County planners pitch 8‑mile connector trail to link Lacawana and Katherine Valley corridors; funding shortfall remains

County transportation planners on Thursday presented a preliminary plan for an 8‑mile 'connector trail' intended to link the Lacawana Rail Trail and the Katherine Valley Trail and create a nearly 30‑mile regional network.

Deputy Director Mike Perry and Director David McCormack told the Village of Horseheads board the project would provide a 10‑foot paved, multi‑use trail with an approximately 20‑foot construction corridor in places and would be operated and maintained by Shimong County if built. "Let's just call it the connector trail," Perry said, noting the formal name is still under public consideration.

Planners emphasized safety and multimodal benefits, saying a five‑year review of roads within a quarter‑mile of the route showed 24 pedestrian or bicycle motor‑vehicle crashes. Perry argued paved surfacing would broaden use to skaters and inline users and improve mobility for walk and bike trips that otherwise rely on roads. "You get a modern multi‑use trail with stabilized materials," he said.

The presentation described three potential alignments (A, B and C), tiered phases (1A/1B/1C) through the village and into adjacent towns, and a preliminary schedule that places detailed design work in 2025–2028 and potential construction phases beginning in the late 2020s depending on funding. The county recommended siting the trail on public property where feasible to reduce the need for private easements.

Funding remains the chief barrier. The planners listed an awarded $436,000 from a federal carbon‑reduction program, a likely $250,000 Appalachian Regional Commission award being pursued, a $675,000 New York State Parks grant that is on hold until deed survey issues are resolved, and a reported $1.55 million pledge from a private donor (identified in the presentation as "Kennedy Bell"). Perry told the board the full project price had risen with inflation from the low‑$7 million range to about $10 million and that "we need another five million at the bare minimum."

Trustees and residents used the forum to press on routing through residential areas, privacy buffers and safety. Several residents asked whether the county could use eminent domain if voluntary easements were unavailable; Perry said he had not discussed eminent domain with county executives and that his office prefers avoiding it. On policing, planners described existing sheriff and park police bike patrols and said they would coordinate with law enforcement in village sections. On privacy, board members and residents asked about setbacks, landscaping and fencing; Perry said those topics will be part of preliminary design and future public hearings.

Planners also proposed trail counters and usage surveys to document demand and argued the trail could bring tourism and economic development by connecting parks and destinations in the region. They pledged more village‑based hearings and said the county will continue to refine alignment, survey deeds, resolve wetlands and environmental studies and pursue grant opportunities.

The board did not vote on any formal action; trustees asked staff to schedule additional outreach in the village and to record public feedback for the county’s preliminary‑design phase.