ALBANY - A Canadian railroad has agreed to lower its radio towers in the Adirondacks after the state and an environmental group fought the plan for years.

State officials and The Adirondack Council wanted the Calgary-based Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. to change its plans to build 165-foot radio towers through the environmentally sensitive Adirondack Park.

The company argued that federal law in the United States that allow such necessary safety projects for railroads superseded state law.

But after the state's Adirondack Park Agency, Department of Environmental Conservation and Adirondack Council faced the railroad in court, negotiations began.

Now the company will retain 165-foot towers in Saratoga and Washington counties outside the park but will replace other 165-foot towers inside the park with 95-foot antennas in Dresden, Washington County and Crown Point, Whallonsburg and Port Kent in Essex County.

“At first the company seemed unaware of the importance of preserving the park's scenic beauty and its historic hamlets,” said Brian Houseal of The Adirondack Council. “Now, CP Rail has become a willing partner in protecting both.”

The railroad said its towers won't be used by cellular phone companies.

The council also tried to pressure the railroad by spurring news stories in Canada about the company's plans that would, in the council's view, damage the mountain environment.

“We came to the conclusion we were going to be able to resolve this to everyone's satisfaction and we withdrew the suit,” railroad spokesman Michel Spenard said Friday. “Everybody is satisfied.”

Work will resume on the railroad's upgrade of the outdated communications network that dates to the 1800s when communications were by telegraph. Fiber optics and other technology is now used to handle traffic and safety communications.

“We've reached a consensus; one that balances the railroad's communication and transportation needs with compliance to our policies and regulations,” said the park agency's Keith McKeever.

State officials, meanwhile, also announced on Friday an open-space protection deal that will protect a habitat for the bobolink, a vulnerable bird species.

State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Denise Sheehan said the state would pay $113,000 for 43 acres in the Albany suburb of Bethlehem.

The purchase will allow the expansion of the state Five Rivers Environmental Education Center that attracts more than 100,000 hikers, bird watchers and naturalists.

The 400-acre preserve has 10 miles of trails used for hiking, strolling and cross-country skiing and is heavily used by school groups.

“This acquisition will be instrumental in expanding the center's wildlife conservation area, birding areas, and hiking opportunities,” Sheehan said.

With the purchase, the state nears Gov. George Pataki's goal of preserving one million acres during his three terms in office. The state has preserved more than 932,000 acres since 1995, spending more than $13 billion to protect wild and open land from development.