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Advancing Ecotourism
- 1. Advancing Ecotourism and GreenTransportation in New York State SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 HEARST MEDIA CENTER
- 2. Advancing Green Transportation Through Environmental Organizations •Public & Quasi-Public Organizations • Find common ground across mutual interests…it is the key to making projects happen! • Get engagement from all levels • Get involved • Polite Persistence
- 3. Grassroots Coordination • Moreconnectivity than may be realized? • Often volunteer organizations • These groups can make a difference if included early…provide free technical assistance, project support • Can increase ability for increased outreach • Can be slow going but it is effective…and transportation projects are often medium- to longer-term Fostering cooperation between environmental orgs. and transportation agencies
- 4. Schenectady County Environmental AdvisoryCouncil (SCEAC) Reports to the County Legislature Consists of environmentally-foc used individuals from diverse backgrounds Began a Transportation Committee just two years ago •Focus: To help communities realize the opportunities and needs for increased non-motorized transportation options & coordination •Quarterly meetings •Act as a clearinghouse of information •E-blast list to about 500 individuals •Several different committees •Work for state and local governments, private sector •Cross-committee interests provides additional support •Council created by County Legislature over 2 decades ago
- 5. SCEAC – PublicAwareness This work has brought about increased awareness of bicycling in Schenectady County and created a new coordination entity among govt’s 1 We have more people in the County engaged in the discussion than we did 2 years ago 2 2016: CDTC-funded our safety outreach campaign…got great positive feedback - Need more events - Better connections 3
- 6. SCEAC - Influence 1 Nota decision-making body but have positively influenced decision-making 2 Focused on bikes as transportation…but actions directly influence recreational riders, eco-tourism and economic development 3 Schenectady County was recently designated a Certified Climate Smart Community…and our work helps support this effort
- 7. Eco-Tourism • Not muchof a coordinated approach…yet • Schenectady Co. using Casino revenue to create a tourism position at the County…new opportunity - ~$400,000 budget •Need a Plan… • SCEAC looks across the County for opportunities…but most often alt. transportation work focused in the urbanized (suburban) areas…leaves out the rural opportunities • Identify routes/destinations to make logical connections people will use. •Regulations/Zoning • Can potentially hinder eco-tourism • Can have the infrastructure but without the local land use framework… • Duanesburg has new agri-tourism zoning
- 8. Work Together to MaximizeBenefits Projects may be focused on one area but can provide multi-faceted benefits…and build off one another to create buzz about bicycling needs and opportunities. • City of Schenectady completed Bike Plan Update • Town of Glenville developing a Complete Streets Concept Plan • Electric City Bike Rescue out in the community regularly • Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour is very visible in the County each summer • Mohawk Harbor Mixed-Use Redevelopment (Schenectady)
- 9. Find the CommonGround Something for just about everyone with bike projects: • Provide Transportation Alternatives • Economic Development & Eco-Tourism (Zoning!) • EJ Equity/Equality • Age Equity/Equality (Kids and Seniors can ride…can’t all drive) • Climate conscious decision-making • Health (Significant quality-of-life & $$$ factor) • Safety • Sustainability • The list goes on and on…
- 10. Get Engaged Find volunteer opportunitiesrelated to environmental organizations – they are interested in this topic 1 Other groups are already/are getting involved…particularly in the health field 2 There are other County Environmental Councils in NYS (as well as many local & non-profits with similar focus) 3
- 11. Other County Environmental Councils* •Broome County EMC • Chautauqua County EMC • Chemung County EMC • Chenango County EMC • Columbia • Dutchess County EMC • Erie County EMC • Livingston County EMC • Monroe County EMC • Niagara County EMC • Niagara County EMC *May be others… • Oswego County EMC
- 12. EMC EMC Status EMC Chair EMC ChairEmail Phone Program Director Contact Contact Email Phone Fax Broome County EMC active André LaClair Andre.LaClair@L-3com.c om; andre.laclair@frontier.c om Beth Lucas, senior Planner blucas@co.broome.ny.us Ph: (607)778-2375, Fax: (607)778-2175 Chautauq ua County EMC active Dougla s Conroe dconroe@ciweb.org; 716-386-7464 Christine Kinn, Sr Planner kinnc@co.chautauqua.ny.us ; (716) 664-3262, x22; (716) 664-4515 fx Chemung County EMC active Lee Young e lhyounge@stny.rr.com 607-562-3988 Jennifer Trimber, EMC Director emc@co.chemung.ny.us; 607-271-9284 Chenango County EMC active Robert McNitt nysports@frontiernet.ne t; (518) 392-9216 607-334-6087 h. Rena Doing, Planner and EMC Liaison rmdoing@co.chenango.ny. us; (607) 337-1640 w; (607) 336-6551 fx Columbia active Ed Simons en kinderhooked@earthlink .net (518) 392-9216 Dutchess County EMC active Lalita Malik Noren e Coller ncoller@frontiernet.net 845-889-4016 Allison Chatyrchan (845) 677-5253 Ext. 126 w, (845) 677-0708 fx, 845-677-8223 CCEDC x136 Erie County EMC active James Loesch 716 662-0879 h. Thomas Hersey, Coordinator herseyt@erie.gov (716) 858-7674 (716) 858-7713 fx Livingsto n County EMC active Willia m McCle ary viceroy@frontiernet.net, (585) 346-6859 h Heather Ferrero, Staff Coordinator/Pl anner Hferrero@co.livingston.ny. us, (585) 243-7550, (585) 243-7566 Monroe County EMC active Louise Hartsh orn Lhartshorn@monroecou nty.gov Louise Hartshorn, Coordinator Lhartshorn@monroecounty .gov, (585) 753-5063w, (585) 324-1216 fx Niagara County EMC active Gail Walde r, EMC Co-Cha ir redwing@thewalders.ne t (716) 751-9679 h, (716) 807-8081 c. Niagara County EMC active James Hoffm an, EMC Co-Cha ir jcemhoff@juno.com Oswego County active David Hertzle Cathertzler@earthlink.n et