MONDAY MEMO: JULY 24

Change

Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine. ~Robert C. Gallagher

Source: Quote Garden

With that inspiring quote comes my announcement that I am moving on to a new professional venture, and my last day with MPRA is Friday, July 28.

I will sorely miss the extreme satisfaction of working with the Missouri Trail Summit planning committee members, both as individuals and as a group. What a fine group of people you are!

This week, I will update the blog regularly to keep you apprised of progress on the Summit.

MONDAY MEMO: JULY 10

Trail Tunnel

... in St. Charles? Find out more in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article. The proposed trail tunnel is part of the Pathways Concept Plan of 2004.

Rails-to-trails: Lessons Learned

... from the Federal Highway Administration, in this FHA website page.

Great Eastern Trail

.... here (at this website) and in the news.

No pedestrians for the Paseo Bridge in Kansas City's Northland?

The KC Star has an opinion on this here.

THURSDAY MEMO: JULY 6

2006 MTS keynote speaker

I am excited to announce that Pam Underhill, National Park Service park manager of the Appalachian Trail, is the 2006 MTS keynote speaker!

Trails and sidewalks in Jackson MO

... article here. MoDOT in a starring role.

Gray Ghosts Trails

... article here about driving trail related to Civil War sites in Missouri.

Katy Trail extension?

... article here about Gov. Blunt's proposal that AmerenUE facilitate extension to KC.

MoDOT's new Practical Design Implementation policy

... addresses cycling lanes and sidewalks here. Go to page 41 of the .pdf (or page 24 of the hard-copy document).

What the heck is Practical Design, you ask? Per MoDOT:

Practical Design challenges traditional standards to develop efficient solutions to solve today’s project needs. MoDOT’s goal of Practical Design is to build “good” projects, not “great” projects, to achieve a great system. Innovation and creativity are necessary for us to accomplish Practical Design.

To accomplish Practical Design, we must properly define the scope by focusing on achieving the project purpose and need while considering the surroundings of each project. We must be sensitive to where the project is located, whether it is an interstate or a letter route. The surrounding context helps determine the design criteria. Our goal is to get the best value for the least cost. Life cycle costs must be considered.

It is not our goal to shift the burden to maintenance.

Early in 2005, MoDOT began implementing Practical Design. The first step was developing best practices. These examples were intended to encourage our staff to “think outside the box” as they designed future improvement projects to provide the best value for the taxpayers.

The next step in implementing Practical Design is adopting new policies in areas most affecting our improvement costs. These areas are known as “cost drivers”. Reducing costs in these key areas, while still serving motorists’ needs, will enable us to construct more projects, thus better serving the taxpayer.

MoDOT senior managers developed these new policies in Oct. 2005. They represent a significant change in MoDOT direction. Each of these new policies is to be used immediately.

Each policy supersedes the current direction contained in the Project Development Manual (PDM). However, information contained in the PDM not affected by these policies will continue to be used in the development of improvement projects.

Here is a power point on the subject.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 26

Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference

... in Roanoke, Virginia. Conference information here. August 3-5.

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

mohiking.com

is "information for Missouri hikers," a fairly new site that offers trail reviews and forums, google-based trail maps/directions, and user-created photo albums of trails. Owned by Nick Kasoff.

Slackpacker.com

Slackpacker.com's Missouri page is designed to provide quick, organized access to informative Missouri hiking websites. Private hiking enthusiasts like you have created excellent web pages on Missouri hiking trails -- then posted those pages on free web servers -- only to be ignored by search engines. The purpose of this site is to provide a way to find these personal hiking pages, and make your research easier.

Also showcases Missouri-centered trail books.

... and this boast-worthy blurb on Missouri's trail system: Would you think of the Show Me State as a mecca for hikers? Believe it or not, Missouri has more marked miles of hiking trails than any other state east of Texas. Broad prairies, wild rivers, sandstone canyons, rugged hills, and some of the most diverse forests. [Emphasis added.]

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 19

More thanks!

.... to Missouri Department of Transportation for sponsorship at the Pathfinder level!


Trail accessibility

Go here for the U.S. Forest Service:

• Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines; and the
• Trail Accessibility Guidelines

Thanks to Nancy Feakes for this lead.

Progress report on Columbia's Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program

... in this Columbia Tribune article.

Catch the Katy 2006

The 2006 Catch the Katy Trail Ride began today. Later this week, you'll be able to see daily updates here. More than 300 people are participating this year, hailing not only from Missouri , but also 31 other states and British Columbia.

Trails and Tourism

Covered wagon tours. Guided mule-drawn tours of historic area by Pioneer Trails Adventures. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Independence Square, Lexington and Main, Independence. Tours start at Truman and Main. Weather permitting.

Trails in planned communities

From the Reporter-Times. The plan for Stonebridge calls for it to have 1,157 single-family homes ... A golf course designed by architect Pete Dye, eight to 10 miles of walking trails, a state-of-the-art clubhouse, an equestrian center and a commercial village center also are in the plan that has been approved by the Morgan County Plan Commission.

From rails to trails to rails

... over and under. Well, read about it here in the Springfield News-Leader.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 12

Thanks to

.... Kansas City Parks and Recreation - they will completely host and sponsor the Trail Mix Social on Thursday evening!

Session proposals

Select one:

• The dog ate my session proposal, my computer, and my intended presenters;
• I was kidnapped by aliens in May, and I've only just returned from my ordeal;
• I emailed it to you - didn't you get it?
• Hah! I've turned mine in - I'm free, I'm free, I'm free!!!!
  

Two Missouri Trails designated as national recreation trails in 2006

... by National Park Service

• Frisco Highline Trail – Known as the second longest rail-trail in Missouri, this 36-mile historic scenic corridor connects several railroad towns from Springfield to Bolivar and provides close-to-home opportunities for bicycling, horseback riding, and more.
• Smithville Lake Trail – Located near Kansas City, this 20-mile multi-use trail provides a natural haven where visitors can enjoy an array of recreational activities, such as hiking and biking.

Thanks to Terry Whaley for this lead.

Milwaukee Urban Water Trail

... another 2006 national recreation trail designee, is a water trail that goes through Milwaukee. The Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers offer a nice definition of "water trail," including my favorite part: a "liquid parkway." This site also has an interactive map.

MONDAY MEMO: JUNE 5

Session proposals

I look forward to an avalanche of emailed session proposals at the end of this week!

Next meeting

... in July. Date TBA. It will be in Jefferson City.

Get Connected: The Ozark Trail and the Ozark Highland Trail

John Roth reports in MOTRAILS that

"The link between the Ozark Trail and Ozark Highland Trail is one step closer today, as the Corps of Engineers has given us a green light to start flagging trail along Norfork Lake. This trail would go from Tecumseh at Highway 160 along the east side of Norfork Lake down to the 101 bridge, then cross to the west side of the lake where the trail will continue to the dam.

Scouting trips will begin in June. A map of the proposed trail will be available this summer. If we get lucky, we could start construction in winter '06/'07.

There will probably be (temporary?) road routes on either side of this trail to connect to the Ozark Highland Trail near Norfork and the Ozark Trail at Devil's Backbone Wilderness. There will probably be a road route from the North Fork section of trail at Pomona to the Eleven Point section near Thomasville. With the work Ken Smith is doing along the Buffalo River, and the inclusion of some road routes, we could have a 600-mile trail from Onondaga Cave to Fort Smith ready in 6-10 years."

Safe Routes to School

This Kansas City Star article highlights the "walking school bus" in Kansas City and Shawnee, KS.