The New York State AAA announced with glee that Gov. Pataki is proposing legislation that would remove the NYS Canal system from the New York Thruway Authority and establish an independent State Canal Corporation. This parting of the ways will be phased in over three years and will be welcomed by motorists whose toll fees support the canal. The estimated saving for the Thruway Authority will be $305 million over that period. Pataki wants to make the canal part of the Empire State Greenway Alliance, linking the greenway programs of the Hudson River Valley, the Niagara River, and the Erie Canal to form the nation's largest greenway and attract tourism. The problem for boaters is that someone will have to pick up the cost of running the canal now that motorists are off the hook. I wonder who that will be? Legislators are unlikely to raise taxes on farmers and city dwellers to fund the recreation of the affluent boating class. Larry Z

Yeah well, we are the ones using it, right? I'll be the first one to chip in $100, and I might never do it again! Tommy ----- Original Message ----- From: <LRZeitlin@aol.com> To: <great-loop@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 8:28 PM Subject: GL: Erie Canal alert > The New York State AAA announced with glee that Gov. Pataki is proposing > legislation that would remove the NYS Canal system from the New York Thruway > Authority and establish an independent State Canal Corporation. This parting of the > ways will be phased in over three years and will be welcomed by motorists > whose toll fees support the canal. The estimated saving for the Thruway Authority > will be $305 million over that period. Pataki wants to make the canal part of > the Empire State Greenway Alliance, linking the greenway programs of the > Hudson River Valley, the Niagara River, and the Erie Canal to form the nation's > largest greenway and attract tourism. The problem for boaters is that someone > will have to pick up the cost of running the canal now that motorists are off > the hook. I wonder who that will be? Legislators are unlikely to raise taxes on > farmers and city dwellers to fund the recreation of the affluent boating > class. > > Larry Z > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop

Having just completed an 8 day trip on the Rideau canal for the first time, and being fairly familiar with the Erie and Oswego canal systems. I find it very strange the two countries run their canal systems so differently. It is safe to say the purpose of each system is to attract tourism to the respective areas. Unfortunately the Erie or should I say Mohawk River runs through some very economically depressed areas, unlike the Rideau Canal playground which is also enjoyed by the wealthy Ontarioites and a few Americans who own beautiful properties adjacent to the lakes connecting the system between Kingston and Ottawa. The amount of traffic the Rideau Canal attracts, probably far exceeds the Erie, at least between Oswego and the Hudson river, so do the user fees and rightly so, there were usually at least four students to help dock boats in the locks and operate the hand lock gates. From my experience the Erie only becomes busiest in the Fall and Spring, when we snowbirds head south and return. I certainly hope Gov. Pataki has a means of financing the NYS Canal system, because user fees will not raise the 300 million presently subsidized by the Thruway Authority. Graham Pugh Kando 11 Kingston, ON ----- Original Message ----- From: <LRZeitlin@aol.com> To: <great-loop@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 8:28 PM Subject: GL: Erie Canal alert > The New York State AAA announced with glee that Gov. Pataki is proposing > legislation that would remove the NYS Canal system from the New York > Thruway > Authority and establish an independent State Canal Corporation. This > parting of the > ways will be phased in over three years and will be welcomed by motorists > whose toll fees support the canal. The estimated saving for the Thruway > Authority > will be $305 million over that period. Pataki wants to make the canal part > of > the Empire State Greenway Alliance, linking the greenway programs of the > Hudson River Valley, the Niagara River, and the Erie Canal to form the > nation's > largest greenway and attract tourism. The problem for boaters is that > someone > will have to pick up the cost of running the canal now that motorists are > off > the hook. I wonder who that will be? Legislators are unlikely to raise > taxes on > farmers and city dwellers to fund the recreation of the affluent boating > class. > > Larry Z > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop