Quick links

Oh, yes, there are so many heroes in our community...so many fellow runners willing to sacrifice, help and fight for what’s right.  The cowardly terrorists who dropped those backpacks with pressure cooker bombs thought they could scare you, they thought they could end the marathon, frighten the world and send a message of hatred that would force us to cower in the darkness.

All they did was kill and hurt some good people, and make a bloody mess of Boylston Street.  There’s a concept in physics discovered by Sirl Issac Newton as his third law of motion.

“Actioni contrariam semper et æqualem esse reactionem”

The next speaker was consultant Robert Johnson of PedNet. "We're all about non motorized transportation," he said. Johnson said everybody should have the opportunity to walk or bike to a destination in town. He gave the group in front of him some information about the master plan and how it showed the current facilities like sidewalks and trails and crosswalks. 

There are 45 miles of sidewalks in Nevada. Most of them in the older parts of town. They vary in size and condition, but they are opportunities. The plan also reveals some opportunities for new walks and trails. There are several trail options in the city, but only two were discussed during the meeting because of time constraints.

Mike Snyder, the senior parks planner for the city of Columbia took the floor to say that he could see trails making Nevada a bike and pedestrian friendly town. He said the study looked at road right of ways, railroad corridors, creeks and streets all as possible sites for trails. He emphasized that the project needs to focus on what could be accomplished in the next 5 to 10 years. "You need a success to get this thing started," he said.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is beginning work on a Kansas Scenic Byways Bicycle-Pedestrian Plan, and the state’s portion of historic Route 66 will be studied for possible inclusion. 

After cycling the 13-mile stretch between Galena and Baxter Springs on Friday, officials with two Kansas-based cycling advocacy organizations said they are hopeful the road is not only included in the plan, but also designated as part of a Route 66 corridor on the U.S. Bicycle Route System.

“Route 66 Historic Byway is already completely bikeable,” said Kansas Cyclist webmaster Randy Rasa, who rode with KanBikeWalk president Dale Crawford, took photographs of positives and negatives, and began blogging immediately after the ride.

“There are lots of things to see and do along the route, with shops and places to eat in all three communities, many with themes related to the Route 66 history and nostalgia,” Rasa said.

Illinois, Missouri, and Oklahoma are working on or have complete bicycle routes on their sections of Route 66--leaving Kansas as the missing link.  See info about Route 66 and Missouri's other national bicycle routes here.

The Missouri Department of Transportation's listening tour stopped in KC for three nights recently, and KC area residents were very clear in their preferences for the future of the state's transportation system. MoDOT was seeking input on how spend a possible new state-wide transportation sales tax. Citizens at all three KC sessions said loud and clear that MoDOT should use any new funding to improve transportation choices for Missourians.

Audiences expressed strong support for increasing state funding public transit, passenger rail, bicycling, and walking. And it wasn't just a desire for more choices. There was also a significant discussion about limiting highway construction. MoDOT often talks about how they have one of the largest state highway systems in the country, and participants wisely started questioning the need for new or expanded highways. More than one person used the phrase "no new lane miles".