Major Katy/Rock Island progress: Gov Nixon commits to completing Katy Trail connection to Kansas City by 2016
The important multi-decade initiative to connect the Katy Trail system across the state, from state line to state line and to St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas on each end of the state, is will reach a major milestone next year, according to an announcement by Governor Jay Nixon today.
Governor Nixon spoke to trail supporters at the North Jefferson Katy Trailhead at 1:45pm today, with the news that Missouri State Parks is commited to completing the major portion of the Katy Trail connection to Kansas City, on the Rock Island railroad corridor from Windsor to Pleasant Hill, by the end of 2016. The Governor’s press release said:
Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that by the end of 2016, Missouri State Parks expects to complete the extension of the Katy Trail from Windsor to Pleasant Hill along the Rock Island Trail State Park. The 47.5-mile-long extension will allow hikers and bicyclists greater access from the Kansas City region to the 240-mile long Katy Trail, which runs from Clinton to St. Charles County.
Missouri State Parks Director Bill Bryan added in his Facebook post about the event:
Today we committed to complete the 47.5 mile reach from Windsor to Pleasant Hill by the end of 2016.
Katy Trail Connection to KC under development since 2007–recent developments will improve trail quality and add an additional 144 (!) miles of trail
The 47.5 mile section under discussion today has been under trail development since 2007, when the state reached an agreement with Ameren–who owns the underlying railroad line–to build the trail section that will connect the Katy Trail at Windsor to the outskirts of the Kansas City metro area at Pleasant Hill.
Read the rest on the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Association
