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Council advances Black Diamond Trail crossing applications and Cayuga waterfront plans to April vote after encampment concerns
Summary
The Common Council authorized moving applications to modify two railroad crossings and declared the Black Diamond Trail Collective project lead agency; council members asked staff for maps showing overlap with encampment non‑enforcement zones and moved the items to the April voting meeting unanimously.
The Ithaca Common Council on March 19 advanced a package of trail and waterfront items related to the Black Diamond Trail extension and Cayuga waterfront improvements, moving the railroad-crossing applications and lead‑agency designation to the April voting meeting.
At committee, Alderperson Letterman summarized two resolutions authorizing the mayor and city manager to sign and submit Railroad Law application forms to modify the railroad crossing at Inlet Road (Norfolk Southern) and the crossing at Cascadilla Street (Watco) to support the Black Diamond Trail extension. He also moved a separate resolution declaring council the lead agency for the Black Diamond Trail Collective project. Council members seconded the motions and the committee voted unanimously to send the items to the April voting meeting.
Alderperson Gil and others raised questions about project coordination with the city's encampment response work. Gil said the proposed trail alignment appeared close to or running through an encampment site and asked why the trail work was not coordinated with the encampment coordination committee and other pedestrian projects such as the Floral Avenue work. Staff said the railroad‑crossing applications are tied to the Black Diamond and Cayuga Waterfront projects and that state approvals will be required for the crossings. Staff offered to bring clarified maps to the April meeting showing the proposed trail alignment overlaid with the city's Southwest Park non‑enforcement zone.
Adesu (city staff) and Dominic (city staff) answered technical and scheduling questions from council and said the map on page 14 of the packet showed the proposed trail alignment along the inlet on the west side of the railroad tracks, outside the city's non‑enforcement zone; staff agreed to return with an overlay to confirm whether trail sections intersect known encampment locations.
The committee also moved and approved as a single package a resolution declaring council as lead agency for the Black Diamond Trail Collective Project and separate resolutions relating to the Cayuga Waterfront (Seeker) and Keuka Waterfront revitalization projects; each was forwarded to the April voting meeting by unanimous committee vote.
Votes at a glance: Motion to move railroad-crossing applications and lead-agency resolution to April voting meeting — outcome: moved to April meeting; committee vote: unanimous.
What happens next: Staff will prepare clarified maps (trail alignment with non‑enforcement zone overlay) and present the railroad crossing applications and lead-agency paper at the April voting meeting for final council votes and any required state submittals.
