To the editor:

I feel it is critical for Tupper Lake’s future as a travel destination that the Adirondack Park Agency approve the proposed option on the table for the C-7 travel corridor that leaves the tracks in place from Tupper Lake south and removes the rails and ties to Lake Placid. This proposal is the best compromise for the corridor, and it would allow Tupper Lake a safe, unobstructed way out of our community without having to go across ice or on impassable railroad tracks during the winter snowmobile season.

If the rail people try to keep the rail line intact to Saranac Lake from Utica, so as to have their tourist train, rail bikes and a trail system, that would be a huge detriment for our community as our local hotel/motels, restaurants, gas stations and small shops are hurting due to a lack of tourists who could travel here if the rails were removed to provide year-round tourist dollars.

I personally would prefer the entire rail line be removed to make way for a continuous trail system that would be a huge boon to the economy, especially during the winter months when businesses are paying higher utilities and general costs to operate.

However, I am willing to accept the compromise the state has agreed to do on the travel corridor, and I am sure Tupper Lake would love to have the rail bikes operate in our community next year as well. The state Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Transportation and the APA, as well as the governor, have agreed to have the train stop in Tupper Lake, making us the northern train station and the starting point north for the new, world-class trail system.

People need to know that if we keep fighting over this unused travel corridor and wait too long to do something with it while the state is willing to actually spend big money pleasing both sides, we are better off accepting what is proposed before some sort of political-financial change in Albany happens and the money is defunded from this compromise proposal for the C-7 travel corridor.

I urge everybody that feels the way I do to please write a letter to the APA and the governor’s office to hurry up and approve the proposed option that is currently on the table in the APA’s office now.

Thank you,

Peter Edwards

Tupper Lake