Rather than its usual meeting spot at the Tupper Lake Town Hall, the board scheduled this meeting just down the street at the Tupper Lake train station. It met there to begin planning how the town would oversee and operate the station’s interior as soon as renovations are complete.

Those are expected to wrap up in July, according to town Supervisor Rickey Dattola. He added that this was an estimate, and subject to change. The construction is being performed by Bette & Cring. The firm was awarded the state Department of Transportation’s bids for the project in September 2023, and began work at the train station shortly after the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

“They’re optimistic that they’re going to be out of here by July,” Dattola said.

He added it was important for the town to take a proactive approach in its planning for the station’s inside, as things will become busier for town employees and resources as the calendar shifts into summer. He has been meeting with various stakeholders over the past several months, including the Adirondack Railroad Preservation Association and Adirondack Rail Trail Association.

Town Supervisor Rickey Dattola looks on inside the Tupper Lake train station Thursday afternoon. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Tupper Lake is the northern terminus of the Adirondack Railroad, which extends south to Utica, and the southern terminus of the Adirondack Rail Trail, which stretches north to Lake Placid. The railroad was originally constructed in 1892. The rise of automobiles diminished passenger and freight volume on the railroad throughout the first half of the 20th century, ceasing in 1965 and 1972, respectively, with a brief period of passenger service from Utica to Lake Placid for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games.

The tracks became defunct for a time until a restoration effort near the Thendara/Old Forge section of the track began in 1992. By 2022, the railroad to Tupper Lake had been restored, and scenic rides began operating. The 34-mile section of track between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid was removed and converted into a multi-use rail trail, capping off a lengthy battle between those who wanted to see the railroad restored in its entirety and those who wanted to see the section of rail between Old Forge and Lake Placid be converted into a multi-use trail.

The board has been gathering feedback from the groups on how the town can operate the train station in a manner that serves Tupper Lake’s unique role as terminus for both the railroad and the trail. He credited Town Clerk Mary Kay Strack and Town Assessor Jessica Eggsware for their work in researching and pursuing grants to assist in the funding needed for potential operational aspects, such as informational kiosks, as well as key considerations for the board as they figure out how they wish to operate the station.

These include how the station will be staffed — such as establishing a schedule for volunteers — when the station will be opened, how office space will be used, how the station will be cleaned and how its exterior will be maintained. The board did not take up any resolutions at its meeting on Thursday to adopt any specific management plans, but Dattola encouraged Strack and Eggsware to draft a management plan for the board to vote on and put into action as soon as the state’s construction is done.

“I think if you get us a plan, this board is ready to move,” he said.