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| May 05, 2024 |
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General News: Trolley Plans Hit Road Block
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| Kurt Hahn told the town board about hurdles the proposed trolley business faces. |
October 12, 2011
By Charlie B. Scirbona
The Cornwall town board approved the franchise rights for the Storm King Trolley Company to operate a seasonal trolley from Cornwall to neighboring towns, but a greater obstacle is standing in the company’s way.
The board held a public hearing Tuesday for the trolley company; however the only person to speak up was the prospective owner, Kurt Hahn. He thanked the board for holding the hearing but said that he’s run into a financial roadblock in trying to get the company off the ground.
Hahn explained that because his trolley would be able to hold more than 15 passengers, the New York state Department of Transportation requires that he take out a $5 million liability insurance policy, which would cost him $14,400. He added that the state also requires $13,300 for workman’s compensation up front. Hahn said that these expenses plus the cost of storage, maintenance, and paying employees made financing almost infeasible.
“I could get the financing for it, but I couldn’t sleep at night with those kinds of numbers,” said Hahn.
Hahn envisioned the trolley company running in a 15-mile radius from the town, making stops in the village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New Windsor and at the Newburgh water front. With the decision to end Dial-a-Bus service this spring, Hahn said he’s had a lot of senior citizens asking him how his plans were coming along.
Hahn said these financial hurdles only mean that there would be a delay while he works to restructure his business plan. He said that he was thinking of making it a corporation and including his current sponsors as stock holders in the corporation. Hahn added that his idea came with its own set of problems.
“We’ve hit some stumbling blocks, but I hope I can restructure my plans and get back on track,” said Hahn.
Comments:
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Kurt,
Contact MaryKay Vrba at the Dutchess County Dept of Tourism. She received grant funding from a variety of sources, including USDA's Rural Development for a similar project to bus people from NYC upstate to tour farms. I am sure she would share her success.
posted by j h on 10/13/11 at 11:23 AM
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Thank you Ira!
posted by Kurt Hahn on 10/13/11 at 12:19 PM
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