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Moedinger said Strasburg Rail Road sells 300,000 regular tickets a year, so the trust can expect about $15,000 annually. The trust spends an average of about $500 for the permanent development rights of each acre that it preserves. But Martynick said that doesn't mean just 30 acres a year will be preserved as a result of the initiative. Thanks to a – more... challenge grant from the county, the trust will match the railroad's annual donation dollar for dollar, she said. Other funding also can be combined with the new source to preserve farms faster.
Also, the trust is hoping the railroad's marketing of the trust's mission to protect farmland from development will lead to even more funding for the area. "We should be able to act immediately when one of these farms wants to be preserved," Martynick said. She added, however, that no time frame exists for preservation of the corridor.
Moedinger said he talked with some of the railroad's farming neighbors, and they showed some interest in preserving their farms. Strasburg Rail Road set its funding level by what it could afford, not by any preservation goals, Moedinger said. It has committed to three years of funding, he said. The total given per ticket will be reevaluated every year. Martynick said the Strasburg Rail Road initiative will not derail the trust's efforts to preserve farms elsewhere in the county. It could prompt businesses who would like to see certain farms in their area to be preserved to pursue talks with the trust about helping to fund such efforts, she said.
Strasburg Rail Road patrons take a 45-minute train ride through the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country in Paradise and Strasburg townships. Moedinger said the farm scenery along the 7-mile round trip provides at least half of the riders' enjoyment. "It's the only thing that separates us from the rest of the world and makes us unique," he said. "We don't have mountains or beaches. You can go anywhere to see trains or an amusement park. Our unique landscape is one of the most beautiful in the country."
Moedinger stressed that the loss of farmland could one day seriously hurt the entire county's economy and way of life. "If Lancaster County doesn't have farmland, it doesn't have tourism," he said bluntly.
In talks with companies, the trust is presenting the case that supporting the preservation of farmland is not just an act of generosity, but also is beneficial to the businesses' long-term plans. Since 1988, the trust has preserved 207 farms totaling 12,904 acres of farmland.
The Strasburg Rail Road was chartered in 1832 as a line to haul freight and passengers from Strasburg to the main line. America's oldest short-line railroad, it is home to museum-quality, working, turn-of-the century steam locomotives, freight cars, dining cars, private cars and one of the largest fleets of historic wooden passenger cars in the world. – less – More from ZoomInfo »
ROAD AND RAIL Employer Reviews
ROAD AND RAIL
good place to work to use as a stepping stone.
Porter (Former Employee), Houston, TX – April 1, 2012
