Katy Trails' economic impact

Many people have asked about the economic impact of the Katy Trail on Missouri towns and businesses.

In 2001, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had a lengthy article discussing the various economic impacts and giving the viewpoint of several small business owners, talking about both the highs and the lows.

"I think the floods have really caused a death and a resurrection of new business. A lot of the old merchants have sold out and have been replaced by new people," Reed said.

"This year the business on the trail is definitely picking up. There's a whole new attitude, a whole new hope," Reed said. "This August was our best month, and normally August is a slow month... On any given weekend day, we will ring the cash register 300 times." Reed makes and sells bent-wood furniture and musical instruments and operates the Touring Cyclist's bicycle rental outlet.