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terrain March/April 2022
field notes
SHOP TALK: MCT TRAILS
A century ago, because of Madison County's rich natural resources, growing industries, and proximity to St. Louis, dozens of railroads crisscrossed the surrounding Illinois countryside. But times change, and the railroads began to abandon their lines. In their place, outdoor enthusiasts now have access to an extensive system of scenic bikeways known as the Madison County Transit (MCT) Trails. "In many parts of the country, former rail lines were sold off piece by piece to adjacent property owners," said SJ Morrison, current Managing Director of MCT. "Pioneering MCT Managing Director Jerry Kane saw an opportunity to preserve these vital transportation corridors for future light rail development and interim trail use. Thanks to his leadership, in 1993, the State of Illinois approved an amendment to the Local Mass Transit District Act, granting MCT permissive authority to own, construct, and maintain bikeways." Spanning more than 137 miles and connecting 20 communities, the 10 bikeways in the MCT Trails system form one of the most extensive and interconnected Class I trail networks in the country. These "linear parks" comprise nearly 1,600 acres of greenspace - traversing prairies, forests, lakes, the bluff-line, and even the Mississippi River - and are completely separated from the roadway. Because MCT is committed to as few at-grade crossings as possible, the system features 48 bridges and 22 tunnels. More than 100 miles of the MCT Trails are 10-foot-wide, asphalt-paved bikeways, the rest are crushed limestone or rock surface. "Although they're referred to as bikeways, and cyclists of all skill levels are certainly abundant, the MCT Trails also provide a haven for walkers, runners, and rollerbladers," said Morrison. "In the communities of Madison County, the MCT Trails have helped to create a bicycle culture that didn't exist before. The trails not only serve as a recreation and fitness option, they offer a quick escape into nature as well as a transportation corridor for commuters or those who simply choose to run errands on bike or on foot." One of the highlights, says Morrison, is that the interconnected MCT Trails form seven loops of varying length (from 10 to 31 miles), allowing trail goers to walk, run, or ride without seeing the same scenery twice. In addition to the wide array of natural scenery, the MCT Trails also connect to parks, neighborhoods, commercial areas, cultural attractions, and to both the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus and the Lewis & Clark Community College N.O. Nelson Campus. MCT also provides fixed-route bus service and paratransit service for elderly and disabled residents. Bikes can be taken on buses at no extra charge, and because many of the MCT Trails trailheads also serve as bus stops (with parking, shelter, and other amenities), MCT bus passengers can "bike and bus" seamlessly for transportation or recreation. "Thanks to our hard working staff and to the commitment of the MCT Board, led by MCT Board Chairman Ron Jedda, I'm happy to report that MCT currently has 12 trail projects in various stages of development," said Morrison. "We're not only building new trails, like the MCT Silver Creek Trail in Troy, the Formosa West Trail in Collinsville, and the Monarch Valley Trail in Edwardsville, we're also making safety enhancements such as installing a trail tunnel under IL-157 in Collinsville for the MCT Schoolhouse Trail and pursuing a bridge over US 40 in Troy for the Formosa East Trail. "In addition, we're working with communities and community leaders to make a series of new connections like the recent connection to Pleasant Ridge Park in Maryville, and proposed connections in East Alton, Glen Carbon, Wood River, and throughout Madison County," Morrison added. "Beyond trail construction projects, we're interested in continuing to beautify the MCT Trails and have planted hundreds of trees, flowers, and shrubs in the last few years to enhance the already scenic trails."
LEARN ABOUT MCT TRAILS
Phone: 618-797-4600 Facebook: facebook.com/MCTtrails Instagram: instagram.com/mct_trails/ Web: mcttrails.org
ABOVE:
MCT Director SJ Morrison.
RIGHT:
Goshen Trail.
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