From the Rail to the Trail
From a passenger rail double track line, to a devastating fire, to abandonment, to being one of the main attractions of the area, the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail will transform the mid-Hudson Valley forever.
The Rail Trial extends through (Poughkeepsie, LaGrange, Wappinger and East Fishkill) its first concern when it opened in 2008 was the residents in the area and how to handle privacy, but now every section of the trail has a verbal commitment from its residents to keep it clean and safe. “It contributes in so many ways to our community. It helps our business, our health and social events,” said Harrison Jackson a resident near the rail.
The now trail, was once the only train crossing of the Hudson River between New York City and just south of Albany. It was part of the Maybrook Line, an important railroad link for Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast since it opened in 1892. The then named Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge flare up in 1974 due to sparks from either train brakes or engine exhaust leading to an abandonment. But it all changed in 1984, when the Dutchess County purchased the rail with the intention to build a limited highway. Due to greater environmental impacts the highway project turned into a 11.8-mile non-vehicular (pedestrian and bicycle) route approved in 1999 , thanks to County Executive William R. Steinhaus.
It has not just become a great addition to the residents, but also users from distant places like Kitty Jonke, a user since 2010. Her husband Jack and her bought a second house near the area and new bicycles just to enjoy her days off around nature of the trail. “It is worth coming here to have a place to be in contact with nature and have reactational outdoors activities. It is our way to release stress ” said Jonke grabbing her bike.
The Duchess Trail generates more than $15.4 million in spending from those outside Dutchess and Ulster counties and it receives around 20 thousand people in on the weekends.
For Tom Smith a five-year-volunteer ambassador of the Walk over the Hudson the trail has give him a social and healthy way to spend his retirement. “I love to talk to people. It is better than sitting home alone. My wife and I decided that volunteering and engaging in good conversations are good ways to enjoy our days,” said Smith.
The residents, the tourist, the college students and businesses agree that after all the trail has given so much to Mid-Hudson Valley área on the rise.
