PRESS RELEASE: Katy Trail Connection to Kansas City announced

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/29/2007

Contact: Dr. Brent Hugh
Executive Director
Missouri Bicycle Federation
5916 Arlington Ave
Raytown, MO 64133
876-695-6736 (cell)
816-356-1740 (home)
director@MoBikeFed.org


Katy Trail Connection to Kansas City Announced

"Complete Katy Trail" has been goal of Missouri Bicycle Federation for many years


Today the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Attorney General, and Ameren, announced a settlement in the Taum Sauk case. The settlement included a Trail Agreement allowing the state to build a trail connecting Windsor, on the Katy Trail, and Pleasant Hill, on the edge of the Kansas City metro area.

"We couldn't be more pleased by the agreement to 'Complete the Katy Trail' by connecting it to the Kansas City metro area," says Brent Hugh, Executive Director of the Missouri Bicycle Federation.

Together with bicycling, walking, running, and trails groups across the state, the Missouri Bicycle Federation has been working for the Katy Trail connection to Kansas City for over a decade.

When the Taum Sauk dam broke, and it become clear that Ameren would be responsible for millions in reparations to the state, the Federation's efforts moved into high gear.
"Over 5000 citizens have email, mailed, or called the Department of Natural Resources, the Attorney General, and Ameren since December 2005," says Hugh. "The outpouring of support for the Complete Katy Trail has just been amazing."

Cities and agencies have made plans for the connecting links, passed resolutions of support, and even built portions of the connecting links that will be needed.

What is the route of the Katy Trail connection to Kansas City? Maps here:

http://mobikefed.org/2007/11/katy-trail-connection-where-will-it-go.php

What this "shared corridor" rails-with-trails project might look like:

http://mobikefed.org/katy-trail-sharedcorridor2.gif
(visualization credit: "Mid-America Regional Council")

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