Local Issues

After viewing the presentation on June 12 by the organization trying to find an acceptable route continuation of this greenway, which now ends in Inwood Park in Manhattan, I found their recommendation contorted, involving many hills and a cross over the Harlem ship canal via the Henry Hudson Bridge an unwelcome transit for many people, especially those with families. The success of the South County Trailway is predicated upon its use of an abandoned railroad right-of-way which is contiguous from Van Cortlandt Park to Elmsford. It is a fairly level pathway, which was required by railroads and accessible to bikers and pedestrians. The recommended continuation of the greenway into Yonkers and north does not have this attribute. As the speaker mentioned, the best route would be to follow the Amtrak line across the Harlem ship canal into the Bronx and then into Westchester. But Amtrak, which controls the rail line into Penn Station and the bridge spanning the canal, and Metro-North, which controls the railroad all the way from the Bronx to Albany, have not been receptive to accommodating a pathway. But this route would provide continuous, untortured passage along the entire greenway from the south of Manhattan. Perhaps for spandex riders the proposed route might work. I am not one of them. These advocates for extension of the greenway have been supported for their study by $1M in government funds, but they are not talking to the right people. Metro-north and Amtrak are accessible and accommodating when confronted by persuasive people.