MOST RECENT The Victor Herald Article, October 21, 2009 The Auburn Trail - Federal agency rejects plan for 6 foot wide extension - By Dean Lichterman Excerpt: The fate of the Auburn Trail extension was discussed from several angles at the October 13 meeting of the Victor Town Board. Most notably, Chris Smith of Fisher Associates reported that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the Town's proposal for a 3,000 foot portion of undeveloped trail between Railroad Mills Road and Fishers Road. The area current;y has a 1 foot path with four feet of shoulder area on either side. (View PDF below.) The Victor Herald Guest Essay, December 16, 2008 The Auburn Trail Controversy - By Steven Daniel on behalf of the Coalition Excerpt: Most Victor residents agree that open space preservation is important. Most value the natural environment that still exists, in these times of rapid growth. So what is the controversy with the Auburn Trail Extension project? Why are people who share common values unable to find common ground? Why are there objections to the taxpayer funded project to create a multi-use trail from Fishers to Powder Mills Park? We are asking for 3000’ of this trail project to be treated differently than the rest of the trail project. We urge the Town Board to consider RRMSEA as the treasure it is, and to respect the current users, the public input, and the environmental sensitivity. It is not too late to develop a community-valued trail, a trail that is good for users, for the environment, and for the Town.The Victor Herald Article, December 16, 2008 Not-so-happy Trails - Town Board hears both sides of the Auburn Trail Controversy - By Steven G. Poyzer Excerpt: Size does indeed matter when it comes to a 3,500-foot stretch of the Auburn Trail expansion project as it passes through the Railroad Mills Special Environmental Area. In a scheduled Public Input Session at the monday, Dec. 8 Victor Town Board meeting the factions lined up and, for more than an hour-and-a-half, offered their best defenses for widening, compromising or leaving the trail as is. [The rest of the article relays what many individuals stated to the Town Board.] Messenger Post Article, December 11, 2008 Hearing for Auburn Trail plan draws a crowd - By Mike Maslanik Excerpt: “This is drawing people from the entire region to come and enjoy,” said Penfield resident Carol Southby, president of the Rochester Butterfly Club. “It has an excellent diversity of plants with a level track suitable for all age groups.” Many in attendance didn’t get a chance to sound off on the plan, which includes widening a roughly 3,000-foot section of the trail that many nature lovers say contains rare plants and wildlife — everything from mushrooms to butterflies — and should be preserved. The hearing lasted for nearly two hours — until new town Supervisor Jack Marren called it to a close. “If my math is right, that is 30 people who spoke tonight and I think we should cut it off after this,” Marren said after Pittsford resident Jim Davis spoke out against the proposal. “Everyone else is free to e-mail or fax their comments to us.”The Victor Herald Article, December 3, 2008 Auburn Trail project threatens endangered species - By Steven G. Poyzer Excerpt: Ansel Adams, famed photographer of our nation's wilderness, once wrote "It is horrifying that we have to fight our government to save the environment." ...It's an area the group cites as environmentally sensitive and harboring several endangered species of plant and wildlife. The extension includes an area considered an environmentally sensitive section called "The Railroad Mills Special Environmental Area."...Daniel also told the board, citing legal text, that the coalition had been placed in a position of having to prove that there would be negative impact, when the burden of proof that there would be no adverse impact should rightfully been on Fisher Associates and the proponents of the trail extension. (View PDF below.) Messenger Post Article, December 1, 2008 Input sought on Proposed Auburn Trail Expansion - By Mike Maslanik Excerpt: The board will seek public input on the proposal at the next regular board meeting on Dec. 8. It planned to issue a State Environmental Quality Review declaration that day, but held off because of the public outcry. Members of the coalition — which includes the Rochester branch of the Sierra Club, the Rochester Birding Association and the Rochester Butterfly Club — said that a widened pathway would disturb a roughly 3,000-foot area brimming with wildlife and rare plants. Read Full Article (Or view PDF below) Democrat & Chronicle Article, November 27, 2008 “Let’s preserve this narrower section and make it a place where people could slow down — to be in a pleasant scenic place where we could slow down and suddenly see a beautiful spot of nature and appreciate it,” said Peter Debes, environmental education leader of the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club. Lew Gurley, who is working with the coalition and is a former regional director of the state Department of Transportation, said that design exceptions to federal projects occur on a regular basis and that, in this case, a formal proposal seeking a narrower path has not been made. Read Full Article (Or view PDF below) ARCHIVES Messenger Post Photo Gallery, May 6, 2008 RRMSEA part of Earth Day Celebration - Photo by Vasilly Bazluk See Photo A Trail Becomes a Warpath - By Jessica Pierce Excerpt: "As hikers made their way along the overgrown railroad, they gushed at warblers and thrushes, even sparrows, to say nothing of a rare plant that flowers for but a few days each year. It was a chilly and soggy morning on the Auburn Trail in Victor, but spirits were high. "I'm overdosing on the amount of life here!" exclaimed one of the binocular toters." Read Full Online Article (Or view PDF below) WHAM Channel 13, May 29, 2008 "In the News" 6pm news (Segment about the controversy surrounding the proposed trail.) Rochester City Newspaper Article, June 11, 2008 Happy Trails to Whom? - By Jeremy Moule Excerpt: "Along the Auburn Trail in Victor, between Railroad Mills and Fisher Roads, birds and butterflies dart in and out of the meadowy brush and turtles bask in the sun. For many animals, the area is home. For others, it's a place to breed or nest." Read Full Online Article (Or view PDF below) Railroad Mills Area Worth Saving - By Steven Daniel Excerpt: "Our environment keeps getting chipped away – small piece here, another there. Each loss seemingly not a big deal. On this short section of the Auburn trail extension we have a chance to protect and highlight a unique area where nature is close-up and personal. It is a gift for our children and community. Why destroy it with a 10’ wide swath for some bicyclists to zoom through, while the current and future users and nature lovers (including bicyclists, joggers, people with disabling conditions, people with strollers, walkers, etc.) will have lost another natural treasure. We say we are going green – let’s demonstrate it here." Read Full Online Letter (Or view PDF below)
Excerpt: "As a member of the Advisory Committee for the Auburn
Trail extension, representing the Coalition to Save the Railroad Mills Special
Environmental Area, I agree wholeheartedly with Richard E. Williams (letter
June 17) that the Auburn Trail be accessible to everyone. We believe that the trail can be
improved, accessible, and the environment protected. Yet we
disagree with the Town of Victor’s claims of no significant environmental
damage resulting from its plans, which call for unnecessary overwidening of the
trail corridor." Read Full Online Article (Or View PDF below)
Excerpt: "The railroad bed is quite narrow - only 10’ wide along much
of the 3000’ stretch - and much of
it is surrounded by wetlands. The
proposed trail development would occupy much of the width, and the meadow would
essentially be destroyed. The project could
impact wetlands as well as state-threatened plant species, and the ‘wilderness
feeling’ that so many users mention.
Yet Victor claims there will be no significant environmental impact. The Coalition is recommending a compromise to a 3’ wide, ADA-compliant trail. Victor asserts that a 3’ trail is unsafe, as bicyclists would have to move off the trail and pass on the grass. We have pointed out that this has been done this for years with no safety issues. Despite substantial opposition (Coalition group members alone number over 5000), Victor is hoping to receive approval of its plans and begin construction in 2009."Read Full Article (Or View PDF below)
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In MemoryWe dedicate this website to Christine Sevilla. Christine was a tireless advocate for preserving local habitats and wetlands. She knew and loved this section of the Auburn Trail, even before it was scheduled for destruction. Christine photographed it, wrote about it, and spoke at Town Board meetings to preserve it.  Visit: www.christinesevilla.com On the TrailJack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)    |
RRMSEA in the News
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