Route 104 Corridor Trail Feasibility Study - Genesee Transportation ...

RECOMMENDATIONS
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Route 104 Corridor Trail Feasibility Study
C. PHASING
The Route 104 Corridor Trail is a lengthy multi-use trail that passes through four different municipalities. It is likely
that the trail will be built in multiple phases. A phasing plan has been developed, with phases breaking at or near
municipal boundaries. Figure 17 illustrates the recommended trail alignment and proposed phases for
implementation.
1. Phase 1: Groundwork
The first phase that will be necessary is someone to lay the groundwork for a multi-jurisdictional trail project. The trail
will need a management structure, access agreements, and funding.
Trail Management. With four towns and two counties involved, the trail committee will need to determine how future
trail development will be managed. A trail management and/or ownership structure will need to be identified and
formalized. Funding proposals, trail construction, and liability are all issues/activities that will need to be considered
and handled by a trail manager. The trail could be managed by each town individually, or one town/organization
could manage the trail for all the towns involved. Many trails cross through different jurisdictions, so there are other
precedents for how the trail could be managed. The Auburn Trail, located in the Town of Victor, with portions in the
Town and Village of Pittsford, and the Town of Perinton, is a local example.
Access Agreements. The preferred alternative is located primarily in the RG&E utility corridor. Preliminary
discussions with Ontario-Midland Railroad and RG&E have been positive. However, approval from Ontario-Midland
and an access agreement with RG&E will likely be necessary before trail development can be funded.
Funding. Before the trail can substantially move forward, funding will need to be secured. The Town of Ontario has
been funding their own trail development, and other towns may wish to do the same. However, federal and state
funds are available for trail development. The Route 104 Corridor Trail may be a good candidate for some of these
funding sources, which are discussed in more detail in Chapter 7.
Trail Development. After these pieces are in place, trail development can commence. After construction funding is
acquired, the necessary environmental review and permitting would be completed for each phase before construction
commences. It is important to remember that each trail segment should function as a stand-alone trail until the entire
trail is connected. For this reason, trailheads and connections to existing streets have been identified for each
phase. Each trailhead would have designated parking for approximately 10 cars, and a kiosk with trail maps and
information.
In addition, as trail development may take a number of years, a combination of Alternatives 1 and 2 could be used to
provide an interconnected active transportation corridor. The active transportation package, featuring a shared
roadway along Ridge Road, could have an on-street connection to completed portions of the trail. For example,
while the Webster and Ontario sections are being completed, the Towns of Williamson and Sodus might opt to
complete the less expensive improvements to Ridge Road while they seek funding for the trail. This would provide
an interim route while the trail is completed.
The following phases seemed most likely at the time that the study was conducted. However, circumstances may
change in the future, and the phasing plan may need to be adjusted.
Prepared for GTC and the Towns of Ontario, Sodus, Webster, and Williamson, NY Page 51