Katy legal goes in favor of the trail!!!

I just received the following this evening. It is fantastic news for Katy Trail riders. Buddy, Jon, Don, and I did all of it May 2006 (over 200 miles). One of the most fun 5-1/2 days I've ever spent. Now, with the agreement, looks like our next trip there might have to be 6-1/2 days to cover the extra 46 miles to KC (the northwest end) and the 11 miles added in Machens (the east end). Actually would be more if we turn right and do out-and-back to Clinton. The text mentions the Taum Sauk dam disaster. Look it up on the internet. This was an environmental nightmare that has finally been resolved. At least the silver lining is that the legal results help pay for more trails.

If you've never done the Katy, or ever considered it, talk to us. It's a cyclist's (upright or 'bent) dream, esp. in spring or fall. As Don says, "Put it on your radar."

Dave "The Breeze"

Agreement for 'Complete Katy Trail' announced
From: Brent Hugh (director*mobikefed.org) Add contact

Sent:
Wed 11/28/07 8:16 PM

To:
Dave_Samsel*Hotmail.com





Dear Dave,

Today, an event that the Missouri Bicycle Federation, bicycling and trails
groups, and thousands of individuals across Missouri have been working hard
to achieve for many years--an agreement to "complete the Katy Trail" by
connecting it to the Kansas City metro area.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Attorney General's Office,
and AmerenUE announced a settlement regarding the Taum Sauk dam disaster
this morning.

The settlement includes about $180 million in reparation payments from
Ameren.

Included in the settlement is a "Trail Use Agreement" and $18 million that
will allow the DNR to build the Katy Trail Connection to Kansas City and
will pay a good part of the expense of building the trail connection.

Our thanks go to Governor Blunt, Attorney General Jay Nixon, and DNR
Director Doyle Childers for working together to make sure the Katy Trail
Connection was included in the Ameren agreement. Political differences
made the negotiations rocky at times, but all sides were able to see the
benefit of the Katy Trail connection for all Missourians and, in the end,
all sides had to work together to make it happen.

All involved can consider the Katy Trail Connection to be an important part
of their legacy--a new 46-mile long state park that will be enjoyed by many
millions of citizens for decades and centuries to come.

MoBikeFed and other groups across the state have been working over a period
of several years to generate over 5000 email, mail, and phone messages in
support of the Katy Trail Connection, as well as numerous resolutions and
letters of support from cities, counties, parks departments, community
organizations, and other agencies, insuring that our political leaders knew
there is strong community support for the trail connection.

Thanks to all of you who have been part of this effort.

When you take the time to let your elected officials know how you feel, it
really DOES make a difference!

Katy Trail Connection Details
-----------------------------
The Katy Trail connection will be built on the Rock Island railroad
corridor between Windsor and Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill is on the edge of
the Kansas City metropolitan area.

(Union Pacific owns the Rock Island line from From Pleasant Hill on in to
Kansas City, and plans are already underway to connect the trail through
Lee's Summit and eventually to downtown Kansas City via alternate routes.)

The portion of the Rock Island corridor that will be used for the trail is
about 46 miles. Putting this together with the 'Machens extension' on the
east end (about 11 miles), this will increase the total size of the
complete Katy Rail-Trail network to approximately 282 miles.

The Rock Island portion of the trail will be a "rails-with-trails"
project--the trail will be built in the railroad right-of-way alongside the
railroad tracks so that the railroad can still use the corridor in the
future.

Building the Katy Trail Connection alongside the existing track will be
relatively expensive compared with building a trail on the railbed, as the
rest of the Katy Trail and most rail-trails are. Much grading and
foundation work must be done, and bridges and underpasses built alongside
existing railroad bridges and underpasses.

However, the agreement includes $18 million from Ameren to assist in
construction expenses. Apparently this is not enough to completely
construct the 46-mile segment and additional funds will be needed--either
from the Missouri General Assembly or from other sources.

The state also receives first right of refusal for purchase of the railroad
corridor if Ameren ever decides to sell it.

More about the Katy Trail Connection online
-------------------------------------------

Complete text of the agreement with Ameren (PDF format):

http://ago.mo.gov/pdf/2007/TaumSaukConsentJudgment.pdf

(Rock Island RR agreement is on pp. 9-10 and the
Trail Use Agreement is Appendix E, starting on p. 44)

Where will the Katy Trail Connection go? What will it look like? Map and
visualization of the "shared corridor concept" is here:

http://mobikefed.org/2005/03/what-katy-trail-connection-to-kansas.php

Governor Blunt's press release:

http://www.gov.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EEAykyuAEuKxAtvRow&style=Default+News+Style&tmpl=newsitem

Attorney General Nixon's press release:

http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2007/Taum_Sauk_settlement_with_Ameren/

Kansas City Star article:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/380807.html

St. Louis Post-Dispatch article:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/CFD659E4513A957C862573A1005677E7?OpenDocument

Associated Press article:

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Nov/20071128News034.asp


--Brent

---

www.MoBikeFed.org/join

====================================================
Dr. Brent Hugh, LCI #1335 Director*MoBikeFed.org
Executive Director --- Missouri Bicycle Federation
www.MoBikeFed.org 816-695-6736
====================================================

 

Laurie and I rode a completely different part of the Katy. It seems a Rails-To-Trails section in Tulsa is part of the same rail line and is also called th "Katy" trail. However, this one is only 7 miles long though it does connect with other trails in the Tulsa area. As best we could figgure ou you can put together a 50 mile ride in Tulsa on bike paths.

Mike

 

The Katy Trail is the most fun I have had in a LONG time with my clothes on. (Of course, Buddy will tell you I wear underwear on the OUTSIDE of my riding pants!!! But we won't go there!!!!)

I agree with David, I can't think of a better bent ride than the Katy Trail. Even if you don't do the whole thing, it is well worth the ride.

Mike, Thanks for the update!!!!!

 

Destroyed Park

This money was paid as settlement for the destruction of one of Missouri's most beautiful and popular parks, Johnson's Shut Ins.

The entire park was literally wiped away.

Many of my happiest memories of my childhood and teen years had to do with camping and swimming at this particular park with my family. It was heartbreaking to look at the pictures of the destruction. If this had happened during the summer when the place is packed hundreds would have died. The documents say a wall of water 20 feet high swept down the valley.

Amazing.

Bill

 

There is also a short section of the old MKT system that has been converted to rail-trail in the Dallas-Ft Worth area........also called the Katy Trail.

Don
'03 V-Rex
'06 Formula 26
'03 Vivo
'51 Engine...

 

Been there; done that; literally bought the T-shirt. This month marks the beginning of my 8th year on a recumbent. I've logged nearly 20,500 miles and 800 individual rides. The KATY trip (Ride #289, 261 miles including the Columbia spur) with Jon, Don, and Buddy in May 2006 is unquestionably in my top 5. Almost wore out the camera on that one.​

 

to what Dave said!