Empire State Trail Economic Impact Study
750 Miles of Economic Impact in New York State
The Empire State Trail is a 750-mile, multi-use trail system—the longest in the United States—connecting communities across New York State and generating significant economic, health, and environmental benefits. Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) retained LaBella Associates and the Institute of Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) to lead a comprehensive study quantifying the trail’s economic impact across sectors, including tourism, recreation, transportation, and small business development. At the outset of the study, PTNY described it as “the most comprehensive greenway economic impact analysis ever undertaken in New York State.”
LaBella guided a collaborative, statewide effort working closely with PTNY and state agency partners, including New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, New York State Canal Corporation, and Hudson River Valley Greenway, to coordinate stakeholder engagement, data collection, and case study development. These partnerships were critical in facilitating access to trail users, local data, and on-the-ground insights across diverse communities along the corridor.
ITRE designed and implemented trail user surveys, analyzed visitation and spending patterns, and utilized IMPLAN modeling to quantify direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts, as well as health and environmental benefits.
The study integrated multiple data sources, including intercept surveys, cell phone visitation data, GIS analysis, and economic datasets. Field data collection at representative locations across the state supported development of user profiles, trip characteristics, and spending behavior, forming the foundation for a defensible and repeatable methodology.
The final deliverables provide a comprehensive estimate of the trail’s economic contribution statewide and by corridor, supported by detailed analysis of tourism, health, transportation, and community development benefits. The study equips PTNY, state agencies, and local communities with clear, data-driven insights to support funding, advocacy, and future investment in the Empire State Trail.
