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Complete Streets kicks in: Big improvements, including better sidewalks, bike lanes, coming to U.S. 24 & Hwy 40 in Independence - www.examiner.net

Fri, 11/29/2019 - 7:14am

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Within a couple years, Independence Public Works and the Missouri Department of Transportation plan to start transforming a large portion of U.S. 24.

Starting in 2021, the two departments will combine funds – much of it grant money – to expand and enhance U.S. 24. That includes turning four-lane stretches into five lanes with center turn lanes, improving intersections with a better turn radius and adding “complete streets” additions such as sidewalks, curbs and gutters and dedicated bike lanes.

Officials are looking at a two-phase project. U.S. 24 from Missouri 291 west to River Boulevard (just past the Truman Library) would happen in 2021-22. From River to west to Wilson Road (just east of the railroad tracks in the Fairmount neighborhood) is slated for 2023-24.

“This is a project that’s really come together the last few weeks and months,” Tim Gramling, Independence’s public works director, said earlier this week while discussing the project with the City Council. “It’s kind of morphed into the possibility of a significantly transformative project.” . . .

Independence also has a complete streets project for U.S. 40 slated for next year.

Link: 
Complete Streets kicks in: Big improvements, including better sidewalks, bike lanes, coming to U.S. 24 & Hwy 40 in Independence - www.examiner.net
MoBikeFed comment: Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) has one of the best Complete Streets policies of any Missouri MPO. One of the requirements for any federally-funded project through the MPO is that it must include significant Complete Streets elements.

And Independence passed its Complete Streets policy in 2011.

These two working together are part of what makes projects like Hwy 24 and 40 Hwy in Independence possible.

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Katy Trail review & recommendations: A Week on the Katy Trail - bentrideronline.com

Wed, 11/27/2019 - 7:33pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

I wanted to ride a trail that I had never been on, a trail that was not close by, a trail that I could spend a week on – and I found it. A few years ago, while crewing for a couple of RAAM teams, once I happened to notice, as we were traveling along some rural road in Missouri, a sign that indicated we were crossing the Katy Trail. When I got home, I did a little research, and everything I found out about it, I liked.

In brief, it’s the longest developed rail-trail in the United States. It lies along the corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT, or Katy). It stretches from a bit east of St. Charles to Clinton in the west, for a total of 240 miles. The surface is crushed limestone. While some of you may not like the idea of that much “gravel”, there’s really no need to worry. It’s not so deep that you’ll sink into a bunch of loose stuff and come to a grinding halt. Yes, you will need to pay attention, as there does tend to be some amount of loose gravel at the surface in some spots, and sudden turns or stops might lead to some skidding. . . .

Much of the eastern section borders the Missouri River, and you will be tempted to stop every few minutes to take some photographs. A bit further along the river, you’ll get to where you’re riding with the river just to your left, and high limestone bluffs on your right. More pictures! One thing that’s nice: in several spots you’ll find signs denoting some historic event (Lewis and Clark came this way!), or perhaps interesting tidbits about the plant life you’re passing (dense patches of horsetails!). . . .

Link: 
Katy Trail review & recommendations: A Week on the Katy Trail - bentrideronline.com
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Tarlton earns Missouri Keystone Award for major new pedestrian bridge serving 600K annually at Washington University in St Louis - rejournals.com

Tue, 11/26/2019 - 1:18pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Washington University looked to Tarlton to deconstruct and replace an outdated, narrow pedestrian bridge to improve navigation for students and cyclists that make an estimated 600,000 trips annually across the span. Due to the many entities impacted by the project, deconstruction, not heavy demolition, was a key factor in the project’s success. Tarlton carefully picked off precast side panel sections of the bridge before removing beams and then piers. The construction team placed two new 21-foot-wide steel bridge spans – each measuring 90 feet long and weighing more than 50 tons – in less than two days over a single weekend.

The new pedestrian bridge provides enhanced safety and access for the university’s students, faculty, staff and visitors, as well as area pedestrians, cyclists and residential neighbors. Those with accessibility needs or strollers also find the new bridge easier to navigate. Clearly marked paths give pedestrians and bicyclists separate lanes atop an 18-foot-wide deck – nearly twice as wide as the previous bridge. A new switchback ramp slows the descent of bicycle traffic.

Link: 
Tarlton earns Missouri Keystone Award for major new pedestrian bridge serving 600K annually at Washington University in St Louis - rejournals.com
MoBikeFed comment: The new bridge over Forest Park Parkway, which opened last fall, replaced one built in 2005 that was just 8.5 feet wide. The new bridge features separated lanes for walking and bicycling.

Washington University has made major strides in reducing automobile traffic by students and facility to, from, and within campus.

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After a few residents complain, public hearing leads to strong public support & Complete Streets remain on Armour Road in North Kansas City | BikeWalkKC

Mon, 11/25/2019 - 7:14am

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Last night, the North Kansas City City Council held a special public meeting to discuss the recent “complete street” improvements to Armour Road, to decide then and there whether to rip out the changes less than a month after they were completed.

The meeting, and its outcome, came down to numbers:

* Grassroots organizers in support (thanks to a combination of resident-led door knocking and online outreach) were able to get 672 petition signatures by Tuesday afternoon.

* By a nearly 2-to-1 margin, public testimony supported keeping the Complete Streets project in place.

* After nearly three hours of testimony and debate, the City Council voted unanimously to keep the changes in place for the next six months, pending an evaluation in late Spring 2020.

Last night’s outcome showed the power of individuals coming together and speaking up for the things they want to see in their community.

Link: 
After a few residents complain, public hearing leads to strong public support & Complete Streets remain on Armour Road in North Kansas City | BikeWalkKC
MoBikeFed comment: This is another example of a very successful Complete Streets project that has turned a long stretch of Armour Road in North Kansas City from an uninviting asphalt jungle to a far more inviting walkable, bikeable city center for NKC--a "Main Street" that looks like an old-time Main Street rather than a multi-lane state highway.

That means a lot of changes in the area--and it also means slowing down traffic.

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Missouri State Parks asks for help testing new trail app | columbiamissourian.com [www.columbiamissourian.com]

Sat, 11/23/2019 - 7:33pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Missouri State Parks has asked for assistance from trail users to try out its new mobile trail app, Easy2Hike, at four of its state parks. Included in the test phase are two local parks, Rock Bridge Memorial and Finger Lakes, both located just outside of Columbia.

Other parks included are Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka state parks, located in the Lake of the Ozarks region, according to a news release from Missouri State Parks.

The app uses Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping to give users easy-to-access, detailed trail maps. The system gives real-time information about trail conditions, points of interest on the trail and other facts about the area to users.

Link: 
Missouri State Parks asks for help testing new trail app | columbiamissourian.com [www.columbiamissourian.com]
MoBikeFed comment: You can download the app for Android or iPhone here:

https://mostateparks.com/mo_splash/mobileapp

After you've used the app, give feedback to State Parks to help them improve the app here:

https://www.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=kClASqV4Wl4%3D

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Frisco Highline Trail near Willard reopens Friday after two-months of construction - ky3.com

Fri, 11/22/2019 - 1:21pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The Frisco Highline Trail is set to reopen at mile three Friday, November 22 at 9:00 a.m.

The part of the trail that intersects with U.S. Route 160 has been closed since September 23. Crews installed a new box culvert to take the trail underneath the future lanes of Route 160.

This is part of the U.S. Route 160 Widening Project from Willard to Springfield. The goal is to widen Route 160 to four lanes.

Link: 
Frisco Highline Trail near Willard reopens Friday after two-months of construction - ky3.com
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Acting to End Traffic Violence: World Remembrance Day is Sunday, Nov. 17th – Vision Zero Network

Sat, 11/16/2019 - 7:27am

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

As many Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving later this month, thousands of others are planning events throughout the county and around the globe to remember those who have been lost in traffic violence that often could have been prevented. On Sunday, November 17, events — both big and small — will be held in honor of International World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Family members and friends of those lost in traffic crashes, as well as advocates, government and elected officials, and many others will come together at vigils, rallies, sermons, marches, and bike rides to give voice to those who have lost their lives in these preventable tragedies. M For some, this is their first year recognizing World Day of Remembrance, for others, it is the fourth time they’ve used the international event to draw attention to their local work for Vision Zero, safe mobility for all road users. More than 100 people lose their lives each day in the U.S. in traffic crashes.

Link: 
Acting to End Traffic Violence: World Remembrance Day is Sunday, Nov. 17th – Vision Zero Network
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Hiking & bicycling in the 1.5 million acres of the Mark Twain National Forest

Fri, 11/15/2019 - 11:29am

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The Mark Twain National Forest, with over 1.5 million acres spread across a good part of central and southern Missouri, is one of the state's hidden recreational gems.

Whether you're looking for a day hike, multi-day backpacking trip, mountain bike day trip or multi-day bikepacking trip, gravel riding, or road riding, the millions of acres of remote backcountry in Mark Twain National Forest has got you covered.

If you've ever ridden on the Berryman Trail--Missouri's most popular mountain biking destionat--or the Ozark Trail, you've already been in Mark Twain National Forest.

But it can be hard to find out accurate information about trails, camping, and destinations in MTNF.

Here are a few resources that help:

TOPOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW MAPS

MTNF topgraphical maps for each of the 9 national forest districts in Missouri:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/mtnf/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5199809&w...

These maps provide a good overview of what is available in each district.

MOTOR VEHICLE USE MAPS

The motor vehicle use maps show roads open to motor vehicle use. If a road is shown on this map, you can be sure that it exists and is usable (though the road may be paved OR gravel--and the maps don't always allow you to tell which is which):

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mtnf/maps-pubs/?cid=fsm8_045644

THE BEST: FOREST SERVICE ONLINE MAPS

Finally, the Forest Service online maps are perhaps the most all-around useful:

https://www.fs.fed.us/ivm/

Many of the forest service areas are covered on Google maps and other online maps.

Link: 
Hiking & bicycling in the 1.5 million acres of the Mark Twain National Forest
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How I Plan a Bikepacking Route - Justin Simoni

Thu, 11/14/2019 - 3:29pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Road and Trail Networks

Now that I know where I’m starting and finishing, the type of bike I want to ride and the type of surface I want to ride on, I can start breaking out a map, and drawing my route.

I have a pretty good idea on the design of my route – and I think that’s maybe the most important thing to have when building a narrative for others to follow: actual experience on the route!, but sometimes it’s fun to look and see what other opinions are. Sometimes they’re fantastic, and sometimes they’re terribly, terribly misguided.

I’ve used quite a variety of online route mapping systems, but I found that Strava’s is probably one of the best. So let’s look at our options. As an experiment, let’s have Strava design the entire route by putting the starting point at the bus stop in Golden where I want to start and the ending point at the Horsethief, near Pikes Peak.

MoBikefed comment: This is an excellent runthrough of how an experienced bikepacker and route planner will go about planning a new bikepacking route.

What he finds, as soon as he lets Strava plan the route for him, is that he has to change nearly everything about the Strava-suggested route before he is satisfied.

Planning routes in the mountains of Colorado is quite different in many ways than planning a trip in the Midwest.

Link: 
How I Plan a Bikepacking Route - Justin Simoni
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The U.S. Bicycle Route System Expands to 27 States and 14,000 Miles | Adventure Cycling Association

Wed, 11/13/2019 - 7:32pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

With the designation of USBR 50, West Virginia becomes the 27th state to join the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). In Maine, USBR 501 connects cyclists to the far northern border with Canada. Together, the two new U.S. Bicycle Routes push the total mileage of the USBRS to over 14,000 miles. 

“AASHTO’s annual designations to the U.S. Bicycle Route System support local economies and tourism by giving cyclists greater access to communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the country,” said Jim Tymon, Executive Director of AASHTO. “This year, West Virginia joined a growing list of states that have designated a bike route, and I see no reason why this trend won’t continue as the popularity of cycling continues to grow."

The USBRS is a developing national network of officially recognized, numbered, and signed bicycle routes. All U.S. Bicycle Routes are designated by AASHTO. With the new designations, the USBRS now boasts 14,070 miles of routes in 27 states and Washington, DC. At least 40 states are currently developing U.S. Bicycle Routes. 

MoBikefed comment: It's worth reminding everyone that Missouri is in the middle of the U.S. Bicycle Route system in more ways than one.

USBR 76, the TransAmerica Trail, is designated through Missouri and has wayfinding signs.

USBR 66, Bicycle Route 66, is officially designated and we are seeking funding to install wayfinding signs on the route.

And . . .

Link: 
The U.S. Bicycle Route System Expands to 27 States and 14,000 Miles | Adventure Cycling Association
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Ozark Trail connector hiking trail from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park is now finished! - Ozark Trail Association - https://www.ozarktrail.com/

Wed, 11/06/2019 - 5:16pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The trail from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park is now finished!

With this final link, an explorer can park at Round Spring, hike about eight miles to Current River State Park, and float down the Current River back to their car! This is beautiful country with an amazing, crystal clear river.

Tribute was paid to the the best group of Volunteers anywhere and the Red Jacket veterans were out in numbers to celebrate this huge accomplishment.

Many of our partners from various agencies, including DNR-MO State Parks, L-A-D Foundation and National Park Service were also on hand to cut the ribbon and were thanked for the support provided to get this new recreational resource completed for all Missourians.

Finally... Dave Tobey of the National Park Service, was recognized for his incredible work and legacy for the region.

Link: 
Ozark Trail connector hiking trail from Round Spring to Echo Bluff State Park is now finished! - Ozark Trail Association - https://www.ozarktrail.com/
MoBikeFed comment: The Ozark Trail Association has done an absolutely stellar job of building and maintaining hundreds of miles of singletrack trail across southern Missouri.

The connection between Echo Bluff State Park and the main part of the Ozark Trail is just another major connection in Missouri's largest connected network of singletrack trail.

The Echo Bluff-Round Spring section connects to the Blair Creek Section of the Ozark Trail. Maps here:

https://www.ozarktrail.com/planner/maps.php

If you are interested in bicycling the Ozark Trail, you should know that many sections of the Ozark Trail are open to mountain biking, but many are not.

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Independence wants your input on 'Truman Connected' bike path

Sun, 10/27/2019 - 10:08pm

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

Now is your chance to help leaders in Independence, Missouri, design a new bicycle and pedestrian trail.

The city will hold a forum at city hall Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to show concepts, routes and gather feedback.

The project is called Truman Connected because the roughly 8-mile long trail will connect the Truman Library with the Truman Sports Complex. The pathway will makes stops at Independence Square and the Englewood Arts District too.

City councilman John Perkins expects the trail to be mostly off road, but incorporate some bike lanes on regular streets too. He said the city has set aside a little more than $10 million for the project. Just under half of that total comes from a federal grant.

Link: 
Independence wants your input on 'Truman Connected' bike path
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