3 MAR 2005: Save the Katy Bridge at Boonville

UPDATE 3 MARCH 2005: Paula Shannon of the "Save the Katy Bridge" committee sent the following:
In 1987 the Katy Trail was given ownership to the bridge in the Rails to Trails Agreement. MKT Railroad was given $200,000 for the purchase of the Katy Bridge. Now Union Pacific is asking Governor Blunt to award the ownership of the bridge to the railroad so the steel can be recycled. The decision of ownership of the Katy Bridge is in Governor Blunt's office. Senator Stouffer is scheduled to meet with the governor the first of the week to discuss the issues. The Save the Bridge Committee is working on a multiple stage plan to develop the Katy Bridge into the Katy Trail.

Senator Stouffer is asking everyone in support of saving the bridge to call his toll free number 1-866-768-3987.

He feels these phone calls can make a big impact on Governor Blunt's decision.
Read on for more details about this issue:

Summary: Contact Governor Blunt and ask him to "Save the Katy Bridge at Boonville".
Contact: mogov@mail.state.mo.us, (573) 751-3222


Union Pacific is proposing to dismantle the MK&T; railroad bridge at Boonville and move it to another location. The MK&T; bridge was part of the railroad line abandoned and now used as the Katy Trail. Trail advocates have long wanted to convert the bridge for use as a bike/ped bridge, a tourist attraction, and a link across the Missouri River for Katy Trail users (the Katy Trail currently crosses the river using the highway bridge).

According to Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, the bridge can be seen as the nucleus of the Katy Trail in central Missouri.

"The Missouri Department of Natural Resources claimed the rights to use the bridge as part of the Katy Trail through a letter former director Stephen Mahfood sent to the Union Pacific Railroad Co. Dec. 23, 2004." [1] The letter was issued by outgoing DNR director Stephen Mahfood as his last official act of office.

Now the question is: will the incoming administration of Matt Blunt support the DNR's claim to the bridge?

Trail supporters, organized as "Save the Katy Bridge", have asked supporters from across Missouri to contact Governor Blunt and ask him to "Save the Katy Bridge at Boonville".

Significant opposition to the effort to save the bridge has arisen from business interests who would benefit from the bridge's demolition.

Contact information for Governor Blunt:
Governor Matt Blunt
P.O. Box 809-A
Jefferson City MO 65102
Telephone: (573) 751-3222

Email: mogov@mail.state.mo.us
Background:
Newspaper articles: 1, 2, 3

Summary of previous MOBikeFed News coverage of the Katy Trail Bridge issue.

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