NORWICH – The final report from a railway feasibility study has been delayed once more. The study, commissioned by the Chenango County Area Corporation and funded in part by the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee, was expected to be completed in the fall.
“We’d hoped for October,” said Jennifer Tavares, Business Development and Zone Coordinator for Commerce Chenango, in an update to the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency on Dec. 17.
The purpose of the feasibility study was to evaluate the viability of a number of different options for the 41.02-mile stretch of track between Chenango Forks and Sherburne which has been out of service since it was damaged by heavy flooding in June 2006.
The New York Susquehanna & Western Rail Road officially discontinued service along the section of rail on Oct.1. The railway company has agreed to put off filing for abandonment of the segment, which is part of its Utica Branch Line for one year.
The CCIDA is a major stakeholder in the future of the rail corridor as it holds the title for the NYS&W property through the county as per the company’s Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreement.
The latest hold up in the study came when the latest draft of the final report, submitted by Trans Systems-Stone Consulting, was rejected by the CCAC.
“We reviewed it and sent back a list of requests and recommendations for revisions,” Tavares reported.
Some of the concerns listed were the way in which the information was presented, she explained. The report included neither a summary or a table of contents, which made navigating the data difficult.
CCIDA Executive Director and Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter said she felt the report’s content was incomplete. The document “spent a lot of time” on the feasibility of tourist excursion rail options, but little on freight and business services.
“They were supposed to provide us with recommendations and possible funding sources,” she continued, neither of which was included in the most recent draft.
“It’s not really the analysis and inventory I expected,” Tavares agreed.
“Are they being cooperative?” asked Hugh Kearney, CCIDA chairman. Tavares said yes, but she and Carpenter both expressed concerns that the consultant had relegated the project to a lower priority since it had dragged on much longer than originally expected.
The NYS&W is currently using portions of the line, north to Greene and south to North Norwich, to store railway cars.
“It’s a form of income for them,” commented Town of Greene Supervisor Jack Cook, who sits on the IDA board of directors. He said this practice has drawn criticism from residents of his town because it blocks views and limits access to property between the line and the Chenango River.
Tavares said she hopes to have the revised report back by the end of January. At that point they will set a date for presenting the study findings to stakeholders.