Schumer Announces: After Push From Senator, Walkway Over the Hudson & CSX Have Reached Agreement that Links Walkway Over the Hudson & Dutchess Rail Trail -- Move Will Create NY's Premier NY Biking-Walking Trail Right in Hudson Valley

Press Release

Today, at the Eastern Gate of Walkway Over the Hudson, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that CSX, the Walkway Over the Hudson and the Dyson Foundation have come to a purchase agreement for a 12.9 acre parcel of land in Poughkeepsie, which paves the way to connect the Walkway Over the Hudson to the over 12-mile Dutchess Rail Trail. This announcement comes after Schumer began pushing CSX in March of 2011 to come to an agreement with the Walkway Over the Hudson and the Dyson Foundation regarding this land purchase, after the final agreement was caught up in complex and detailed negotiations over the valuable and ideally-situated real estate. The Walkway Over the Hudson bridge has already received more than 1.2 million visitors. This agreement between CSX and Walkway Over the Hudson organization will eventually turn this land parcel over to Dutchess County, and will kick the project into gear that will connect the Walkway Over the Hudson with the Dutchess Rail Trail, further driving tourism to the region, creating construction jobs and promoting further economic development in the Hudson Valley along with unparalleled recreational opportunities.

"Connecting the Walkway Over the Hudson to the Dutchess Rail Trail is a match made in heaven that will make an enormously successful project even more popular, and I am thrilled that CSX, the Dyson Foundation and the Walkway Over the Hudson organization have finalized the land purchase agreement to finally bridge that gap," said Schumer. "Now that this underutilized piece of land is ready to link two great gems of the Hudson Valley- the Walkway and the Dutchess Rail Trail - visitors and tourism dollars will be flocking in even larger numbers to the region. This CSX and Dyson land agreement paves the way for visitors and Hudson Valley residents alike to benefit from a premier bike and walking path, all while providing an economic boost to tourism, tax revenue and jobs in the region."

"After opening Walkway State Park to the public two years ago, one of the Walkway organization's top priorities was to connect our world renowned park with the developing regional trail system," said Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart, Executive Director of Walkway Over the Hudson. "Thanks to the shared vision and determination of our many partners--including Senator Chuck Schumer, County Executive Marc Molinaro, the City of Poughkeepsie, New York State Parks, the Dyson Foundation, the Walkway Over the Hudson board and many others--that connection is coming to fruition. Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park will be the centerpiece of a world class trail system that promises to bring tourism, economic revitalization, and healthy recreational opportunities to the people of the Mid-Hudson Valley."

"CSX is pleased to work with Walkway Over the Hudson on this project," said Maurice O'Connell, CSXT's resident vice president for state relations. "The end result is a transaction that benefits both parties and that enables work to continue to the Walkway Over the Hudson/Dutchess Rail Trail. Ultimately, the entire region will benefit when work is completed on the trail."

"Dutchess County is blessed with two of New York State's most admired recreational venues; the Dutchess Rail Trail and the Walkway Over the Hudson," said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. "Residents and visitors have been adamant in their desire to see these two assets linked. Thanks to the work and cooperation of many partners - in particular the Dyson Foundation, the board of the Walkway Over the Hudson and Senator Schumer - that linkage will finally become a reality. Connecting the Dutchess Rail Trail and Walkway Over the Hudson enables us to harness unmatched economic development potential and make Dutchess County a world class recreational destination for visitors from across the globe."

Schumer was joined by representatives from CSX, the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Dyson Foundation, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation CEO Mike Oates, the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro as he announced the major land purchase agreement that will create New York's premier biking and walking trail in the Hudson Valley, by connecting the Walkway Over the Hudson and the Dutchess Rail Trail. After Schumer's push to expedite this agreement in March 2011, this project is now ready to move forward and increase access and tourism for both public recreational spots. This project will initially create a continuous trail network of over 20 miles on both sides of the Hudson River, and will allow further trails to be developed in the future. Expected to be completed in 2013, this connection between the Walkway and the Dutchess Rail Trail will also allow visitors arriving by train at the Poughkeepsie Station to utilize an elevator to visit not just the Walkway but the entire regional trail system.

Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park has already proven itself to be a powerful engine for economic revitalization. Connecting the Walkway Over the Hudson, which has drawn 1.2 million visitors since opening, with the 12 mile Dutchess Rail Trail would make this biking and walking trail a premier New York state tourist and recreation spot. The Walkway over the Hudson has already pumped $30 million into the local economy through direct spending from visitors, and Schumer noted that this economic benefit to the Hudson Valley will only grow by linking these tourist spots. That economic impact has helped create more than 383 new full-time jobs and has brought nearly $780,000 in new tax revenue for Dutchess and Ulster counties each year. Merging Walkway Over the Hudson with the Dutchess Rail Trail promises to augment the overall economic impact in Dutchess and Ulster counties as even more tourists and recreational enthusiasts visit this new pathway.

With the CSX and Dyson Foundation's purchase agreement, the groundwork is laid for the Walkway Over the Hudson, a nonprofit organization, to officially purchase the 12.5 acre land parcel. This purchase is made possible by a grant awarded to the Walkway organization by the Dyson Foundation, as well as other state funding. The parcel of land is currently an unused and inaccessible property that links the Walkway to the Dutchess Rail Trail at the Morgan Lake Trailhead. The purchasing negotiations have been ongoing since the Walkway Over the Hudson was constructed, and Schumer's March 2011 push for an agreement has helped secure this land purchase agreement, and has moved the ball forward on this tourism-boosting project. Due to the high value of the land and the various layers involved in making this connection a reality - it took hard work, patience and dedication to expand the recreation opportunities of the Walkway on behalf of CSX, the Dyson Foundation, County Executive Molinaro and the Walkway Over The Hudson organization. After stalling in their talks to acquire the land, Senator Schumer intervened to relay the profound importance of the land to the Walkway and community and highlighted the important role that CSX could play. As a result of his efforts, CSX will sell the land to the Walkway for $1,150,000, and donate $100,000 to the Walkway in the form of a credit at closing. Construction on the connection is scheduled to begin in the spring of this year.

Schumer's announcement today marks a major step in his efforts to make Hudson Valley home to New York's premier biking and walking trail. In 2009, the Dyson Foundation, acting through the Walkway Over the Hudson organization, purchased approximately 4.5 acres of unused rail bed from the CSX corporation. At Schumer's urging, CSX granted a temporary easement while negotiations continued in order to ensure that the construction project to provide street access to the Walkway could be completed by the start of the New York quadricentennial celebrations. Thanks to the easement, street access to the Walkway was completed in October 2009, in time for the events. The property was immediately donated to New York State Parks. Since its opening, over 1.2 million visitors have walked the bridge. The Dyson Foundation has since worked with Senator Schumer to make this second phase purchase a reality, and today's land purchase agreement will do just that.

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