, Inc., 1993. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Economic Benefits of Trails and Greenways. Technical Papers Series. Washington, D.C. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (no date). Tompkins County. Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan: Planning for our Future. Ithaca, New York, Tompkins County Planning Department, 2004. Tompkins County. Unique Natural Areas in Tompkins County. Ithaca, New York. Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, 1990. Tompkins County Department of Information Services. Geographic Information System Digital Map Files (select data sets provided on cd-rom), 2001 Town of Ithaca. Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan: Full Report. Ithaca, New York. Town of Ithaca Planning Department, 1997. Town of Ulysses. Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Trumansburg, New York. Town of Ulysses, 1999. Town of Ulysses. Town of Ulysses Zoning Law. Trumansburg, New York. Town of Ulysses, August 2005. Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects, T.G. Miller, P.C., Robert Wesley, Nancy Ostman. Southwest Natural Area Master Plan: Final Report. Ithaca, New York. City of Ithaca, 2000. Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects, IMC Consulting Group. Ithaca Bicycle Plan. City of Ithaca Department of Planning, 1997. Trowbridge & Wolf Landscape Architects. Tompkins County Waterfront Plan: Final Report. Ithaca, New York. Tompkins County Planning Department, January 1997. United States Census Bureau, 2000 Census, Profile of General Demographic Characteristics, Cayuga, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates Counties. United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. http://factfinder.census.gov. Wesley, F. Robert. A Biological Resources Search and Sensitivity Study for the Proposed Cayuga Inlet Trail: Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. Latham, New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, July 1993. Wesley, F. Robert. Field Survey Report, Rare Plant and Vegetation Survey, Black Diamond Trail Proposed Corridor. Ithaca, New York. 1997.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

AASHTO ADA ATV BDT CCC CIP CNC DEIS EAP EIS EPF FLT ISTEA ITCTC LWRP MPO NYCRR NYSDEC NYSDOT NYSEG OPRHP OSP RTC RTP SAFETEA-LU SCORP SEQR(A) TEP TIP UNA American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Americans with Disabilities Act All-terrain Vehicle Black Diamond Trail Civilian Conservation Corp Capital Investment Program Cayuga Nature Center Draft Environmental Impact Statement Emergency Action Plan Environmental Impact Statement Environmental Protection Fund Finger Lakes Trail Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Local Waterfront Redevelopment Plan Metropolitan Planning Organization New York Codes, Rules and Regulations New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York State Department of Transportation New York State Electric & Gas Corporation Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Open Space Plan Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Recreational Trails Program Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan State Environmental Quality Review (Act) Transportation Enhancements Program Transportation Improvement Program Unique Natural Area

APPENDIX

APPENDIX A

TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR A MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL AND PUBLIC WORKS CORRIDOR AT ITHACA, NEW YORK

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK