Missouri Bicycle News Article

A coalition of cities and agencies is banding together to negotiate with Union Pacific for rights to use the Rock Island Railroad corridor to create a link to the Katy Trail.

The recently announced deal between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and AmerenUE will bring the Katy Trail to Pleasant Hill, Missouri, within the next 2 1/2 years.

However Pleasant Hill is still approximately 12 miles from the core of the Kansas City metro area. A remaining 12 miles of Rock Island Railroad corridor that is controlled by Union Pacific Railroad could extend the Katy Trail Connection from Pleasant Hill through Greenwood, Lee's Summit, and Raytown to end in Kansas City, Missouri, near the sports complex. There the trail would connect to the planned Blue River Trail, which will extend to downtown Kansas City, Missouri, meeting the existing Riverfront Heritage Trail and the planned Missouri River crossings there.

Once across the Missouri River, the key (and most difficult) connection needed to make the Quad States Trail System a reality will be in place.

The Rock Island Coalition is being organized by the Mid-America Regional Council and the Missouri Bicycle Federation is a member.

The Lee's Summit Tribune article says:

Lee's Summit is now part of a coalition of governments who are working together to purchase the former Rock Island railroad line.

Officials want to purchase the right of way along the line to connect Kansas City to the Katy Trail State Park and provide a future corridor for commuter rail.

The City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to join the Kansas City Area Rock Island Corridor Coalition.

Over the past year, the city has negotiated with Union Pacific, which owns the line, about purchasing 8.5 miles of the Rock Island within the city limits.

Click here for a map showing the Rock Island Railroad's route through Pleasant Hill, Greenwood, Lee's Summit, Raytown, and Kansas City.

Related:

News: Group sues over Katy Bridge at Boonville giveaway

News: Removing Katy Bridge at Boonville will endanger entire Katy Trail

News: Katy Trail Connection--where will it go?

News: Updates on Katy Trail to KC connection in June

News: Governor Nixon announces start of work on the Katy Trail Connection to Kansas City