East Aurora Advertiser

As Rail to Trail Plans Develop, Groups Focus on Maintaining Conservation Club



Land that was once part of a railway line and makes its way through West Falls is seen as a place where a multi-use recreational trail could be developed. Various groups are working to both maintain that area and see how it might fit into a larger section that would connect many communities for cyclists and pedestrians. 

How that will look is still in development. A design company is working through a feasibility study, and the project organizers are still asking for public feedback on all sections of the trail. 

The land for the railway cuts through the West Falls Conservation Society’s property. That area in the Town of Aurora hamlet is seen as a trickier development spot as designers try to figure out a way to create a corridor for pedestrians next to an area where people practice trap shooting and archery lessons.

The West Falls Conservation Society land, highlighted in yellow, has the former rail corridor passing through its land. Image from Erie County GIS

Club president Jack Bouquin appeared before the Aurora Town Board to make them aware of the ongoing project and where things stand with the study. He said he and his club have had good communication with the two groups that are behind maintaining that land and managing the study. He added that the groups seemed “sincere” in their statements that they did not want to see the club stop operating because of the trail changes and he continues to work with those agencies. 

Bouquin said the club has been in existence since 1943 and has made a commitment to support the community through education and scholarships since that time. He and others said they did not want to see that stop and hoped the town would support the society throughout the future proposals to the former railway. The board said they would be there to support the group. 

“I’m a big supporter of the rails to trail project. I want to see it go through, but only if you guys are made whole,” Councilman Luke Wochensky said to Bouquin. 

That was the same message from the people who are working on the study or maintaining the land. 

“We don’t want to disrupt the club,” Ashley Smith, deputy director of GObike Buffalo, said. “From my perspective on the project, and managing the community engagement side of this, we are very committed to working with the West Falls Conservation club to find the best solution here…that would allow them to maintain their operations.”

Multi-Use Trail Seeks Public Comment as Planning Begins

GObike Buffalo has hired a design firm – Alta Planning & Design – to do a feasibility study to construct an 80-mile multi-use trail that would go from Buffalo to the Town of Hinsdale. This could use a section of the former rail corridor. Smith said the study would likely be completed this December or January. People can go to the website gobikebuffalo.org/project/southern-tier-trail-feasibility-study/ to learn more and provide public input on the proposed route. 

Start of Rail to Trail

There are two different groups that are looking at the potential for a multi-use trail in the region. While they are working together to some degree, they do have different responsibilities. Gobike Buffalo commissioned the study. Their focus is on the best way to create a trail from Buffalo to the southern region, and some of it might use the former rail corridor.

The other group is the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT), an all-volunteer group that is tasked with maintaining 27-miles of the former railway corridor. This includes the West Falls portion. 

Deborah Fenn is the president of the ECRT. She said her group has a 90-year railbanking agreement to manage the trail that starts in Orchard Park and goes toward the Town of Ashford. 

Railbanking is a system by the federal government that seeks to preserve land once used by railway companies, Fenn said. The government helped develop the interstate routes and does not want to see them lost in case they could again be used by a railway system. The solution was to “railbank,” where a group would manage the trail in a way that could allow a railway to operate again, but until that time it would be used as a multi-use trail for recreational purposes. 

The ECRT has managed to open up some of the corridor in the Springville region, and a small section to locals in the Orchard Park area. Developing a trail is a costly and time-consuming endeavor, and sections like West Falls – the terrain is hilly and has several sections washed out – add to the challenge. Fenn said her group relies on volunteers and support from neighboring landowners to explain what is taking place along the trail and finding the best uses for it. 

She, too, said she wants to make sure any trail in the hamlet does not harm the conservation club. 

“As far as the West Falls Conservation club, we have developed a really good relationship with them,” Fenn said. “We agreed the work and the mission of the West Falls Conservation Club and the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail were really important and positive community aspects. For our part, we told the club members that whatever the final design of the trail through West Falls would be, it would be one that preserves the current activities and programs of the conservation club.” 

While discussing the overall 80-mile trail Gobike Buffalo is working on, Smith said she thinks it is important that a design is able to enhance both the trail and the club. She said the trail could provide enhanced visibility for the club and show support for what its members have done over the years. 

There are several thoughts for finding a solution. One was to see if that portion of the 80-mile trail could go around the club onto Route 240. Smith said that was considered, but it’s a challenge as the road is narrow in that region and would not be a safe area for pedestrians or cyclists. 

She noted there are other clubs across the country that are in similar situations that have found ways to mitigate problems and she is reaching out to explore solutions. She said she recently learned of one in Ohio where a club has a mesh netting of sorts, and they were exploring it more. Its possible barriers of some sort could also be installed in that region. 

Bouquin said the club does have trap shooting and archery sections set up where people would be aiming towards the trail.

At one time, he said he was not in favor of the trail, but after talking to Fenn and Smith he can see how they have similar goals for outdoor recreation and thinks it could be a good thing. But he was worried how a trail might impact the club’s insurance – would an insurance carrier still want to service the club, he asked – and general safety of people who use the trail. 

The feasibility study is being funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds. Going through and constructing 80-miles of a multi-use trail could be in the $100 million range and would not likely start for a few years. There is public funding available alongside private resources, but the public funding would hinge on whether a local municipality supports the efforts of the trail. An agency like the Town of Aurora would have to give a resolution in support of it for those public funds to become available. The board has said they would keep the conservation club as a priority when looking at the matter. 

With the Covid-19 pandemic, Smith said Gobike has not been able to get out to personally meet people as much as they would like, but the group has hosted several online meetings open to the public and they have seen several hundred listen in on those sessions. They are also continuing to ask people – “natural supporters and natural opponents” – to make comments on the trail map online. She said that is something she hopes people take advantage of as the study continues. People can continue commenting on the map until Sept. 27, but she said more commenting will be sought throughout. 

“If this is the first time they are becoming aware of this project, we definitely want them to connect, we would really like to talk to them, especially if they see themselves as a potential stakeholder for this project, whether they are a neighbor or future user of the trail,” Smith said. 

For more information, visit www.southerntiertrail.org on the 80-mile study. The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail group is located at www.ecattrail.org/. And the West Falls Conservation Society is at westfallscsny.org/.

One response to “As Rail to Trail Plans Develop, Groups Focus on Maintaining Conservation Club”

  1. David Barus says:

    Excellent reporting story on the Rail to Trail that includes the dissection portion of the West Falls Conservation Society. Hope the public outreach community activities for scouts, youth, local adults and multiple organized groups that use West Falls Conservation can be continued with a bypass plan mentioned in the story. Thank you!

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