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Groups Calling on State to Preserve Rock Island Trail Corridor after one option in public meetings was to break it up - Public Comment deadline Nov 30th | emissourian.com

Tue, 11/13/2018 - 9:20pm

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:

Hundreds from across Missouri attended public meetings hosted last week by Missouri State Parks to help determine the fate of the 144-mile Rock Island Railroad corridor between Windsor and Beaufort.

Public feedback at the meetings was overwhelmingly positive, mirroring the sentiment of the nearly 9,000 comments — nearly unanimous in their support for the project — that were previously submitted to the state in the summer of 2017.

“We appreciate the work that State Parks has done to gather the necessary information to make a decision about the Rock Island corridor, including this last week listening to hundreds of people talk about the importance of preserving this incredible asset,” said Brent Hugh, Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation executive director.

“Now, it’s time to use that information to inform a creative, flexible approach to funding and developing the corridor,” he said. “As the February 2019 Surface Transportation Board deadline for the transfer agreement approaches, Missouri State Parks must listen to its citizens and follow through with accepting the corridor.”

Last week’s meetings underscore the need to be creative and flexible to secure new economic opportunities for the small towns along its route, an epic outdoor recreation asset for all of Missouri to celebrate and enjoy, and a world-class destination trail, officials said.

“Missouri is incredibly lucky; corridors of this type are few and far between. It is critical that the state takes the first step and railbanks the corridor.

Link: 
Groups Calling on State to Preserve Rock Island Trail Corridor after one option in public meetings was to break it up - Public Comment deadline Nov 30th | emissourian.com
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Ribbon-cutting for St Louis/University City Loop Trolley service set for Thursday, actual service start date soon | stltoday.com

Mon, 11/12/2018 - 8:35am

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:

A ribbon-cutting ceremony heralding the start of service on the Loop Trolley is scheduled for next Thursday morning, University City Mayor Terry Crow says.

But whether the long-delayed line itself will begin operating that day has yet to be announced.

"Now it's down to a matter of days, not weeks," Joe Edwards, the project's longtime advocate, said Thursday of the starting date.

Testing is finished, he said, and final paperwork will soon be approved by state and federal regulators.

Crow said he and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson will be among those taking part in the ribbon-cutting near the border of the two cities along Delmar.

The 2.2-mile, $51 million line will run between the western end of the loop in University City and the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

Link: 
Ribbon-cutting for St Louis/University City Loop Trolley service set for Thursday, actual service start date soon | stltoday.com
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Book: Peril on the Katy Trail - Robert Shoop - Google Books

Sat, 11/10/2018 - 8:23pm

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:

A woman who can't remember. A man who can't forget. And a person who desperately needs to kill them both The Katy Trail is a 225-mile long biking trail from Clinton to St. Charles, Missouri. It's one of the most beautiful in the world-just the place for Samuel to get away from it all, to heal, and to quell some of the demons from his past. Into his life, however, drops Misty-a mysterious woman with amnesia, who is being chased by a shotgun-toting man intent on killing her. Samuel has no choice. His sense of honor-honed during many years as a SEAL-forces him to protect her. Thus begins one of the wildest bicycle rides in history. From Clinton to St. Charles, the two face floods, mud slides, motorcycle gangs, and vicious pool hustlers. They also experience the stunning Missouri countryside, a host of intriguing local characters, fine wines, great meals, and... love. Through it all, Samuel must get Misty to St. Charles, and help her to recall her past. But he must also solve the mystery of why the man with the shotgun is trying to kill her-and now him. It is an action-packed story that will leave you hanging right to the very end.

Link: 
Book: Peril on the Katy Trail - Robert Shoop - Google Books
MoBikeFed comment: Thanks to Chester in Rolla for forwarding a link to this book.

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How Missouri's Ozark Trail got its start on the late 1970s

Fri, 11/09/2018 - 8:08am

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:

Sitting in the Jefferson City office building where he worked as a recreation planner, Lafser began to pore over official maps. He quickly discerned a viable route through the Ozarks.

"It evolved over a few hours," he recalls.

In the year that followed, he pitched his idea to federal and state agencies. They liked it, and collaborated on the February 1977 proposal, an open-ended blueprint for what Lafser called "an immensely complicated coordination project."

"The trail is crystallizing," Lafser wrote in a letter at the time. "Considering how rare it is for two agencies to agree on anything, agreement of eight agencies for a cooperative effort was a landmark achievement!" Private groups such as the Sierra Club allied with the government to form a coalition: the Ozark Trail Council.

Link: 
How Missouri's Ozark Trail got its start on the late 1970s
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Jackson County to open first phase of Rock Island Rail Corridor trail within next 30 days - KSHB.com 41 Action News

Wed, 11/07/2018 - 1:08pm

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:

Jackson County is one step closer to converting an old railroad into a walking and biking trail.

The first phase of the Rock Island Rail Corridor will open within the next 30 days. The second phase should open by the end of 2019. 

Jackson County split the project into two phases of roughly seven miles each.  The first phase runs from about Jefferson Street and 291 Highway in Lee’s Summit to Brickyard Road near Noland Road in Kansas City. Phase two will go from that point to the Truman Sports Complex.

Link: 
Jackson County to open first phase of Rock Island Rail Corridor trail within next 30 days - KSHB.com 41 Action News
MoBikeFed comment: This is the next step in completing the Jackson County portion of the Rock Island Trail, which will eventually connect to the existing 47 miles of the Rock Island between Pleasant Hill and Windsor, Missouri, where the Rock Island connects with the Katy Trail.

More about the various sections of the Rock Island Trail and their current status here:

http://mobikefed.org/content/2015/03/missouris-rock-island-trail

Keep in mind that Missouri State Parks is working right now to consider whether or not to accept the next section of the Rock Island Trail as a state park. This section would extend another 144 miles eastward from Windsor.

State Parks is looking for your comments in support of this new trail.

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Monetary support for Missouri Rock Island Trail over $600,000 - State Parks asking for citizen comments about the trail | Central MO Breaking News

Fri, 11/02/2018 - 1:35pm

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:

Forward movement on the Missouri Rock Island Trail includes more than $600,000 in pledges from organizations, municipalities and individuals.

All funds are pending the Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks' decision to accept or deny the donation of the 144-mile abandoned stretch from Ameren.

Once a railroad, the proposed trail would create a tourist destination for many Missouri communities, proponents believe. Extending from the St. Louis area, the trail would route through or near communities including Versailles, Barnett, Eldon, Eugene, Meta, Argyle, Freeburg, Belle, Bland, Canaan and Owensville.

"We are massing hundreds of thousands of dollars in what we are terming non-binding pledges," said Greg Harris, executive director of Missouri Rock Island Trail Inc.

Harris said it's hard for donors to give a solid commitment when DNR hasn't committed.

Link: 
Monetary support for Missouri Rock Island Trail over $600,000 - State Parks asking for citizen comments about the trail | Central MO Breaking News
MoBikeFed comment: Remember that State Parks held three public meetings about the future of the Rock Island Trail in Oct-Nov 2018 and is accepting public comments until Nov 30th, 2018.

Your comments to State Parks are critical for the future of this potential cross-state trail.

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Contact federal safety rulemakers: U.S. has the opportunity to include pedestrians, bicyclists in motor vehicle crash safety testing

Wed, 10/31/2018 - 7:59pm

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:

Earlier this year several League staff members met with staff from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the urging of Champe Burnley, the Executive Director of the Virginia Bicycle Federation, a League member organization. Champe has been involved in DriveSmartVA, a statewide group founded to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries by insurance companies.

Coming out of that meeting, one of the most interesting topics we discussed was how far behind the United States was in testing new vehicles for pedestrian and bicyclist safety. In 2018, the European Union began testing new cars with Automated Emergency Braking (AEB) systems for their ability to avoid or mitigate crashes with bicyclists – but we were told that neither the IIHS nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) were likely to have such testing for years. . . .

NHTSA is currently accepting comments about how the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) should be updated. The League’s comments focus on the potential benefits of AEB systems and how they are already tested in other countries. You can read our comments here. Please consider taking action and telling NHTSA that the United States must be a leader in traffic safety once again – starting by matching, if not exceeding, the testing standards of peer countries. Voice your opinion and prod NHTSA to modernize new car testing by visiting this page:

https://p2a.co/i4sOQTE

Link: 
Contact federal safety rulemakers: U.S. has the opportunity to include pedestrians, bicyclists in motor vehicle crash safety testing
MoBikeFed comment: It is unfortunate that the U.S. is so behind in testing and making improvements in crash safety for people who walk and bicycle.

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State Parks plans meetings on future of Rock Island corridor Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | Gasconade County Republican

Tue, 10/30/2018 - 7:45am

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 will hold a series of three informational meetings in communities along the proposed Rock Island trail corridor including one in Owensville on Monday.

Missouri State Parks officials said the purpose of the open house-style meetings will be to discuss the potential effects on communities, citizens and Missouri State Parks if the Rock Island corridor was to be developed into a long-distance recreational trail.

The meetings will include information about the potential costs of trail development and operations, public safety, landowner and legal issues, environmental and natural resource issues and property management options.

Link: 
State Parks plans meetings on future of Rock Island corridor Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | Gasconade County Republican
MoBikeFed comment:

-Owensville, Monday, October 29, 5-7.30 p.m. Scenic Regional Library, 503 S. Olive St.

-Versailles, Tuesday, October 30, 5-7.30 p.m. Morgan County Library, 600 N. Hunter St.

-Meta, Thursday, November 1, 5-7.30 p.m. Citizens Civic League Hall, 301 Olive St.

The Missouri Parks Association issued an alert this week letting everyone know that attendance at these meetings (if at all possible--they are in distant locations for many Missourians) and submitting substantive written comments at the meetings or online is absolutely vital.

The decision to accept or reject the donation of the Rock Island Corridor will be made within the next few months, and the written public comments received at these meetings may very well make the difference.

More details and suggestions for your written comments here:

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Eldon: Rock Island Trail Viewed as Important Part of Community Revitalization, public meetings to decide fate of Rock Island corridor Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | KRMS Radio

Sun, 10/28/2018 - 7:23pm

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 Eldon community is seeing a resurgence with announcements of a new factory and jobs coming to town.  Now a proposed rail trail could be part of that. 

Superintendent of Schools Matt Davis says that proximity creates opportunities for incentive programs based on healthy activity, both by the companies and the school district, which will benefit everyone at the end of the day.

But for any of that to happen, the trail has to be approved.  After initially gaining support under Governor Jay Nixon, Missouri State Parks started re-evaluating the plan under Governor Greitens.  Those who support the trail are encouraged to contact the state parks division and let them know.  You can also attend an informational meeting planned for October 30th at 5:30 in the Morgan County Public Library in Versailles.

Link: 
Eldon: Rock Island Trail Viewed as Important Part of Community Revitalization, public meetings to decide fate of Rock Island corridor Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | KRMS Radio
MoBikeFed comment:

-Owensville, Monday, October 29, 5-7.30 p.m. Scenic Regional Library, 503 S. Olive St.

-Versailles, Tuesday, October 30, 5-7.30 p.m. Morgan County Library, 600 N. Hunter St.

-Meta, Thursday, November 1, 5-7.30 p.m.

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Andy Ostmeyer: Rock Island Trail opportunity too good to pass up - attend public meetings Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | joplinglobe.com

Sat, 10/27/2018 - 7:08am

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:

It’s short notice, we realize, but Missouri State Parks just announced open houses for three communities along the Rock Island corridor.

This is another chance to get up to speed on questions as well as the potential of this trail, and it is also a final chance to make your voice heard as the state nears a deadline early next year to accept ownership of the route.

The Rock Island is a 144-mile corridor the state has the opportunity to add to its park system. When combined with the 47.5-mile Rock Island spur the state has already acquired and opened, and the epic 240-mile Katy Trail State Park, the result would be between 400 and 450 miles of trails crossing central Missouri.

It’s a moment too good to pass up.

Meeting Information:

-Owensville, Monday, October 29, 5-7.30 p.m. Scenic Regional Library, 503 S. Olive St.

-Versailles, Tuesday, October 30, 5-7.30 p.m. Morgan County Library, 600 N. Hunter St.

-Meta, Thursday, November 1, 5-7.30 p.m.

Link: 
Andy Ostmeyer: Rock Island Trail opportunity too good to pass up - attend public meetings Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1 | joplinglobe.com
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Rock Island Trail Still Hangs In The Balance; Community Meetings Set To Rally Supporters Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1| lakeexpo.com

Thu, 10/25/2018 - 3:21pm

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:

Small towns across Missouri standing beside the long-disused Rock Island Railroad right of way are hoping a brighter future is coming down the corridor. Public meetings to be held later this month in Owensville, Versailles and Meta could have a major bearing on that future.

The project that would convert the rail to a hiking/biking trail through a dozen small communities that were once thriving railroad towns hinges on whether Missouri State Parks will accept the gift of the old Rock Island Line from Ameren Electric. A decision to do so would clear the way for a recreational trail that advocates predict will bring thousands of tourists through towns seeking to rebuild the revenue and jobs that left when the trains stopped running three decades ago.

Public meetings in three Rock Island communities will give those who support plans to develop 144 miles of recreational corridor across the state to tell State Park officials to accept the right of way and get the ball rolling.

Missouri Rock Island Trail Inc. Executive Director Greg Harris says everyone who supports the trail and wants Missouri State Parks to accept the corridor should turn out and make their voices heard. “This is a critical juncture for the old Rock Island towns. State Parks must accept the corridor for them to reap the benefits of new jobs and revenue brought to town by outdoor enthusiasts, bicyclists and tourists,” Harris said.

Meeting Information:

-Owensville, Monday, October 29, 5-7.30 p.m. Scenic Regional Library, 503 S. Olive St.

-Versailles, Tuesday, October 30, 5-7.30 p.m.

Link: 
Rock Island Trail Still Hangs In The Balance; Community Meetings Set To Rally Supporters Oct 29, Oct 30, Nov 1| lakeexpo.com
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University of Missouri Nobel Prize winner honored with dedicated campus bike rack | The Kansas City Star

Fri, 10/19/2018 - 11:14am

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:

The University of Missouri is honoring its Nobel Prize-winning scientist with an unusual accolade: a dedicated spot in a bicycle rack.

George Smith learned this month that he'll share this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry with two other scientists.

Other schools have recognized their Nobel laureates with a dedicated parking space. But the 77-year-old Smith is, by his own assessment, "not a good driver." . . .

His spot will be in a standard bike rack, the same as those used by other bicyclists on campus. But the university plans to post a sign letting everyone know one particular space belongs to a Nobel laureate.

Link: 
University of Missouri Nobel Prize winner honored with dedicated campus bike rack | The Kansas City Star
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