BUSINESSES NEED TO PREPARE

ADIRONDACK RAIL TRAIL COMING SOON—BUSINESSES NEED TO PREPARE
Scheduled for completion in 2025, with the first section to open next year, the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail will link Lake Placid, Ray Brook, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear and Tupper Lake. This world-class, multi-use rail trail will add a new recreational dimension to the Adirondack Park and an unprecedented opportunity for many businesses along the corridor.
In anticipation, ARTA (Adirondack Rail Trail Association) the nonprofit citizen group that led the movement to convert the historic (but obsolete) rail line through the Tri-lakes Area into a safe, scenic, off-road trail for bikers, runners, walkers, strollers, birders, and snowmobilers, is now ready to take on the needs of the businesses and people that it will benefit.
The new trail's impact on local businesses should be significant. According to a study by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the Adirondack Rail Trail will, if properly managed and promoted, draw some 250,000 visitors a year, resulting in an estimated $20 million in new revenue for surrounding communities. Beyond the economic benefits, the Adirondack Rail Trail will also provide important health and recreational benefits for present and future generations of trail users, both residents and visitors.
ARTA plans to hire an executive director and work with "trail towns" along the corridor to ensure close cooperation and maximum benefits for visitors, residents and local businesses alike. While the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the physical trail, ARTA can assist the state by promoting use and enjoyment not only of the trail but also of the business and cultural amenities along the way. ARTA will seek grants and sponsorships, handle inquiries, maintain an informational web site, produce and distribute maps, coordinate signage, and enlist a volunteer force to help maintain, monitor, safeguard and enhance the trail.
To kick things off, ARTA will host an open meeting later this summer with Tri-lakes business operators to share ideas in preparation for the expected surge of visitors. ARTA will also seek the cooperation and help of public officials in the municipalities along the corridor, including the Town and Village of Tupper Lake, the Village of Saranac Lake and Town of Harrietstown, and the Village of Lake Placid and Town of North Elba.