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ERIE CATTARAUGUS RAIL TRAIL INC
ORCHARD PARK, NY · EIN 270205515 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE C30 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · ecattrail.org
revenue
$116K
expenses
$58K
net assets
$448K
employees
0
volunteers
100
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. (ECRT) is the trail manager for the railbanked portion of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Railway in Western NY. Over twenty-seven miles long, this railroad right-of-way connects the nine communities along the trail, including the Village and Town of Orchard Park, Aurora, West Falls, Colden, East Concord, Springville, West Valley and Ashford, New York. ECRT will construct and maintain the multi-use recreational trail, Thereby helping to develop a healthy, connected, and economically vibrant Western New York community. ECRT will preserve the 27 mile Buffalo-Pittsburgh rail corridor and is transforming it into a multi-use recreational trail between Orchard Park and Ashford, New York, enhancing the quality of life in the Western New York Community.

profile · synthesized from sources

Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc. (ECRT) is a nonprofit managing the transformation of a 27-mile abandoned rail corridor into a multi-use recreational trail between Orchard Park and Ashford, New York. The organization focuses on trail construction, maintenance, and community engagement to enhance quality of life, promote public health, and stimulate economic development in Western New York. ECRT serves as the steward of the railbanked corridor under a federal agreement.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Engagement and Education
Hosts visioning meetings, listening sessions, and public updates to involve communities in trail planning and foster stewardship
EA2EVL Fondo
Annual cycling event promoting trail use and community involvement, with safety briefings and group rides
Trail Construction and Maintenance
Develops and maintains a 27-mile multi-use recreational trail on the former Buffalo-Pittsburgh rail corridor, including signage, surface improvements, and safety measures
Volunteer Program
Recruits and organizes volunteers for trail maintenance, event planning, communications, fundraising, and community outreach
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 3 activities
    • Conducts trail construction and maintenance activities
      Performs ongoing trail maintenance including debris removal, sign installation, grading, and reporting of issues. Cleared, graded, and removed rails and ties from a two-mile section of the B&PR right-of-way in Orchard Park.
    • Develops and maintains a 27-mile multi-use recreational rail trail
      Manages, constructs, and maintains a 27-mile multi-use recreational trail along the railbanked Buffalo-Pittsburgh Railway corridor in Western New York, spanning from Orchard Park to Ashford and crossing five municipalities and two counties. Provides public access for walking, running, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing, with approximately 11.3 miles currently operational.
    • Engages communities in trail development and operation
      Engages individuals from trail-adjacent communities in the development and operation of the multi-use trail, fostering local involvement and stewardship.
  • Organized Community Cycling Events 1 activity
    • Organizes trail-related events
      Organizes and hosts events such as the EA2EVL Fondo and annual gatherings to promote engagement with the trail and its development.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Produces and shares educational and planning resources
      Produces and shares trail studies, concept renderings, videos, presentations, photos, and other resources related to the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail. Provides access to research, planning documents, letters of support, and community overviews with demographic and infrastructure data.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$116K
Contributions & grants$72K62%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5680%
Other revenue$44K
expenses
Total expenses$58K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$448K
Cash$170K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$448K
Liquid reserves35.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +227.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 21
  • Dale Morris — director
  • Deborah Stellrech — director
  • Dorthea Wattles — director
  • Francis Hogenkamp — director
  • Gary Koeppel — vice-president
  • Gerald Reger — secretary
  • Howy Holmes — director
  • Jeffery Sellers — director
  • Jeffrey Sellers — director
  • John Landi — director
  • Kathleen McCrone — director
  • Lauren Weber — director
  • Lisa Rood — director
  • Marc Romanowski — director
  • Mary Brummer — president
  • Michael Conway — director
  • Murray Covello — director
  • Robert Balllard — director
  • Steve Musso — treasurer
  • Thomas Grogan — director
  • Timothy Bienkowski — director
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Government — Partner in the Federal Rail Banking Agreement for the preservation and adaptive reuse of the rail corridor.
  • Daytime Buffalo Partner — Collaborates on event promotion and coverage.
  • ECRT Board Partner — Collaborates on developing the trail blueprint and advancing trail development.
  • ERIE CATTARAUGUS RAIL TRAIL INC Network — Member organization maintaining and promoting the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail
  • UB Urban Design Project Partner — Collaborated with Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail to create concept renderings of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Corridor.
  • Village of Springville Partner — Collaborates on the development and opening of the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail segment.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Driven Trail Development
    methodology: community-driven development
    By engaging volunteers and local stakeholders in planning, fundraising, and advocacy, we advance trail development because community ownership increases project legitimacy, sustainability, and alignment with local needs.
  • Integrated Regional Connectivity
    methodology: regional-trail-network-integration
    By designing the trail as a connecting link within a broader regional trail network, we enhance accessibility and usage because integration increases route utility and encourages multi-jurisdictional collaboration.
  • Participatory Planning with Data-Informed Engagement
    methodology: community_engaged_planning
    By using conceptual renderings, virtual tours, and community assessments to guide decision-making, we foster inclusive development because visual and accessible information increases public understanding and trust in planning processes.
  • Railbanking for Community Revitalization
    methodology: recreational-trail-development-for-community-vitality
    By converting inactive railway corridors into public recreational trails through railbanking, we promote community health, connectivity, and economic vitality, because repurposed infrastructure strengthens regional identity and activates underutilized assets.
  • Trail-Linked Economic Development
    methodology: trail_linked_economic_development
    By aligning trail development with local economic revitalization plans, we support trail-adjacent businesses and regional growth because accessible recreation infrastructure attracts visitors and stimulates investment.