NYS Underground Railroad Consortium to host public meetings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State is hosting public meetings so folks can learn about its proposed Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Corridor. Oran Spitzer spoke with a committee member to learn about the proposed plan.

The Underground Railroad Consortium invites all that will be affected by the scenic corridor to attend its public meetings including residents, business owners, and elected officials.

Karen Kuhl, the Executive Director of the Cayuga Tourism Office says, “This is a byway that will belong to the state that will belong to every resident every business that it crosses it has huge potential for economic development but even beyond that is pride.”

Kuhl, who is also a member of the consortium, says the real goal is a scenic byway but that requires a designation by the governor.

“But it would be a corridor a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad corridor as a tourism product that can get started,” states Kuhl.

Now they are working through Department of Transportation requirements to develop a corridor management plan.

Kuhl says the corridor will go from NYC, up the Hudson, along the Erie Canal, crossing into Niagara Falls, and into Canada– 499.6 miles.

Kuhl continues, “On one hand I want to push it to get to the 500 but on the other, I think it’s a funner story to be almost at the 500. Right?”

Some concerns have been brought up like public business advertising. Though businesses along the route will be able to advertise from their business new ones wouldn’t be allowed with this new designation.

“But it would bring more business to those businesses so that’s part of the growth that we’re hoping to demonstrate,” adds Kuhl.

The public session will include a presentation by the consortium and they’ll take questions. The Rochester open house will be on Monday at 6 p.m. at Legacy Drama House.

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