ILLINOIS TRAILS CONSERVANCY
JULY 2008 TRAIL NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOU: SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS TRAINING IS COMING TO A COMMUNITY NEAR YOU. July 8 Caseyville, July 9 Mt. Vernon, July 10 Charleston. Registration is limited so only two representatives from each community should attend. School District and Municipal Representatives are highly encouraged to attend. Register at http://www.dot.il.gov/saferoutes/SafeRoutesRegisterTrainingContent.aspx Safe Routes to School is an innovative federal program that supports programs and projects that enable and encourage students in kindergarten through eighth grade to walk and bicycle to school. Over the next two years this program will provide roughly $13 million dollars to school districts, local governments and non-profit organizations who would like to promote walking and cycling among school children. See www.dot.il.gov/saferoutes for more information. AUGUST 13 & 14 Safe Routes to School National Training Course & Illinois Safe Routes to School Conference. Register online today @ www.biketraffic.org/saferoutes Limited enrollment of 50 for August 13 and 200 for August 14.
NEWS FROM ITC MEMBERS IS HELPFUL, FUN & INFORMATIVE.
ITC received $100.00 membership renewals from Christine Stocker from LaMont, Bob & Bea Dockum from LaGrange (who also came to visit Bev) & a new membership via the ad in Outdoor Illinois from Randall Miller in Lombard. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
Deborah Fagan from DuPage County Planning shared that DuPage County promotion of Bike on Metra to Work was interesting. When she returned from 3 days out of the office she had 18 voice mails asking for the best way to commute to work by bike. Check out the DuPage County website at www.dupageco.org/bikeways INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT
Jim Gehrke from Lake in the Hills has done a GREAT JOB with the ITC website to make it more informative and full of videos, photos and other fun stuff. Find it at www.ILLTrails.com THANKS TO MEMBERS WHO SHARE SKILLS.
Maurice Gianesin from Rockford and Tim McTaggart with the Starved Rock Cycling Club are monitoring conditions on the I & M Canal. Repairs are badly needed but IDNR has no funding due to the lack of a Capital Funds. The Illinois Snowmobile Club has offered to help do what they can. FINDING FUNDS IS NO FUN. ITC will hold funds in a special account for repairs if you would like to donate toward the repairs that are needed.
Charlie Johnson from Lisle stopped in to see Bev in Capron & left a map of the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail.
Sylvia Kellogg from Hinsdale shared information about Com Ed & IDCEO workshops on energy efficient building.
Rance & Alice Lumsden from Woodstock reminded Bev that they preferred their TRAIL NEWS be e-mailed to them.
John Nonneman from Carrollton sent news of the McKinley Bridge Bikeway over the Mississippi River that officially opened on June 7. A converted railroad trestle starts at the Riverfront Trail in St. Louis, then winds skyward to the bridge. On the bridge, the bicycle lane is separated from the road by a concrete barrier. On the east end of Venice, descend to a green space at the base of the bridge. Nowhere on the route do you wrestle with traffic unless you decide to ride Illinois Route 3 to the Confluence Trail farther north. Plans are to connect the bikeway with the Confluence Trail in the future.
Fred Siebert from Palatine e-mailed Bev, "Your steadfast efforts towards trailizing Illinois continues to awe me.Thanks for being you, an example of a special person who wants to and does help others to make our world a nicer place." Fred also would like to have his TRAIL NEWS e-mailed to him. THANKS TO WONDERFUL ENCOURAGING MEMBERS.
Gabby Greg Valent from Chicago shared information about the Skokie Valley Trail extension in Lake County. The project began in April thru mid May, but is currently shut down due to redesign. Construction was to restart in Summer 2008. Greg attended the official opening of the Valley Line Trail that runs thru Sauganash.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN 2008:
July 26 & 27 - Chase the Moon Midnight Bike Ride. See www.chasethemoon.com for information.
August 2 - POKER RUN ON THE LONG PRAIRIE TRAIL - Volunteers & Riders contact Bev at bebomoore@aol.com
August 5-10 - BOONE COUNTY FAIR - Come Visit Bev at the ITC booth where we will share info about Trails.
August 9 & 10 - Renewable Energy & Sustainable Lifestyle Fair See www.illinoisrenew.org for more.
August 16-23 - Lincoln Trail Bike Ride from Kentucky to Springfield, Illinois. Call Todd Volker at 815-431-1999.
August 13 & 14 - Safe Routes to Schools Training & Conference in Normal www.biketraffic.org/saferoutes for info.
August 23 – Party on the Path Fundraiser for Riverfront Trail in Belvidere - Building a Path to a Healthy Tomorrow
September 10 - APPLYING CONSERVATION DESIGN IN YOUR COMMUNITY. www.theconservationfoundation.org
September 17 - CNT's 30 Anniversary Celebration @ Garfield Park Conservatory. Call 773-269-4029 for Info.
September 21 - North Shore Centry Bike Ride - Contact Evanston Bicycle Club to register.
September 26 - Scientific Symposium on the state of Illinois' natural resources
September 27 - Natural History Survey Expo - Visit http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/150/index.html for information.
November 15-18 - 2008 NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. Theme is Innovative Trails: Transforming the American Way of Life. See www.AmericanTrails.org/2008 for information.
ITC BOARD MEMBERS ARE BUSY WORKING FOR YOU
George Burrier from Morton continues to lobby the Peoria City Council to connect & extend trails in the City. George e-mailed minutes of the June meeting of Recreational Trail Advocates. They are putting together a new pamphlet for the group, they are seeking out organizations to support the push for the Keller Line Trail extension as well as encouraging events and signage for trails. Summer meetings will occur July 7, August 4 & Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m. at Paparazzi's Restaurant. George & Sandy will be working as Camp Hosts June 15 through September 5.
Bob Hargis from Charleston attended the Committee Meeting for Effingham Trails on June 12. They are going to apply for a grant from Bikes Belong. They are following up on Safe Routes to Schools Funding. They are working on connections from the High School to the trail route at Outerbelt West. An easement at the school has been approved already.
Greg Luttrell from Trail Systems in Granite City thanked Bev for forwarding information about an organization that works to remove rails to make them into trails. Greg cautions anyone doing this to keep in mind that the porous surface under the rails does not provide stability to support a blacktop trail. Contact Greg at 618-604-0386 for his advice on Best Trail Practices.
John Wilson at Lan Oak Park District thanked Bev for sharing information about Trips for Kids Programs. Chicagoland Bicycle Federation delivered 25 bikes to the Park District that will be used in their education trailer.
ITC ACTIONS IN JUNE INCLUDE:
June 1 – Created, copied & distributed JUNE TRAIL NEWS to 233 ITC Members
June 2 - Clipped article from newspaper "More Springfield Residents Take to Bikes".
June 2 - Letter from Secretary of Transportation Milton Sees thanked Bev for her letter of May 11 regarding bicycle paths along IL 173 in Chemung. He shared that IDOT has included 8 foot paved shoulders on both sides of IL 173 within the project limits to accommodate on-road bicyclists and pedestrians, regardless of any other trail crossings in the area. WOW.
June 2 - Bev e-mailed Dick Westfall to ask if Illinois is in compliance with Federal Requirements for the RTP Committee. He assured me that Illinois does have a functioning RTP State Trails Advisory Board.
June 3 - Received BOGUS e-mail from IRS that ITC has a refund coming. Made a copy and sent to IRS.
June 3 - Received e-mail from Amy Fuller at DM Enterprises asking if we are aware of railroad tracks that need to be removed. Forwarded it to ITC Board Members and received a reply from Greg Luttrell referred to above.
June 4 - Sent another reply to IDOT Division of Highways regarding a roadway project in DeKalb County.
June 12 - Received e-mail from Marla Gursh that Route 66 meeting was cancelled. After reading the minutes of the March meeting, Bev is concerned that IDOT is not supportive of a Concept Plan. NOTHING WILL EVER HAPPEN UNLESS YOU HAVE A PLAN. Bev continuously expresses this as her belief. Maps give us a start and help to focus our energy on the most critical needs of the Route 66 project. Helping everyone understand the BIG PICTURE so that everyone will see where trails will eventually connect is vitally important to projects like the GRAND ILLINOIS TRAIL & ROUTE 66.
June 18 - Bev picked up beverages, fruit and bars for GITAP riders. Drove out to Hampton and directed riders away from knee deep water on the trail along the Mississippi River between 10:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m..
June 16 - Wrote another letter to IDOT Division of Highways regarding a roadway improvement next the I & M Canal.
June 19 - Letter received from IDOT Division of Highways thanking Bev for her comments and sharing that US6 provides a 40 foot roadway with a minimum 3 foot paved shoulder and variable width aggregate shoulder in each direction of traffic.
June 24 - Called Ed Barsotti and asked if LIB would mail ITC some Bicycle Guide Brochures & Group Ride Brochures.
June 24 - Received e-mail from American Trails regarding Nominations for Trails Awards. Forwarded e-mail to IDNR and suggested they nominate the new Collinsville Trail or the Skokie Valley Trail. Nominations were due June 30, 2008.
June 25 - Received a phone call from Rhonda Border-Boose at Rails to Trails that ITC had not been included in the Network
June 26 - Attended Safe Routes to Schools Training in Bloomington.
June 27 - Received a letter of thanks from ITC Member Chuck Oestreich, GITAP Chairman.
June 30 - Rescued ITC Member Albert Whetter when he had a flat tire on his bike out on Garden Prairie Road.
INFORMATION FOR YOU:
RTP Advisory Committee Compliance to receive FY 2009 Apportionments Reported to FHWA RTP Headquarters as of May 30, 2008 can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stac_bmp:htm FHWA Guidance, Policy & Resource Update.
Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads & Campgrounds is available. The online book is available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232816/index.htm
OUTDOOR ILLINOIS MAGAZINES are WONDERFUL. Subscribe by calling 1-800-720-3249.
Natural Land Institute, Illinois Enviro Bulletin, Trailnet, The Confluence and Iowa Trails Advocate Newsletters are all available from BEV at ITC.
CONTACT ILLINOIS TRAILS CONSERVANCY at www.ILLTrails.com Contact Bev about anything mentioned in TRAIL NEWS. E-Mail her at ITC bebomoore@aol.com for info. Illinois Trails Conservancy is P.O. Box 10, Capron, IL. 61012. Cell phone is 815-289-1024.