This 3.9 mile trail is composed of two segments on top of a former railroad bed in the Town of Tonawanda and the City of Tonawanda.  The railroad corridor was operated for both freight and passenger service dating back to the 1880's. Two track systems were in place.  A westerly set of tracks was primarily operated for passenger and freight service by a succession of companies beginning with New York & Erie Railroad Co., thru the Erie-Lackawanna railway to 1968.  The International Railway Company operated passenger service between Buffalo and Niagara falls from about 1918 to 1937 on the easterly set of tracks.  In 1988, the NFTA acquired the right-of-way from the Consolidated Rail Corporation thru New York State legislation.  This trail is contracted atop the westerly railroad bed.

In 2002, Erie County initiated the rail to trail project, seeking federal funding and working with partners at the New York State Department of Transportation, NFTA, Town of Tonawanda and the City of Tonawanda on the project planning and funding mechanisms as well as the operation and maintenance needs. This trail, constructed in 2016 by Erie County, is operated by the Town of Tonawanda and City of Tonawanda in their respective jurisdictions thru a cooperative agreement with the NFTA. 

  pdf Click here for a Rails to Trails map

The Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications for individuals wishing to purchase memorial plaques along the Town of Tonawanda Rails to Trails.  Bronze plaques with room for up to four lines can be ordered at a fee of three hundred dollars.  Carl Szarek, Councilman and Chairman of the Youth, Parks,and Recreation Committee stated that, “plaques can be purchased for numerous trees along the trail”.   Applications are available at Youth, Parks and Recreation facilities as well as the website.  

pdf Rails to Trails Application