Summary of Specifications:
The County of Ulster (“the County”) is seeking proposals from experienced operators to develop tourist railroad operations on one, or both, of two available segments of the County-owned Ulster & Delaware (“U&D”) Railroad corridor. Located in the Hudson River Valley region of New York State, Ulster County is 90 minutes north of New York City and one hour south of Albany. The County has a robust and growing tourism sector (more than $500 million annually) and is seeking to further develop this sector by using two designated segments of the U&D Railroad corridor for tourist railroad uses (please refer to map of available segments in Attachment A). Other segments of the U&D Railroad corridor are being converted to non-motorized recreational trails, which in the future will connect to the tourist railroad operations and will be designed to complement and benefit both rail and trail uses. The identified track segments are currently under a long-term lease to a tourist railroad operator, for which the lease expires on May 31, 2016. The County is interested in identifying and working with a successful tourist railroad operator or operators to further develop the potential of the two available segments of the U&D corridor following the expiration of the current lease. Responders are invited to submit proposals to operate on part, or all, of one or both of the two available railroad segments. The County is interested in maximizing the public benefit of the available railroad segments and promoting economic development and tourism. Sections of both available segments have been used in recent years for theme trains and scenic excursions, which the County would like to further expand and enhance in the future. Rail-based tourist alternatives, such as rail bike operations, may also be considered in one or both of the available railroad segments. The County anticipates that the selected responder(s) will negotiate an agreement with the County to utilize the available railroad segment(s) for up to five (5) years before renewal or re-solicitation. The County further anticipates that the future operator(s) will be responsible for the maintenance of the segment(s), including, but not limited to, maintenance of track and ties, clearing and repair of drainage facilities, inspection and repair to embankment and railroad structures, vegetative control along right-of-way, clearance of litter and debris, and upkeep of any supporting facilities, such as ticketing areas, parking areas, and loading platforms.
