Canal Corporation Board Approves Amendment to Allow Snowmobiling on Canal Lands

The New York State Canal Corporation today announced that it will begin the Rule Making process for revising the Canal Corporation Rules and Regulations to allow snowmobiling on Canal Corporation owned lands. Snowmobiling will be allowed by permit on a case by case basis to clubs that are members of the New York State Snowmobile Association. In order to obtain a permit, the clubs must demonstrate local municipal support in the form of a resolution. The Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Board approved the amendment at a recent meeting.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said, "By working with local municipalities to allow snowmobiling on Canal lands, the Canal System will truly become a year round destination. In addition to the activities already taking place throughout the winter months, communities will now be able to reap the recreational and economic benefits of snowmobiling. The Corporation is pleased to partner with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Snowmobile Association to make this a reality."

Dave Perkins, Trails Coordinator for the New York State Snowmobile Association, said, "This action by the Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Board represents an opportunity for snowmobile clubs to utilize canal lands to complete significant trail linkages in the statewide snowmobile trail system. As shown in Washington County, Montgomery County, Onondaga County and Orleans County, snowmobile clubs will accept the responsibility to work with state and local government to provide safe and well-maintained snowmobile trails. Canalside businesses and those on adjoining trails will benefit economically with these trail linkages in place."

In 1998, the Canal Corporation initiated a pilot program that allowed snowmobile use on Canal lands on a case-by-case basis where local municipal support was demonstrated. As part of the pilot program, approximately five snowmobile pilot programs have operated

in different parts of New York State on Canal lands since 1998. All clubs have acted responsibly during this time and have helped to maintain the trails.

As a result of the success of the pilot programs and the popularity of snowmobiling in rural portions of the Canal System, the Board approved the Canal Corporation staff to proceed with the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA) process to amend the Canal Rules and Regulations to provide flexibility to allow snowmobiling by permit on a case-by-case basis. The SAPA process takes approximately nine months to one year. Final issuance of a permit would remain at the discretion of the Canal Corporation. Proposed permits would require liability insurance in the amount of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate through a blanket insurance policy administered by the New York State Snowmobile Association and funded by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Additional safety controls will be required, including proper signage, speed restrictions and opening and closing dates and times.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

The Canal Corporation is a proud supporter of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, a year long celebration designed to commemorate 400 years of progress in the Empire State. For more information on the Quadricentennial, please visit www.exploreny400.com

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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