Illinois is closing the gap on the Great American Rail Trail, an ambitious project led by the Rail to Trail Conservancy that will create 3,700 miles of continuous trail between Washington, D.C. and Washington state. , tantalizingly close.
Once completed, the Illinois section will run approximately 200 miles from the Indiana state line to the Mississippi River. This is the kind of trail that tests your pedal courage, and the riders change as much as the cities you pass through. Completing this trail could be the perfect New Year’s resolution.
Achieving goals
Jason Cheney writes in his essay: expression equation, “A clear goal acts like a lighthouse to guide our efforts, allowing us to navigate the oceans of life with clarity and purpose. The elusive concept of ‘eventually’ Unlike, concrete deadlines move us to action. They turn dreams into concrete goals and aspirations into achievable milestones. It’s the difference between wandering aimlessly and embarking on a purposeful journey. ” This kind of purposeful journey can be a metaphor for the physical act of running a long-distance trail, or for setting a challenging and clear goal.
Dave Simmons, Executive Director ride illinoiswants to complete the trail from a building perspective. “Efforts to close the gap have been going on for more than 30 years. This time feels different, given the local, state, and national interests. Ride Illinois’ 2024 aspiration is a feasibility study with few hurdles. , planning for some trail segments with gaps is to begin next year.”
“Ride Illinois is excited about the efforts currently underway to close three of the four gaps along the road. Great American Rail Trail Illinois route. The feasibility study on the gap between LaSalle and Bureau Junction is an important step, and we aspire to have the study completed in spring 2024. ”
The 15-mile difference Simmons said is the largest on the Illinois route.it separates two great things Illinois bike trails. Designated as America’s first National Heritage Area, the 61-mile Illinois-Michigan Canal State Trail connects to the 165-mile Hennepin Canal State Trail and is the Great American Rail Trail’s “belt buckle” installation. It will be done. The state, as local organizers like to say. Visitors can explore more than 290 miles of trails, with camps and trail towns located throughout the trail network.
“The population of Illinois and all of its contiguous states is approximately 45 million people. The positive economic impact on Illinois and the communities along the route cannot be ignored. Once the trail is completed, people will come in droves.” Simmons says.
Revitalizing business and tourism
according to Rail-to-Trail Preserve, 50 million people live within 80 miles of the route of the Great American Rail Trail. When the entire trail is completed, visitor spending could reach $230 million annually. This could equate to $18.8 million annually for Illinois businesses.
Brandi Horton, vice president of communications for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, agrees. “If we closed that 15-mile gap, I can tell you from what we’re seeing across the country what would happen. It would be amazing if the trails would connect. That’s what people want. , trail usage could increase by as much as 80% as it is a safe and convenient way to bike, walk, and be active outdoors.”
This proof of concept is 240 miles katie trail, America’s longest railroad, crosses the Mississippi River in Missouri. What started as a vision and goal in the 1980s columbia spur trail It has become a genuine tourist attraction. Wineries, restaurants, and bed-and-breakfast lodging serve the trail’s 500,000 annual visitors and generate $29.2 million in annual economic impact.
Completion of the Katy Trail was the collaborative effort of many supporters, including Edward D. “Ted” Jones Jr. They donated $2.2 million to acquire 200 miles of abandoned Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad tracks for Katy Trail State Park. KT was completed in 1990, six months before Ted passed away. In many ways, this means the wheel of Ted’s life has come full circle since Ted first met Pat on a bicycle trip from St. Louis to the Ozarks in 1940.
bicycle culture
It is widely believed that Ted Jones was inspired for the Katy Trail by riding a railroad trail in Wisconsin in the late 1980s. Wisconsin is a great state for biking. The Elroy-Sparta Trail is considered the first railroad trail in the United States, and Madison, Wisconsin is consistently ranked as one of the top cycling cities in the country.There’s more to Madison 200 miles of bike trails It also has the highest number of parks per capita in the country. Perhaps not coincidentally, this city is her second healthiest city in the United States, according to the 2022 American Fitness Index.
Rob Gard, Director of Communications and Public Relations destination madison, explains. “Madison has a long and strong bicycle culture. We are one of the top-ranked bicycle cities in the country, highly ranked for how our bike paths and trails connect neighborhoods, parks, businesses, and culture. Rated: Nearly 4,000 bike trips are made every day on bikeways, and that doesn’t include many of the county’s roads and other areas. In fact, so many people Because people use bike paths to commute to work and school year-round, many roads are cleared of snow in the winter. Whether you’re a daily commuter or a weekend tourist, visiting Madison by bike is a great way to get around Madison. is a great way to experience the city.”
Lenny Callaway city of madison A pedestrian and bicycle manager said: “As soon as you walk into Madison, it’s hard not to notice people on bicycles. Not just people riding their bikes to run errands, commute to work or school, but also people riding leisurely around the lake. , you can also see people going on long drives into the surrounding countryside, hitting the mountain bike trails, or enjoying a bike ride across the city. One of our city’s lakes has frozen over. Some days it can feel like everyone is out cycling, and even on the coldest, snowiest winter days, you’re not the only one out on your bike.”
recreation and health
Cassie Mordini, Community Development and Communications Specialist Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation“Bicycles are more than just a way to get from point A to point B in Wisconsin. They are a huge driver of our outdoor recreation economy. Iconic brands like Trek and Schwinn are headquartered in the Madison area. “Our premier competitions draw cyclists from all over the country. And Wisconsin’s cycling infrastructure brings communities closer together in both urban and rural areas.”
A 2019 study found that Wisconsin consumers spend well over $1 billion annually on bicycle-related expenses. Outdoor Industry AssociationBut health experts might say it’s a bargain. According to 2021 University of Wisconsin Study: “If U.S. metropolitan areas increased their bicycle travel rates to 6%, the rate seen in Madison, Wisconsin, approximately 20,000 deaths from chronic disease could be avoided.”
The Great American Rail-Trail in Illinois is expected to generate 2.1 million trips annually, according to an impact study by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Perhaps more importantly, it has inspired millions of people to take on multi-day bike trips, with direct benefits for their health and dozens of small towns. who knows? They may find true love on two wheels. Ted and Pat certainly did.
This article was created by Media decisions Syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.