Carthage encourages bike/ped access on new Route 66 bridges - The Carthage Press

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Beckham has been one of the promoters of “alternative transportation” in Carthage since he joined the Carthage City Council three years ago, pushing the creation of the Walnut Bottoms Trail and the establishment of bike lanes on Carthage city streets.

Now he wants to make sure MoDOT includes bike lanes on the new bridges being built over the railroad tracks on the east side of town, and over the Spring River overflow at Kellogg Lake Park.

At a recent city council meeting, he encouraged council members and residents to come to Thursday's meeting and encourage MoDOT to work with the city on this.

Beckham said the traffic is there — children and adults can be seen walking or riding bikes over the existing bridges to go to Kellogg Lake Park to play or swim in Spring River throughout the summer.

“(One of) the factors they're concerned with are, are there bicycle and pedestrian traffic generators in the area?” Beckham said. “There are, with Kellogg Lake, with Route 66. Is there evidence of said traffic? There is, we have park usage, we have data showing Route 66 tourists are using bicycles. Does it provide access over a natural barrier, is there no other way for bicyclists or pedestrians to get there? Yes, Spring River.”

Beckham said the city has a master plan for trails and bike lanes that includes lanes to Kellogg Lake, but community support will be key to convincing MoDOT to include bike and pedestrian access on the bridges.

Link: 

Carthage encourages bike/ped access on new Route 66 bridges - The Carthage Press

MoBikeFed comment: The public meeting mentioned in the article is over, but you can still contact MoDOT in support of bike/ped access on these bridges. Details in our advocacy alert here:

http://mobikefed.org/2016/07/meeting-july-14th-bikeped-new-hwy-96-bicycl...