Catskill railroad drops lawsuit against Ulster
pbrooks@th-record.com
KINGSTON – The Catskill Mountain Railroad has dropped its lawsuit against Ulster County, and its president called for supporters to back the plan crafted by County Executive Mike Hein.
"This agreement helps taxpayers, our environment as well as moves Ulster County forward," Hein said in announcing the agreement with the railroad on Tuesday.
Republican candidate for county executive Terry Bernardo made the dispute between the county and the railroad a key issue in her campaign against Hein in 2015.
Hein said he considers the settlement in the dispute with the railroad as vindication of his approach. "No question about it," he said. "The county didn't give up anything."
The railroad will cease train operations on May 31, forfeit a $75,000 bond to offset the county's legal expenses, remove discarded railroad ties and other debris along its tracks, and vacate the Cornell Street rail yard by May 1, among other things.
The agreement leaves the plan crafted by Hein for the railroad corridor to go forward. That plan provides for tourist railroad operations in the Kingston and Phoenicia areas and converts the other portions to public trails.
For the first time in more than 100 years, the plan, Hein said, "is opening up the entire north shore of the Ashokan Reservoir to everyone without permit or fee. … The addition of a linear park in mid-town Kingston as part of this plan will address very serious social justice issues, while improving recreational opportunities for everyone. "
Ernest Hunt, president of the railroad, thanked Hein and his administration in a statement. And, he said he recognized that "in the heat of the debate some members of our organization became overzealous and unfairly politicized facts and, or, agendas. … I urge all supporters of the Catskill Mountain Railroad, as well as supporters of the rail on the U&D corridor, to embrace this compromise plan wholeheartedly."