By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers on Wednesday approved design and alignment of the portion of the Southern Tier Trail in the towns of Ashford and Ellicottville.
The Southern Tier Trail is a 52-miles of pedestrian infrastructure connecting not only 11 communities in Cattaraugus County, but it will connect Buffalo with the southern end of the Genese Greenway in Hinsdale.
Wednesday’s legislation, sponsored by Development and Agriculture Committee Chairman Norman Marsh, R-Little Valley and Vice Chairman Frank Higgins, R-Olean, authorizes use of portions of Edies Road, Ashford Hollow Road and Plato Road in the Ashford and Ellicottville segment of the trail.
The county’s Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism secured a $7 million RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equality) grant for design and planning the trail.
The preferred alignment has been approved by the towns of Ashford and Ellicottville.
When completed, the trail will connect with the Erie/Cattaraugus Rail Trail in Erie County with the Genesee Greenway in Allegany County.
It would also pass through parts of the town of Great Valley, City of Salamanca, towns of Salamanca, Carrollton, Allegany and Olean, City of Olean and town of Hinsdale.
There was no comment from lawmakers on the resolution.
IN OTHER ACTION, legislators:
- Approved a contract with the City of Olean for use of a portion of the John J. Ash Community Center for the county’s RSVP Program at $600 a quarter.
- Renewed a contract with Independent Care Solutions, Grand Island, for in-home personal care services through the Department of Aging and Youth Services.
- Contract with InTandem Inc., for $88,000 for case management services for homeless individuals with opioid or polysubstance abuse problems.
- Agreed to contract with Loaded Gurney, Great Valley, to use various county parking lots for their food truck locations
