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F A Q S about the Lehigh Valley Trail

1. Q. What is the origin of the Trail?

A. The Lehigh Valley Rail Road had its beginnings in 1846 in Pennsylvania, and the first service through the Mendon area and on to Buffalo occurred in 1892. Rochester passengers boarded at the terminal located just south of Court Street in the city and made connections with the main line at Rochester Junction, located just east of Plains Road in Mendon. This station was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1973. The Lehigh Valley “Black Diamond” passenger service, over the main line, ceased in 1961. Freight service was terminated in 1976.

2. Q. Who owns the Trail?

A. With the help of a Federal Grant in 1979, Monroe County, acquired the portion of the mainline between the Monroe/Ontario county line and the Genesee Valley Greenway in Livingston County. Included was the spur from Rochester Junction to the City. The intention was to convert the property to a Linear Park and Trail.

3. Q. Describe the Trail for me.

A. The corridor right-of-way is nominally 100 feet wide. About 70% of the width will remain in an undisturbed natural state. Of the 30 feet devoted to the Trail, 10 feet will be a stone dust surface, the remainder will be grass. Our project starts at the Monroe/Ontario County line to the east of Old Dutch Road. There the Victor section of the Trail continues east and intersects the (north/south) Auburn line. To the west it crosses the Genesee River extending into Caledonia where it joins the (north/south) Genesee Greenway trail system.

The Trail’s total distance is 15 miles, split about equally between Rush and Mendon. Also included is a spur, which runs north from Plains road in Mendon, through Rush to Henrietta. The Trail crosses twelve north/south roads and six bridges. The steel structure of the large bridge crossing the Genesee River is still in place, as is that of the trestle bridge over Honeoye Creek in Mendon. Three smaller bridges are located in Rush. A fourth crosses Irondequoit Creek in Mendon.

For most of its distance, the Trail’s, 10 foot wide, multi-use surface will be made up of 6” of compacted cinders topped by 2” of rolled stone dust. The two high traffic areas, Mendon Station Park and the Hamlet of Rush, will be surfaced with asphalt. The parallel equestrian path will have a grass surface.

3. Q. When finished, what will the Trail access at intersections look like?

A. Motor vehicle access will be blocked (except for emergency and maintenance vehicles) at all intersections, utilizing gates, bollards, boulders, berms, etc. Road and Trail safety signage and some landscaping are also planned.

5. Q. What rules will apply to users of the Trail?

A. Since the County of Monroe has title to the entire length of the Trail corridor, County Park Rules, as established by the Monroe County Legislature, apply to usage of the Trail. Motorized vehicles will not be permitted.

6. Q. How will these rules be enforced?

A. As with all County parks, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is the enforcing agency. We urge that anyone who observes any illegal usage of the Trail report it, ASAP, via the 911 System. Procedures will also be in place for notifying the Mendon Foundation and the County Parks Department of any violation.

7. Q. How did the Mendon Foundation become involved in the development of the Trail?

A. In the 1993-1994 period the Comprehensive/Master plans of the Towns of Mendon, Victor and Rush and the Mendon Hamlet Master plan all cited Trail development as a high priority action. It was also strongly advocated by the Genesee Transportation Council in their Long Range Transportation Plan for the Greater Rochester Area. Similar urging existed in a NY State sponsored comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.

The Mendon Foundation first approached the County Parks Department in early 1994 to ascertain the status of their plans to convert the abandoned Lehigh Valley right-of-way into a user friendly, multipurpose Trail. The County had no implementation plans at that time, although it was deemed to be a very worthwhile project.

The first of several public open meetings on the subject was held 11/16/1994. In excess of 50 interested citizens were in attendance. There was overwhelming support expressed for pursuing the project.

In the spring of 1995, the Mendon Foundation agreed that such a project would prove beneficial to the Community and was consistent with it’s Open Space mission to preserve and enhance Mendon’s recreational and natural resources. The Foundation approached the County and offered to assist them in the development and maintenance of the Trail. A five year contract resulted. The agreement was subsequently renewed and now is in its second 5-year period.

8 Q. How was the trail design developed?

A. We gathered input and requested advice from many sources. Some are listed here:

♦ Eight public forums to request public input.

♦ Extensive individual/small group discussions with potential users.

♦ Discussions with developers of other Trails including visits to their sites.

♦ Consultation with National “Rails to Trails representatives.

♦ Study of many books and articles by experienced Trail builders and users.

♦ Consultation with builders of other Trails in this area.

♦ Substantial input from and design approval by,County ParksDepartment personnel.

♦ All Federal and NY State requirements had to be met. (i.e., safety, handicapped access, widths, structural, etc.)

The initial draft of the design was issued by LaBella associates, a local design firm in late 2002. Further modification occurred, balancing available funds with “field” opportunities and necessities. The design was completed in February 2003.

9. Q. Why is the Trail important to the County and the Region?

A. Although this 15-mile Trail stands, as a major and unique trail in its own right, when completed in 2004, it will also be a major addition to the region’s recreational trail system. It will not only link the Genesee Greenway (in the west) to Victor’s Auburn Trail (to the east) but with the completion of the Lehigh Valley’s northern branch, through Henrietta and Brighton, will connect to the Erie Canalway Trail at the Genesee Valley Park. This linkage with several other trails makes the Lehigh Valley Trail a significant part of the region’s growing interconnected trail system.

10. Q. How much will the Trail cost and how is it being paid for?

A. The development cost of the trail is approximately $1,300,000. These funds include $110,000 in local funds, raised by the Mendon Foundation, $250,000 from Monroe County, and Federal Highway Grant funds totaling approximately $940,000.

11. Q. What areas of the Trail are likely to be further developed?

A. There are three trail areas that are candidates for further development. They are:

1. The Rush Hamlet Planning has not yet commenced.

2. Rochester Junction Planning is in the preliminary stage.

3. Mendon Hamlet Planning for the Mendon Station Park is underway but has not been completed. Some initial clearing and construction, by volunteers, has started.

12. Q. Who will use the Trail?

A. Proposed uses include walking, hiking, biking, jogging, cross-country skiing, equestrian, and other types of non-motorized activities. Numerous studies of trail usage around the country suggest the following breakdown of usage.

1. 65% to 75% Bicycling.

2. 24% to 30% Pedestrian (walking, jogging and running).

3. 1% to 5% Equestrian.

13. Q. When will the Trail be completed?

A. The Trail is being completed in three phases.

1. The portion of the Trail between the eastern Monroe County line and Rochester Junction (Plains Rd.) is scheduled to be completed by year-end, weather permitting.

2. The contract for all bridgework, clearing, and the approach to the Genesee River Bridge, calls for completion by February 2004.

3. The remaining portions of the Trail will be completed in 2004.

14. Q. What will be the likely impact of the Trail?

A. It is anticipated that many benefits will be gained by the communities through which the Trail passes and to the people who choose to utilize the Trail. The project will connect two major statewide trail networks---The north/south Genesee Valley Greenway trail system, which eventually will extend from Lake Ontario through Letchworth State Park to Pennsylvania, and the Finger Lakes trail systems. At the Monroe County line, a hiker can continue to the east, on the Victor portion of the Lehigh Valley corridor, and connect with the Auburn trail that extends north toward Powder Mills Park in Pittsford, and ultimately to the Erie Canal Towpath in Bushnell’s Basin. To the south, the Auburn trail passes through Victor, toward Canandaigua and Geneva.

The entire trail will be handicapped accessible. The public will be provided an opportunity to increase their appreciation, of the historical significance of the former “Black Diamond” route. They will also have a close-up viewing of wetlands, wildlife and their habitats, flora and fauna of this region and other natural resources which abound the full length of the corridor. The trail passes near, and will provide linkage to, the Totiakton and Ganandogan Indian sites, both listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The Town of Mendon has plans to connect the Trail to Mendon Ponds Park, a national natural landmark. Thus, the project also provides opportunities for interpretation of these many important features, which exist in our area. Finally, since the Trail passes through the Hamlets of Rush and Mendon, ample opportunity will exist for users to avail themselves of food, drink and other shopping desires.