By Jeff Martin
ELLICOTTVILLE, NY – Small, determined steps often lead to mountaintops.
That may be the most apt lesson for members of the the Ellicottville Great Valley Trail Committee and community volunteers, who have been working since the early 2010s to create a safe multi-use trail network for pedestrians and cyclists.
Kate O’Stricker, the Senior Development Specialist for the Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism in Cattauragus County, said the Cattaraugus County recently received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration- to fund the design and alignment for portions of the EVGV trail. The federal grant was announced in July 2023, she said.
“There’s a lot going on with this project,” O’Stricker. “A lot of exciting updates.”
Formed in 2011 by local citizens, the committees progressing toward creating a safe multi-use trail network for pedestrians and cyclists. The committee raised over $60,000 to complete the EVGV Trail Master Plan in 2014, which identified the need for better walking and biking infrastructure in the community. The EVGV trail will connect with the Southern Tier Trail System. In total, that will comprise about 52 miles of trails.
While the project is often thought of as recreational, it is also about safety. O’Stricker said within the village and town of Ellicottville, and extending into Great Valley, pedestrians will be safely out of the way of traffic.
It’s been a huge concern and one, frankly, that’s been on grant-givers and funding sources’ minds, O’Stricker admits.
The committee is focusing on securing trail access in two key areas: the Tim Hortons Trail and Elk Creek Trail. According to O’Stricker, the Tim Hortons section has seen initial development, with negotiations underway for easements from seven landowners, five of whom have already approved the trail’s easement. The Elk Creek Trail recently completed its detailed design, funded by a $50,000 grant from the Ralph Wilson Foundation.
“The foundation said in plain terms that the EVGV Trail has to connect to something for them to fund it and that it will only fund 25% of the construction costs.” O’Stricker said with her contacts at the county, she was able to work with counterparts and secure funds for a feasibility study of the Southern Tier Trail, which connects the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail with the Genesee Valley Greenway. With the EVGV trail, all trails would connect, satisfying the foundations requirements. Collaborating with GOBike of Buffalo and the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development Planning and Tourism, the committee received a $540,000 grant from the Ralph Wilson Foundation for the Southern Tier Regional Trail Feasibility Study, establishing the EVGV Trail as the main connector between the towns of Ashford and Great Valley.
Following the feasibility study, Cattaraugus County applied for the design and alignment funds for the Southern Tier Trail, totaling $7 million of which close to $1 million will be used for the design of the EVGV Trail.
O’Stricker said the committee is still working hard to raise money for the actual construction and maintaining of the trail. Overall, the committee’s funding goal is approximately $1.88 million to develop the local portion of the trail system.
Negotiations for easements are currently in progress for both trail sections, according to O’Stricker, with support from the town and village of Ellicottville. Town officials have committed to managing easements and allocated funds for matching grant applications.
To ensure maintenance, the town has set aside funds for the trail with assistance from the EVGV Trail Committee. Phase 1 construction—covering the town center, Ellicottville Village Park, and Elk Creek to Elizabeth Street—is ready to start once funding is secured, with an estimated budget of $880,000.
The Tim Hortons section has an estimated budget of $1 million. Funding will primarily come from grants, with additional support from private donations and fundraising efforts to cover remaining costs.
For more information about the trail, visit www.evgvtrail.org
Formed in 2011 by local citizens, the committees progressing toward creating a safe multi-use trail network for pedestrians and cyclists. The committee raised over $60,000 to complete the EVGV Trail Master Plan in 2014, which identified the need for better walking and biking infrastructure in the community. The EVGV trail will connect with the Southern Tier Trail System. In total, that will comprise about 52 miles of trails.
Caption for Map: First Section Under Construction: Gold line is the first section of trail. It begins on Elizabeth Street, just off downtown, goes by the bowling alley, travels along Elk Creek and through Village Park. There it turns east towards the Arboretum and comes out by Town Center. It turns east again, travels along the base of the hills to come out by Tim Horton’s on 219