With delays in getting a promised grant reimbursement for the Tuckahoe Trolley, the Generoso Pope Foundation has decided to donate the rest of the trolley cost, freeing up a chunk of state money for another trolley-related expenditure.
The Pope Foundation had already put up the money to purchase the roughly $185,000 trolley and had anticipated around $125,000 to be reimbursed by state money secured by Sen. Jeff Klein (D). But as it became clear amid that the legislative member item money was delayed, David Pope, the foundation's president, decided to donate the entire amount.
"Obviously the state of New York is in somewhat of a financial crisis," said Pope. "We said we're just going to make it a donation on our part."
However, Klein said that the money is still on its way and could still be used by the village for a connected to the trolley idea.
Tuckahoe Mayor Steven Ecklond (R) has suggested that, once it arrives, the grant could be used to construct a shelter for the trolley.
"It's trolley-related," said Klein. "We've got to change the application somewhat, but as long as it's related to the trolley, it's good."
HomeTown Twitter Feed
Communities
- Bronxville (39)
- Eastchester (75)
- Harrison (70)
- Larchmont (26)
- Mamaroneck (50)
- New Rochelle (42)
- Rye (72)
- Tuckahoe (99)
2 comments:
Thanks to the Pope Foundation for coming through for the community, but this is and was a waste of tax money. The last thing the community needed was a trolley. Have you seen the ridership? I've seen at most 5 people on that thing, with it usually riding around empty. Political waste - nothing more.
Please do not compound this wastefulness by building a trolley shelter. Even paying for taxi rides for the few people who use the trolley the two days, 14 hours it runs (in season) would be so much cheaper than the cost of the trolley plus gas and the cost of a driver. We are not Cape May where they make money doing trolley tours. Maybe they could use it to take town and village commuters to and from the train stations using Lake Isle as a commuter parking lot in the off season. At least they could charge for that. Then the $125,000 in state money could be used for something else, like closing the deficit.
Post a Comment