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St. Louis Front Page presents St. Louis CitySide, an overview of the City Government of Saint Louis. From time to time, we will take an indepth look at many of the projects in which the city is involved and how these projects will affect residents and visitors.
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Mississippi River Trail
Mississippi River Trail (MRT) ribbon cutting ceremony - (L. to R.) Mike Murray, MRT of St. Louis, Henry Hungerbeeler, director of MoDOT, Mark C. Ackelson, vice-chair of MRT, Missouri Governor Bob Holden, Jeff Wagener, president, Metro Park & Recreation Board, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Susan Jones, MRT of Memphis (standing in back). © 2001 Bob Moore, SLFP.com

Mississippi River Trail Dedicated

by Betty Magrath, SLFP.com
Photos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
© 2001 St. Louis Front Page

ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), Sept 27, 2001 - A 400-mile long Missouri section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) was dedicated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, Thursday evening, Sept 27, at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial under the historic Gateway Arch. The multi-state cycling route covering more than 2,000 miles between Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico is one of sixteen trails designated a national millennium trail through the efforts of the Department of Transportation.

The dedication event was part of TrailLink 2001, the third international trail and greenways conference being held in St. Louis at Union Station, Sept 26 - 29. Missouri Governor Bob Holden, who is an avid cycle enthusiast, joined St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, MoDOT Director Henry Hungerbeeler, MRT Charter Board Member and Secretary Susan Jones and St. Louis Metro Park & Recreation Board President Jeff Wagener for the event.

Governor Bob Holden
The MRT is good for our health and our economny, said Missouri Governor Bob Holden.
Red line
"We've got to get back to building the country and not let what happened on Sept, 11 deter us from moving forward," noted Gov. Holden in reference to the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. "These last few weeks have given us a greater appreciation as to how precious life is and how important it is that we preserve the time we have with our families."

On a lighter note, Gov. Holden drew a round of applause and laughter from members of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy when he promised to ride the Missouri part of the trail but not the whole trail.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was contacted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help run the MRT. Other St. Louis trails featured during the conference include the Lewis and Clark Trail, the KATY Trail and the Underground Trail.

Gov. Holden said that the trails and green space would tie communities together. "It's good for our health. It's good for the environment and it's good for the economy," he commented.

Mayor Francis Slay emphasized that trails are vitals elements of liberal communities. "They really help improve the quality of life for people who live here and have business here and also for people who just want to visit and site see," stated Mayor Slay. He added that trails provide a wonderful opportunity to view and appreciate the variety of rural, urban and suburban landscapes.

The MRT trail winds through 10 states. In Missouri, the trail traverses state highways and some local roads from Hannibal south through St. Louis to the Dorena, Missouri / Hickman, Kentucky ferry crossing in Mississippi County. As the lead state agency for the MRT, MoDOT has placed signs all along the trail in Missouri.

Funding for the trail is from the Metropolitan Park and Recreation District which was approved by voters last November, stated Jeff Wagner, president, St. Louis Metro Park & Recreation Board. Proposition C, the Clean Water Safe Parks and Community Trails Initiative, provides over $20 million for recreation and conservation projects. Wagner, who was representing St. Louis County Executive George R. "Buzz" Westfall, said that the Mississippi River Trail coming through St. Louis was perfect timing for the county. "We just committed nearly $36 million for the Confluence Greenway project which will hook to the Riverfront Trail which will eventually hook to this trail."

In the St. Louis metropolitan area, MRT trail signs will be positioned on various roads including Route 79 and Route 370 in St Charles County, Missouri Bottom Road and Riverview Drive in St. Louis County, the Riverfront Trail, Lenore K. Sullivan and Broadway in the city of St. Louis, Route 231 (Telegraph Road) in St. Louis County and Route 61/67 in Jefferson County. The Missouri Division of Tourism provided funding assistance to the MRT Corporation.Red Dot

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