March 2009

Happy St. Patricks Day & Happy Trails to Everyone from Bev


GOOD NEWS:

  • 7 STATE PARKS WILL REOPEN & 12 FULL TIME JOBS RESTORED

  • MARC MILLER APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ILLIOIS DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES

  • ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE SIGNED INTO LAW 2-17-09 INCLUDES $800 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS

  • CONGRESSMAN DON MANZULLO SENT A LETTER TO ILLINOIS GOVERNOR PAT QUINN URGING HIM TO IMMEDIATELY FOCUS ON PASSING A CAPITAL BILL THAT WOULD IMPROVE ROADS & RAIL THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THIS WOULD FINALLY SPEND THE $6.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS SITTING UNUSED IN SPRINGFIELD SINCE 2005.

  • ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL IS SPONSORING AN ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY DAY ON MARCH 18 IN SPRINGFIELD. Register at envirobulletin@lists.ilenviro.org


ITC ACTIONS IN FEBRUARY INCLUDE:

  1. February 1 – Created, copied & distributed FEBRUARY TRAIL NEWS to 219 ITC Members & Groups

  2. February 2 – Received e-mail from Rhonda Border-Boose at RTC in Ohio with encouragement for ITC

  3. February 3 – Received a letter from IDOT regarding ITC response to their letter regarding the new culvert on IL 72. This will provide an 11’ lane with an 8’ shoulder.

  4. February 4 – Mailed a letter to ITC members Jean Collins & Albert Whetter regarding attendance at the C.C.D.I. Expo in Springfield on April 27 & 28. Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois. www.ccdionline.org

  5. February 5 – Mailed a letter to U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo regarding his letter that was received with information about Roland Burris. ITC had just suggested that some direct questions be asked regarding fundraising efforts.

  6. February 5 – Mailed another letter to U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo regarding his suggestion that Governor Quinn get busy and implement a Capital Improvements Plan for Illinois which has been lacking since 1999.

  7. February 6 – Received e-mail from former Director Mike Ulm with his approval of Marc Millers appointment as Director of IDNR. He also ask if Bev could provide him with a recommendation for a Federal Job with National Park Service.

  8. February 10 – Received e-mail from Web Manager Jim Gehrke that he would get February TRAIL NEWs on site.

  9. February 10 – Mailed a check for $50.00 to Friends of the Hennepin Canal for support & encouragement.

  10. February 11 – Received e-mail from Mike Ulm thanking Bev for her recommendation.

  11. February 13 – Received a notice from IEPA regarding a webinar focusing on economic recovery efforts. Bev forwarded it to U of I Extension Office in Belvidere so that she can get information after she returns to Illinois.

  12. February 17 – Received e-mail from Illinois re awful weather. BEV ENJOYS FLORIDA IN THE WINTER.

  13. February 18 – Received e-mail from Debbie Leffelman at Oregon Park District asking for direction about organizing group bicycle rides on local roads. She is reluctant to do this as a public organization due to liability issues. She says “Oregon doesn’t really have a trail system near by”. THEY NEED TO WORK ON GETTING ONE.

  14. February 19 – Bev replied to Debbie that she would check our ITC member list to see if someone nearby would be able to help her out with organizing group rides on roadways in and around Oregon. ANYONE INTERESTED???

  15. February 20 – RECEIVED GOOD NEWS FROM RTC about Transportation Enhancements. Current Information indicates that 50% of a state’s recovery funds (including TE) must be spent within 120 days of the date of apportionment to the states and the remaining 50% must be spent within one year of the same date. Funds that are not spent within these timeframes will be rescinded. Unlike TE allocated through SAFETEA-LU funds from this recovery bill have no matching requirement. However, there is no guarantee that states will not require a match on their distribution of funds.

  16. February 23 – Received an e-mail from Kartik Sribarra at RTC in Washington wishing us Good Luck in Illinois. Bev assured him that ITC would pass on the news about the Enhancements.

  17. February 25 – Received a forwarded e-mail with a list of Indiana Stimulus Monies for Bike & Ped Projects. Bev replised to IDNR asking where our Illinois List of Projects was??? IDNR sent Bev a list of 32 pages with projects all over the US.

  18. February 26 – Received e-mail from Ed Barsotti at LIB that IDOT plans to simply award the stimulus funds to more of the applicants from May 2008 Enhancements. Instead of 100% federal Enhancements will be subject ot 80/20 cost share. Ed will be talking with Bill Grunloh from IDOT about the whole ITEP situation. Thanks for ED BARSOTTI & LIB.




ITC MEMBERS ARE ACTIVE AND TOTALLY SUPPORTIVE:

  • ITC received a membership renewal from Sally Olds of Chicago for $300.00 and one for $100 from Leo Skinner of Elk Grove Vaillage. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT & ENCOURAGEMENT.

  • Ron & Mary Ann Ayers from Flora report that the Flora Depot project will not be completed due to the lack of action on the part of previous governor who sat on funds & cost of construction went up. They have been visiting warmer climates

  • Ray Bartels from Illinois Prairie Path sent Bev information about the Annual Trail Cleanup.

  • Steve Breese e-mailed Bev about Terry Witt’s proposal for Woodland Hawk Trail.

  • Deborah Fagan at DuPage County shared that the Woodland Hawk Trail would be one link in the North Central DuPage Regional Trail. She shares that the regional trail connecting Busse Woods to the IPP is about 50% complete. She sent ITC a copy of a National Complete Streets Policy that each community should adopt. She also cautioned Bev that ITC had forwarded e-mail to IDOT. Bev was aware of it. Check out the DuPage County website at www.dupageco.org/bikeways

  • Sylvia Kellogg from BRATS in Wheaton is still looking for suggestions to restructure BRATS. Whatever she does…I know…will be GREAT. Minutes from the February Meeting include status of State Parks & appointment of Marc Miller. The next meeting is March 10 at Wheaton Park District Community Center. BRATS ARE THE BEST!!

  • Mike Kerber from Bloomington renewed his membership and included a note that the newsletter is getting full of trivia and should include more information about advocacy efforts. I hope that I have done this by the reformat & information.

  • George Mann from McHenry sent Bev a note that he appreciates the information in TRAIL NEWS and shared news about the work that Eberhard Veit is doing in Crystal Lake. George just wishes more people would get involved.

  • Mike Rucker from Peoria suggested inviting candidates to come to the local RTA meeting and express their views on making Peoria more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. This would be a good plan for all communities.

  • Gabby Greg Valent from Chicago visited Trader Joe’s store in Park Ridge. They carry Prairie Path Golden Ale from the Two Brothers Brewing Company in Warrenville.

  • Eberhard Veit from Crystal Lake is doing a FANTASTIC JOB in Crystal Lake and McHenry County making sure that pedestrians & bicyclists are considered in all transportation planning.

  • Terry Witt from Bartlett has become an ITC member and is doing trail advocacy work from Spin Doctor Cyclewerks.

ITC BOARD MEMBERS ARE BUSY WORKING FOR YOU

  • Tim Bartlett from Urbana Park District will be filling the Board Vacancy in May after Bob Hargis moves to Ohio. He sent Bev an extensive resume which Bev will forward to Board Members to officially approve in October 2009.

  • George & Sandi Burrier from Morton are still in Florida on Tamiami Trail between Naples & Miami.

  • Bob Hargis from Charleston will be GREATLY missed. He has been the impetus behind several Illinois trails. He says that Tim Bartlett will be an excellent addition to the ITC Board.

  • David Landeweer from Arlington Heights agrees that Tim Bartlett will be a great asset to the ITC Board.

  • Bruce Perry from Port Byron is concerned that IDOT holds the reins to so much that happens with bike trails.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU IN 2009

  • March 2 – Friends of the Rock Island Trail meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Paparazzi in Peoria Heights.

  • March 10 – BRATS Meeting @ Wheaton Park District Community Center 7:30- 9:00 p.m.

  • March 18 – Environmental Lobby Day in Springfield. See envirobulletin@lists.ilenviro.org for more information.

  • March 26 – Riverfront Development Committee Meeting in Belvidere

  • April 18 - Long Prairie Trail Cleanup - Meeting in Poplar Grove at 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast & Bags provided

  • April 19 - Go Green! DuPage County Forest Preserve Dist. event at Fullerburg Woods from Noon - 4:00 p.m.

  • April 21 – EARTH DAY FEST - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Galena. Call Lisa Schoenrockat @ 815-275-4881

  • April 23 - Earth Day Benefit Dinner sponsored by The Conservation Foundation

  • April 25 – The Illinois Prairie Path Annual Cleanup Day Rain or Shine Starting at 9:00 a.m. E-mail Ron Bartels at Rbartel399@comcast.net or call him at 630-606-8851 if you can help out.

  • April 27 & 28 – CCDI Expo in Springfield. Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois.

  • May 3 - Green Earth Fair sponsored by the Conservation Foundation

  • May 4 – Green Earth Fair @ 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd. in Naperville. 1-5:00 p.m. See www.GreenEarthInstitute.org

  • May 16 - DuPage River Sweep sponsored by The Conservation Foundation

  • June 6 - NATIONAL TRAILS DAY

  • June 14-20 - GITAP Grand Illinois Trail & Parks Ride - Contact Chuck Oestreich at 309-788-1845 or oestreich@qconline.com

  • July 18 – McHenry County Farm Bureau 7th Annual Tractor Trek from Harvard to Candlewick.

  • August 29 – ROUTE 66 MEDIA RIDE FROM ST. LOUIS TO CHICAGO.

  • October 25-28 – MID AMERICA TRAILS & GREENWAYS CONFERENCE IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

ITC HAS NEWSLETTERS TO SHARE FROM: The Confluence, Trailnet, Illinois Trail Riders, Friends of the Parks in Chicago, Natural Land Institute in Rockford & OUTDOOR ILLINOIS. Subscribe at 1-800-726-3249.

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