The description of the Auburn Trail, "Happy trails to whom?" June 11, misses two important facts of the area, and leaves some impressions that are probably wrong. "It has this really wild natural feel," is correct at first glance, but the truth is: this is some of the least natural environments possible. It is a railroad bed. It was an active line for well over 100-years, part of the mainline of the New York Central, and was active up into the 1970s. Most of the section in question is either filled embankment (up to 40-feet of fill) or cut through a hill, and all is surfaced with ballast stone and cinders. And yet it does have a "natural feel," and will continue to have that feel after the project is completed. The second fact is the land owner is RG&E who uses the property for a high-voltage power line corridor. They will and must have a wide road surface for their service vehicles both for routine and emergency access. Also, they will not permit any vegetation to grow so it could possibly interfere with the lines. For the last 15-years Victor Hiking Trails, Inc. has had a permit from RG&E for a trail corridor and has mowed it to about 10-feet wide and trimmed this section for a foot path and emergency access. It is the result of this maintenance that there is any foot access or meadowland in this section. Without VHT's work, RG&E would clear cut the whole section, and possibly use herbicide on it. This is the lowest cost way of providing the service they must. In the past they have done such clear cutting on other sections of the Auburn bed (NY 251 to School Street in Victor) before VHT could provide the service. The two primary species of plants that grow fastest in this very disturbed "soil" are newly introduced invasive aggressive alien species: multiflora rose and olive trees. We did not see these 10-years ago. Now, they require heavy trimming several times a year to keep open any access by foot. The width of the stone dust path is neither an arbitrary number nor was it designated locally. It is the result of nation-wide experience, some tragic, for what is a safe width for shared use paths. The AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) in Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, 1999, www.sccrtc.org/bikes/AASHTO_1999_BikeBook.pdf (the basis for the grant to do the Auburn Trail), recommends a 10-foot wide prepared surface with 2-foot shoulders, ie, a total of 4-feet wider than currently mowed. The guide goes on to say In rare instances, a reduced width of 2.4m(8 feet) can be adequate. This reduced width should be used only where the following conditions prevail: (1) bicycle traffic is expected to be low, even on peak days or during peak hours, (2) pedestrian use of the facility is not expected to be more than occasional, (3) there will be good horizontal and vertical alignment providing safe and frequent passing opportunities, and (4) during normal maintenance activities the path will not be subjected to maintenance vehicle loading conditions that would cause pavement edge damage. This section does not meet conditions (1), (2), or (4) for exception. Again, the reason for the wider surface is the safety of all users. Look at the picture by Matt Deturck published with the City article (the full one in the online edition rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/ENVIRONMENT:+Happy+trails+to+whom+/ , not the cropped version on paper). There we can see the pedestrians using binoculars and looking off to the side, are dangerously close to the worn trail should some kid come by on a bike, and they are not paying any attention to such traffic. The best outcome of this discussion would be more meadow open space for native plants, birds, butterflies, and other critters. But to remain a meadow, the land needs regular maintenance. It would be great if the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club or other group could provide such annual or bi-annual service and secure revocable permits from land owners, including RG&E and BANC, for such service. I for one would like to see such meadows along side this trail and many more of the over 40-miles of trails in Victor. An example of maintained meadow is the Maryfrancis Blue Bird Haven park, where VHT also has a trail. No railroad to path conversion is going to look like "a cute mountain hiking trail." These are shared use paths and as such must be safe for all users. As for what this section will look like after the work, I recommend to each of you to look at the nearly completed sections of the Auburn Trail in the Village of Victor, just east of the parking lot off of Maple Ave. for a woods section, and just east of Brace Rd for a more open, meadow section. For disclosure, I am a long time resident of the area, and walked this corridor in the 1960s. I am also a long time member, active volunteer of trail maintenance, and officer of Victor Hiking Trails, but am speaking for myself, not that organization nor the town of Victor.