AUGUST 2009 TRAIL NEWS

USING A RECREATION TRAIL IS EXERCISE, ENJOYMENT, SOUL CLEANSING, CALMING ENVIRONMENTALLY HELPFUL, HEALTHY ACTIVITY. Can you think of more adjectives???


ITC ACTIONS IN JULY INCLUDE:

  • July 1 - Created and Distributed 218 issues of TRAIL NEWS to ITC MEMBERS. We need to grow. Can you help by encouraging a friend to become a member. This will help us continue to encourage communities to build, connect and maintain more recreation trails for all of us.

  • July 1 - Notified Tommy Greer that we received a Final Notice of our US domain Protection for ITC.

  • July 1 - Received information from the Federal Highway Department of Recreational Trails & Transportation Enhancements. Proposed legislation would consolidate most of the large highway funding programs and retain setaside funds at 10%. The proposal would retain several programs such as Safe Routes to School (SRTS), Recreational Trails (RTP), National Scenic Byways (NSB) and add a new US Bicycle Route System (USBRS) program. The proposed legislation would establish an Office of Livability within the Federal Highway Administration which would enhance the ability for consistent program coordination.

  • July 1 - Received information from info@keeponbiking.com re listing for Bike Shops and Clubs

  • July 1 - Checked with web manager Jim Gehrke about putting videos on our web site. He indicated that it would be better if we just linked to the videos. ITC member Eberhard Viet has a great video on U-Tube.

  • July 1 - Received a request for Bev to update our records with McKay Insurance for our Liability Policy.

  • July 1 - Received e-mail from Marc Miller of IDNR with news. Check out http://state.il.us/news.html for more.

  • July 2 - Received thanks from Ted Villaire, Author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Chicago for info about ITC.

  • July 2 - Eric Oberg from RTC in Ohio shared that a new Midwest Regional Trails book is out and can be purchased via the RTC web site at www.railstotrails.org now. It contains 380 pages of Trails in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Bev will definitely order one for ITC.

  • July 2 - Bev mailed information to Peter Botzek suggesting that he share his stories about bicycle experiences with Ted Villaire.

  • July 7 - Letter mailed to Mayor of the City of Harvard regarding the benefits of Trails now that there is a new Trail between Chemung and Harvard. Several Deans Food workers are riding their bikes to work now.

  • July 7 - Letter and information about ITC was mailed to Grainger Matching Charitable Gifts Program.

  • July 7 - E-mailed several advocacy groups to ask if they would like to be listed in the new book that Ted Villaire is working on. Bev thought it good to make them aware of this opportunity.

  • July 7 - Shared information that e-mail addresses to Springfield are usually name of person @IL.gov now.

  • July 7 - Received thanks from Ted Villaire for passing on his offer to advocacy groups in Illinois.

  • July 8 - Faxed information to a caller regarding Illinois Official Bicycle Maps and the LPT Poker Run

  • July 9 - Friends of the Great Western Trail group e-mailed thanks for opportunity to be listed in Trail Book.

  • July 9 - Received a request for greasy old bike chains to make products for graham@ResourceRevival.com

  • July 11 - Received a notice from Grainger Matching Charitable Gifts that an ITC member has requested a gift for ITC. ITC member Christopher Deitschel asked for the match but ITC has not received it yet.

  • July 14 - Clipped an article from Rockford Register "Few Americans walking, biking to work". It indicated that countries with the highest levels of walking and biking also have the lowest levels of obesity…..DUH???

  • July 15 - Bev and Diana attended Greenways & Trails Council meeting at IDNR and IABWGC meeting at IDOT. Issues discussed were the RTP projects from the March 2008 applications have been approved and sponsors have been notified by IDNR. Safe Routes to Schools Projects were supposed to be announced by the end of July. US Congressman Aaron Schock from Peoria who is on the Federal Transportation Committee has come out with support for the RTP Program. The idea of a network of Trails across Illinois is being discussed.

  • July 16 - Bev & Diana checked out some of the route 66 roadways that Diana will ride during the Route 66 trip. A good meeting took place in Lincoln with everyone hoping for lots of media opportunities along the way.

  • July 20 - Saw an item on TV about how riding on the back of a tandem bicycle benefited people with Parkinson's disease. It reduced their tremors markedly. Also clipped an article about the benefits of bicycling.

  • July 20 - Wrote a letter to US Congressman James L. Oberstar thanking him for his support of Enhancements.

  • July 23 - Attended Riverfront Development Meeting in Belvidere to help plan fund raising event for Trails.

  • July 24 - Picked up Gift Certificates for prizes for Long Prairie Trail Poker Run fundraiser.

  • July 27 - Forwarded a question about What happens when a railroad wants the railbanked corridor back?? To several ITC members and Trail Builders. Received many very helpful replies. The internet provides a source of great information from knowledgeable people. Greg Valent, ITC member from Chicago shared the reply that he received from RTC that included the STB Decision Docket No. AB-389 (Sub-No. IX) The answer depends on the terms of the private railbanking agreement between the railroad and the trail manager. Ideally, the original railbanking agreement will establish the terms and conditions of reconveyance. Nothing is ever easy.

  • July 29 - Mailed letters to US Senator Richard J. Durbin & US Congressman Aaron Schock inviting them to attend a media event during the Route 66 ride.

  • July 29 - Regarding the question about what happens when a railraod wants the railbanked corridor back one person suggested that the funds used to improve the corridor for trail use would need to be reimbursed if it were less then the 20 year minimum.

  • July 30 - Made reservations to attend Mid America Trails & Greenways Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

  • July 31 - Bev's main computer went on the fritz and could not use space bar. Using old system will be interesting. NOTHING IS EVER EASY.

    ITC BOARD MEMBERS ARE BUSY WORKING FOR YOU:

  • George Burrier from Peoria conducts the meetings of the Recreation Trail Advocates and is looking for marketing assistance from ICC and the Recreation and Tourism Administration of WIU to begin promoting the tourism possibilities of the future connection of all the trails in the region from the Constitution Trail and future RT. 66 trail to the east to the I & M Canal, Hennepin Canal and the Grand Illinois Trail to the north.

  • Bob Hargis from Ohio still sent in his membership check for $100.00 to ITC. He wants to continue to receive TRAIL NEWS and is checking out his new territory in Ohio for trails.

  • Ray Hoven from Gurnee is concerned about our dropping membership numbers. He suggests that Board Members could do more by meeting with trail groups at their meetings.

  • Keith Mistrik from Palatine renewed his ITC membership with a check for $100.00.

  • Bruce Perry from Port Byron is looking forward to participating on the Route 66 Ride.

    ITC MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE AND SO VERY SUPPORTIVE….

  • Mary Anne & Ron Ayers from Flora are encouraging friends to become ITC members. Estimates are requested for some new signage in the Historic B & O Railroad Depot. Debby and David Devore have formed a new bicycle club and hope for a trail located along the Old Highway 50 Route from Flora to Vincennes, IN. $100.00 was received from Mary Anne and Ron as their membership renewal.

  • Peter Botzek from Chicago mailed Bev several of his very fun stories about his Bicycle/Airplane Adventures.

  • Bob Clay from Bloomington sent Bev a copy of a newspaper article "County hopes to lure federal dollars with Route 66 bikeway project." He also sent Bev a copy of the Preliminary Engineering Service Agreement for Motor Fuel Tax Funds that described the construction for a segment of the U.S. Route 66 Bikeway. YEAH.

  • Deborah Fagan from DuPage County Planning keeps Bev informed about everything that is happening. Bids have been let for a Trail between Villa Park and Wood Dale. Negotiations have been worked out between ComEd and DuPage County regarding tree trimming along the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail. She asked Bev for help for a boy scout troop that was looking for paths in Rochelle. Bev referred them to Greg Query who was wonderful and even offered to accompany them on their rides. Deborah would like some maps of the Salt Creek Greenway Trail. She also provided assistance, encouragement & advice with Bev's plan for a statewide network of bicycle trails.

  • Maurice Gianesin from Rockford encouraged the Starved Rock Group to list their name in the trail book.

  • Carl & Linda Hall from Georgetown sent Bev a photo of them on their low rider tandem bicycle.

  • Gordon James from Elgin mailed Bev an article about the closures on the Illinois Paririe Path and the Fox River Trail due to construction of a bridge over the Fox River.

  • Charlie Johnson from Lisle visited Bev with news of a bridge over Randall Road in Kane County.

  • Sylvia Kellog from Hinsdale sent Bev minutes of the June 9 meeting of the BRATS in Wheaton.

  • John Kremer from McHenry County Conservation District still loves his new bike & rides it to work.

  • Bonnie Pink from McHenry rode her new bicycle 53 miles down the Prairie/Fox River/etc. trail and has a new e-mail address.

  • Bill & Annette Schnable from Dieterich let Bav know that they have not changed their e-mail address.

  • Greg Valent from Chicago (ACE REPORTER FOR TRAILS) sent Bev the question about what happens to railbanked trails when the railroad wants them back. He also sent her the answer he received from RTC in Washtington. He reports that Will County FPD wants to develop another trail center for the Wauponsee Trail. Lake County has a lot of side paths along roadways. Greg rode a trail from IL 176 to Fairfield Road. The surface is smooth hardpack gravel and appears to be really new. It ends at a parking facility on Gilmer road. He actually saw the Centennial Trail blacktop between the swing bridge at Schneider's Passage and I-355. Centennial Trail will be completely paved from Romeo Road/135th St. to Willow Springs Road (12 miles). He sent Bev photos of the tunnel on the Skokie Valley Trail and a picture of a guy on a unicycle riding a trail. Greg's travels took him along the Salt Creek path east on Canterbury Lane to a street connection which leads to a Nature Preserve being developed next to I-394. A paved path takes you under the Tollway into Cook County where you end up on the fully paved Bemis Woods bike path for 7 miles to Brookfield Zoo. WOW…

  • Eberhard Viet from Crystal Lake is also totally busy working with the McHenry County Highway Department to get roadways with side paths or wide shoulders. A great article in the Northwest Herald was published with photos and maps called "Crossing paths on the road less traveled. Bicyclists look for new ways to get around." Eberhard shares his communications regarding the striping of 3-Oaks Road. He has great suggestions to help bicyclists and motorists travel together. He is monitoring developments on the Rakow Road project and BEST OF ALL. CHECK OUT HIS VIDEO ON U-TUBE. Eberhard also renewed with $100.00.

  • Albert Whetter from Western Springs stops in to see Bev as he rides up to Janesville Wisconsin every so often. He shared his problems with dogs on country roads. He shared copies of his police reports about the dogs.

    OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU

  • August 8 - POKER RUN ON THE LONG PRAIRIE TRAIL - 8:00 a.m. until Noon on the Long Prairie Trail - Register at either Roland Olson FP or at County Line Road then collect cards on your 15 mile ride.

  • August 10 - GIT MEETING IN ROCKFORD at Rockford Park District Office at 10:30 a.m.

  • August 11 - BRATS MEETING IN WHEATON - 7:30 p.m. at the Park District Community Center.

  • August 11-16 - BOONE COUNTY FAIR in Belvidere - Come visit Bev at the ITC exhibit.

  • August 29 - Sept. 3 - ROUTE 66 MEDIA RIDE FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO.

  • September 19 - LENA COMMUNITY PARK DISTRICT FALL BIKE TOUR 7:00 a.m.

  • October 25 -28 - MID AMERICA TRAILS AND GREENWAYS CONFERENCE IN KALAMAZOO.


ITC HAS NEWSLETTERS TO SHARE FROM: Rails to Trails Conservancy, Trail Net, The McHenry County Pedaler, Friends of the Parks in Chicago, The Confluence & Illinois EnviroBulletin



I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS TRAIL NEWS BEING 3 PAGES BUT I JUST COULDN'T HELP IT WITH ALL THE NEWS I HAD TO SHARE. (Mailed copies only have 2 pages because I print it front & back).


CONTACT ILLINOIS TRAILS CONSERVANCY at www.ILLTrails.com or Bev at bebomoore@aol.com regarding anything mentioned in TRAIL NEWS. The address is P.O. Box 10 - Capron, Illinois 61012 & the phone number is 815-569-2472 or cell 815-289-1024 with fax 815-569-2976.