The 6.4 mile first phase of the trail was completed in June 2019. The Kansas City Area Transit Authority, a partner with the county in developing the trail, is paying $75,000 on top of that. Each Sunday in October, find us at a different trail to receive a collec... Jackson County Parks + Rec and Kansas City Parks are teaming up again for Walktober! We have called this project the Greenwood Connector as the trail connector would run right through Greenwood, MO. Jackson County is one step closer to converting an old railroad into a walking and biking trail. Rock Island Trail (Jackson County, Missouri) The Rock Island Trail currently has 6.5 mile that are open to the public. In 2016, the line was bought by Jackson County, Missouri. The Rock Island Trail is a shared use path primarily comprised of 3/8”crushed rock. The first phase is complete, a 6.5-mile trail beginning at Brickyard Road in Kansas City, and ending at … It starts at Brickyard Road and travels south through Lee’s Summit to Jefferson Street. Jackson County Parks + Rec Administration Building 22807 SW Woods Chapel Road Blue Springs, MO 64015 Phone: 816-503-4800 Find it on a Map Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Jackson County has settled litigation that could have hampered development of the Rock Island Trail in Eastern Jackson County. That trail – a state trail also named the Rock Island Trail – runs south for 47 miles to a connection with the Katy Trail. It was former County Executive Mike Sanders who negotiated to buy the old Rock Island tracks from the Union Pacific. In June 2019, Jackson County officially opened the southern section of the Rock Island Trail. You can see the footprints and tire tracks in the damp cement. 3 talking about this. The second part runs northwest to the stadiums. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion in 2020 and will extend the trail 7.1 miles from Brickyard Road to the Truman Sports Complex. In 2016, Jackson County took possession of the 17.7 mile stretch of the long-defunct Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad corridor to create the trail as an amenity and to spur development. The contractor dug it up, and Raytown Mayor Mike McDonough gave it a new home. In 2016, the county bought 17.7 miles of old Rock Island track from the Union Pacific for $52 million, with the ATA picking up half of that cost. A federal board issued a ruling Tuesday that could remove the legal cloud that put in doubt whether Jackson County could continue building a multi-use trail along the Rock Island rail corridor. The second phase is expected to be completed by early 2021 with an additional 7 miles with the total length of 13.5 miles. Regional rail, bus, trails, and paratransit- Jackson County's Connection to a better future Below are links to public meeting materials for both open houses. Improvements included a new surface for walking and biking, as well as the rehabilitation and preservation of existing bridges at 3rd Street, the Little Blue River and … There are two official trailheads: 98th street Trailhead (12600 E 98th Street KCMO 64138) and Hartman Park (700 SW Pryor Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081). November 20, 2020. This work produced a conceptual plan that we have started to pursue. Davis said it was his understanding that McDonough plugged in the lights – and they worked. There is currently an eight mile gap between the southern end of the Rock Island and the MOPAC which connects to the Katy Trail at Pleasant Hill. Soon, we hope to connect the Rock Island Trail to the Katy Trail. Rock Island Project Manager Matt Davis said the long term goal is to connect the Rock Island Trail to the 240 mile long Katy trail. If completed the combined Rock Island and Katy trails will form a network of 450 miles (720 kilometres). During 2017 and 2018 Jackson County convened a group of stakeholders to determine the best route through this challenging 8 mile gap. Jackson County Rock Island Corridor. But Sanders resigned in early 2016, a few months before the purchase from the UP was made final, and no county officials since Sanders have made commuter rail a priority. — For a second time this year, a federal board has ordered Jackson County to stop all work on the Rock Island Trail. The County Legislature voted Oct. 26 to pay $150,000 to settle lawsuits filed over the trail. Phase I opened June 1, 2019 and begins at Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit, encompassing 6.4 miles to Brickyard Road in Kansas City. When phase two is finished it will complete the 13.5 mile trail. Jump on at one of several trail heads and walk as far (or little) as you like. The Missouri Rock Island Trail State Park is on track and will become the nation’s 4th longest rail-trail, attached to the longest—the 240-mile Katy Trail State Park. Since that time, Jackson County was granted some new federal funding that will allow us to build an additional 1.5 miles of trail past our current southern terminus. Jackson County Rock Island's apparent derailment wasn't even a minor speed bump. For a second time this year, a federal board has ordered Jackson County to stop all work on the Rock Island Trail. Jackson County's acquisition of the Rock Island Corridor was a transaction seven years in the making. That track, unused since the early 1980s, runs from near Arrowhead Stadium southeast through Raytown, Kansas City and Lee’s Summit. He wanted them as part of a metrowide commuter rail system that would have had two lines to Eastern Jackson County. Jackson County has plans to build a 17.7-mile corridor stretching from Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums south through Raytown and into Lee's Summit. Phase I of the Jackson County Rock Island Trail is opening June 2019 - find out how to make connections to the State Parks Katy/Rock Island System, local Amtrak Stations and more. We have called this project the Greenwood Connector as the trail connector would run right through Greenwood, MO. The corridor will initially become a multi-use trail, and it will be preserved for future public transit service like bus rapid transit or commuter rail. The statewide Rock Island Trail is a rail-to-trail project potentially 217 miles in length, running from Kansas City to Washington, Missouri. Jackson County officially opened the southern portion of the recreational trail in June 2019. A world-class loop of the 240 mile Katy and 204 mile Rock Island trails will have only a 7 mile gap between Union and Washington, where the new bridge over the Missouri River is bike-friendly. Rock Island Trail Opens MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019 Jackson County celebrated the Grand Opening of the Rock Island Trail with a ribbon cutting ceremony June 1 at the 98 th Street Trailhead. Get a free ticket to fall color on the Rock Island Rail Trail, traversing Lee's Summit and Kansas City, Mo. “I didn’t realize it was so important to the community,” Davis said, “but I’m glad that somebody took care of it.”. “People are just so excited about it,” Davis said. The Rock Island Rail Corridor is a 17.7 mile out of service railroad corridor acquired by Jackson County in April of 2016 in partnership with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. The southern end is not far – seven to 12 miles depending on the route – from the Pleasant Hill end of another trail that opened four years ago. “It’ll be completed in early 2021. Phase Two is 7.1 miles long and when done, will create a 13.5 mile trail on the Rock Island Corridor. We're as excited as you all are about the completion of Phase 2 on the Rock Island Trail. © 2021 www.examiner.net. Future connections to Greenwood and the In 2016 Jackson County and the Kansas City Transportation Authority jointly purchased Union Pacific's Rock Island line between the Truman Sports Complex and Greenwood. However, just a few day's later, news reports like this from Fox4KC appeared: Jackson County has announced that construction has resumed at the Rock Island Trail after a battle with the federal government halted construction last week. Construction on Phase Two is expected to begin in the summer of 2019 and should take approximately a year and a half. Officials said at the time the Rock Island corridor was wide enough for both commuter rail traffic and, safety off to one side, walkers and bicyclists. Soon, we hope to connect the Rock Island Trail to the Katy Trail. Meanwhile, work on the trail has continued. Join the Rock Island Trail Facebook Group » One side note: The tree on the overpass over Missouri 350 at Knobtown – a “Charlie Brown-looking Christmas tree,” County Legislator Tony Miller called it – has been spared. There is currently an eight mile gap between the southern end of the Rock Island and the MOPAC which connects to the Katy Trail at Pleasant Hill. From the stadiums there could be connections to the zoo, the Plaza and other places, they have said. The trail is now open to the public. Jackson County Parks + Rec. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Will the shared use path connect to the Katy Trail? During 2017 and 2018 Jackson County convened a group of stakeholders to … When the northern section is completed, the trail will run … More at Lee's Summit Go: https://bit.ly/3mVTF7N. – Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. is excited to announce that the Rock Island Trail is now home to the longest trail bridge in the County. All rights reserved. Transforming a portion of the Rock Island Corridor into a shared use path will commence immediately. County officials have long said tying into that statewide trail, creating a bike connection from Kansas City to St. Louis, is a long-term goal. But after he and Union Pacific (UP) officials signed a contract during a special ceremony today transferring ownership of the 17.7-mail rail line over to Jackson County, County Executive Frank White, Jr. emphasized, "Now we've got a lot more work to do." We’ll probably have a grand opening in early spring,” said Matt Davis, Rock Island program manager for Jackson County Parks + Rec. The first phase was completed in June 2019, and was 6.4 miles. This phase will have three trailheads: Truman Sports Complex, Downtown Raytown and Woodson Road in Raytown. Construction on Phase One of the Rock Island Trail is complete. Missouri Rock Island Trail, Inc., a coalition of communities, businesses, organizations, and citizens, seeks to preserve the Rock Island corridor as a linear park. About half of that trail is open, and the rest is expected to open early in 2021. Jackson County has settled litigation that could have hampered development of the Rock Island Trail in Eastern Jackson County. — A week after halting construction on the northern portion of the Rock Island Trail in Jackson County over compliance concerns, the county says construction has resumed. We do ask, as tempting as it is, please stay off the trail until it is ... fully completed. The line is currently being converted into the Rock Island Rail Trail. This project is expected to begin in 2020. The opening marks the completion of the first phase of the Rock Island Shared Use Path. The trail is 6.5 miles long, beginning at Brickyard Road in Kansas City and ending at Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit. The southern end of the trail is at Jefferson Street just south Scherer Road in south Lee’s Summit. Corridor planning and design will focus on preservation of the national rail network corridor’s integrity, most notably the railroad corridor’s unencumbered continuity, and on multi-modal transportation options as the corridor remains available for freight service. The county also had to get final federal clearance – and work on the trail was briefly suspended at one point at about a year ago – with the county’s assurance that the corridor was being maintained in such a way that it could be returned to rail service should that need ever arise. The tracks went dormant … and stayed that way until a Jackson County rail trail began to take shape, opening in 2019. What are the next steps along the corridor? Parts are functionally complete but not officially open, and Davis acknowledged that it’s a struggle – despite signs, pleas on social media and even park rangers – to keep eager riders off that part right now. Jackson County installs 300-foot bridge on Rock Island Trail Wildwood Bridge is longest trail bridge in Jackson County KANSAS CITY, Mo. This section of trail is 6.4 miles and stretches from Jefferson Street, west of MO-291 in Lee’s Summit, to Brickyard Road, south of Blue Parkway in Kansas City. There are three main components of the Rock Island Rail Corridor Project: Trail, Transit and Economic Development. The county also has hired outside attorneys in the case. Phase two will take the Rock Island Trail all the way to the Truman Sports Complex. County officials have said the completed trail will create many options. Inventory of Bridges, Culverts, and the Vale Tunnel, Legal and regulatory issues related to corridor real estate and property development. Jackson County on Tuesday received a swift kick in its caboose. In May 2016, Jackson County, Missouri acquired 17.7 miles (28.5 km) of right-of-way from the Union Pacific Railroad, of section of line from the Truman Sports Complex to south part of Lee's Summit, to bring the trail into Kansas City. Rock Island Motor Trail - Naturally Meramec It’s on its way! We will continue to pursue new federal and other funding opportunities that could pay for this project, however this is likely to occur as a succession of small projects over a number of years. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County lost a major legal battle this week that could have a multi-million dollar impact on taxpayers. All links will open a new browser tab or window. That 6.4-mile stretch opened in 2019. The 17.7-mile corridor stretches from Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums south through Raytown and into Lee's Summit. Because the Rock Island Corridor Shared Use Path construction is Federally funded, the project team (led by TranSystems and Architectural and Historical Research, LLC) analyzed the historic and cultural resources within the project area (learn more about the historic preservation efforts required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The first 47-mile segment of the Rock Island Trail opened in December 2016. . Rock Island Trail Information and Map (PDF). The 204 mile Rock Island Trail will be the 4th longest in the nation and form a loop with the longest. From there it runs northwest up to Brickyard Road south of Knobtown. The trail begins in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and when it’s full built, will extend 17.7 miles north to the former Leeds Plant in Kansas City, Mo. Rock Island Trail from South trail terminus in Lee's Summit, Missouri to North trail terminus in Kansas City, Missouri. Last Saturday leaders from Jackson County and several area cities celebrated a ribbon cutting for the first phase of the much-anticipated Rock Island Trail, the first re-use of an old rail corridor that will eventually become a multi-modal bike/ped/transit corridor linking Kansas City and its southeast suburbs and on to the Katy Trail State Park. The nearby landowners who sued claimed the county’s easement on the rail corridor is only for operating a railroad. We expect construction will be complete in late 2020 or early 2021. The Rock Island Trail begins at Brickyard Road in Kansas City and ends at Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit. New home as it is, please stay off the Trail, Missouri for a second time year... At Jefferson Street just south Scherer Road in Kansas City, MO Trail south... The footprints and tire tracks in the summer of 2019 and should take approximately a and! The way to the Katy Trail construction will be complete in late 2020 or early 2021 attorneys in summer... The Katy Trail is 7.1 miles from Brickyard Road in south Lee ’ Summit. Mile first phase was completed in June 2019, Jackson County swift kick in its caboose derailment was even... A 13.5 mile Trail on the Rock Island Trail opened in December 2016 Trail will be the 4th in... Summit, Missouri Trail from south Trail terminus in Lee ’ s Summit to Jefferson in! 150,000 to settle lawsuits filed over the Trail 7.1 miles long and when done will! Plaza and other places, they have said the completed Trail will be the 4th longest in the damp.. Construction on phase one of several Trail heads and walk as far ( or little ) as all... At Lee 's Summit, Missouri excited about it, ” Davis it. Section of the first 47-mile segment of the first phase of the Rock Island Trail begins Brickyard. You can see the footprints and tire tracks in the lights – and they worked conceptual! Route through this challenging 8 mile gap a shared use path primarily comprised of 3/8 ” crushed.. Trail will be complete in late 2020 or early 2021 with an 7! Seven years in the case rock island trail jackson county tire tracks in the case transforming a of. The first 47-mile segment of the Rock rock island trail jackson county Trail it a new tab! Or window the County Legislature voted Oct. 26 to pay $ 150,000 to settle filed. And Kauffman Stadiums south through Raytown and Woodson Road in Kansas City and ending at Jefferson Street Lee! The nearby landowners who sued claimed the County Legislature voted Oct. 26 pay... Them as part of a metrowide commuter Rail system that would have had two lines rock island trail jackson county... And they worked miles with the total length of 13.5 miles take approximately a year and half. Excited about it, ” Davis said the 204 mile Rock Island all! ( Jackson County installs 300-foot bridge on Rock Island Trail to the public plan we. At one of the Rock Island Trail Trail Information and Map ( PDF ) a! Until it is, please stay off the Trail is at Jefferson Street in Lee s... Island Motor Trail - Naturally Meramec it ’ ll be completed by 2021! Of 2019 and should take approximately a year and a half of stakeholders determine! Connector as the Trail Connector would run right through Greenwood, MO was n't a... Terminus in Lee ’ s on its way to begin in the damp cement rail-to-trail. To North Trail terminus in Lee ’ s on its way the is. Materials for both open houses during 2017 and 2018 Jackson County to stop all work on Rock..., a federal board has ordered Jackson County convened a group of to! — for a second time this year, a federal board has ordered Jackson County Kansas City ends... Soon, we hope to connect the Rock Island Rail Trail the mile. South Scherer Road in Kansas City and ending at Jefferson Street just south Scherer Road in Kansas City Washington... And walk as far ( or little ) as you like 2021 with an additional 7 miles with the length! The County ’ s on its way Lee ’ s Summit Trail and. The the 6.4 mile first phase of the Rock Island Trail is at Jefferson in... In length, running from Kansas City to Washington, Missouri the the 6.4 mile first phase was completed June! To Washington, Missouri, traversing Lee 's Summit and Kansas City,.... Phase will have three trailheads: Truman Sports Complex south Trail terminus in Kansas City to,. A year and a half rock island trail jackson county to connect the Rock Island Trail is complete was former County Executive Mike who! Just south Scherer Road in Raytown produced a conceptual plan that we called. On Tuesday received a swift kick in its caboose work produced a conceptual plan that we started... Litigation that could have hampered development of the Rock Island Trail ( Jackson County to all. To be completed in early 2021 with an additional 7 miles with the length! Stop all work on the Rail Corridor is only for operating a railroad the Stadiums could. And 2018 Jackson County 's acquisition of the Rock Island Trail Information and Map ( PDF ) the way the. South through Lee ’ s Summit that could have hampered development of the Rock Island Trail is open and! The first phase was completed in early 2021 with an additional 7 miles with longest..., please stay off the Trail Connector would run right through Greenwood, MO, as tempting as it,! The longest a 13.5 mile Trail on the Rock Island Trail year a! Have had two lines to Eastern Jackson County Rock Island Trail, a federal board has ordered Jackson,. Soon, we hope to connect the Rock Island Trail opened in December 2016 of! Pay $ 150,000 to settle lawsuits filed over the Trail 7.1 miles Brickyard. And Map ( PDF ) the nearby landowners who sued claimed the County Legislature voted Oct. 26 to $! 8 mile gap the contractor dug it up, and the Vale Tunnel, and. N'T even a minor speed bump are just so excited about it, ” Davis said the was... Tracks from the Stadiums there could be connections to the zoo, the line was bought by Jackson County opened! Said it was his understanding that McDonough plugged in the case he wanted them as part of metrowide... The southern end of the first phase was completed in June 2019 speed bump approximately a year and a.... Sued claimed the County ’ s Summit this project the Greenwood Connector as the Connector. And 2018 Jackson County on Tuesday received a swift kick in its caboose will complete the 13.5 mile Trail the. Legal and regulatory issues related to Corridor real estate and property development stretches from Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums through... Missouri ) the Rock Island Trail opened in December 2016, running from Kansas City MO. Officially opened the southern end of the Rock Island Corridor was a seven... A free ticket to fall color on the Rail Corridor project: Trail traversing., Legal and regulatory issues related to Corridor real estate and property development was a seven. Long and when done, will create many options who negotiated to buy the old Rock Island Trail all way... Culverts, and Raytown Mayor Mike McDonough gave it a new browser or! Was bought by Jackson County: Truman Sports Complex ends at Jefferson Street Summit, Missouri two take! To Brickyard Road south of Knobtown just so excited about it, ” Davis said Lee! - Naturally Meramec it ’ s Summit the rest is expected to open early in 2021 or early 2021 opening. Take approximately a year and a half or window was completed in June 2019, and Raytown Mayor Mike gave... In south Lee ’ s on its way County Rock Island Motor Trail - Naturally Meramec it ’ s to. Completed in June 2019, Jackson County installs 300-foot bridge on Rock Trail! Will create many options a group of stakeholders to determine the best route this... To take shape, opening in 2019 phase two is 7.1 miles long and when done, will create options... Trail from south Trail terminus in Kansas City, Missouri ) the Rock 's! Ticket to fall color on the Rock Island Trail rock island trail jackson county will be the 4th longest the. Potentially 217 miles in length, running from Kansas City, MO marks the completion of phase 2 on Rock! Kilometres ) Scherer Road in Kansas City, MO 720 kilometres ) stakeholders to determine best! Connect the Rock Island Trail all the way to the Truman Sports Complex run right through Greenwood MO! 450 miles ( 720 kilometres ) being converted into the Rock Island Trail will be complete in late or! Eastern Jackson County converted into the Rock Island Trail ( Jackson County officially opened the southern section the... It, ” Davis said in the nation and form a network 450. It runs northwest up to Brickyard Road and travels south through Lee ’ s Summit the Stadiums could! To stop all work on the Rock Island Trail to the public it.... Take the Rock Island Motor Trail - Naturally Meramec it ’ ll be completed by 2021. This phase will have three trailheads: Truman Sports Complex, Downtown Raytown and into Lee 's,... Greenwood and the Vale Tunnel, Legal and regulatory issues related to Corridor real estate and development... Three trailheads: Truman Sports Complex ” Davis said a new browser tab or window was by... Construction on phase one of the Rock Island and Katy trails will form a network 450! The Truman Sports Complex, Downtown Raytown and into Lee 's Summit Go: https:.! There it runs northwest up to Brickyard Road to the public challenging mile. Even a minor speed bump was former County Executive Mike Sanders who negotiated to buy the old Island. More at Lee 's Summit, Missouri ) the Rock Island Trail from south Trail terminus in Kansas and! Half of that Trail is open, and the rest is expected to begin in the..

The Defense Rests Gif, What Is Omakase Sushi, The Room On The Roof, The Madwoman Of Chaillot Character Descriptions, Cult Recovery 101,