Comments on: The Missing Link http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:33:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Peoria Illinoisan » Common Sense Prevails at the STB. http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-43685 Peoria Illinoisan » Common Sense Prevails at the STB. Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:11:54 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-43685 [...] As I’ve said before, we can have this connecting trail, but only if the trail-only advocates deal with the reality of the situation and figure out an alternate solution instead of trying stunt growth and encourage businesses to locate out of town. [...] [...] As I’ve said before, we can have this connecting trail, but only if the trail-only advocates deal with the reality of the situation and figure out an alternate solution instead of trying stunt growth and encourage businesses to locate out of town. [...]

]]> By: The Peoria Chronicle » Blog Archive » JSEB discovers Kellar Branch could make money for the city http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39467 The Peoria Chronicle » Blog Archive » JSEB discovers Kellar Branch could make money for the city Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:53:35 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39467 [...] more excellent posts on the Kellar Branch, see Billy Dennis’s and PeoriaIllinoisan’s [...] [...] more excellent posts on the Kellar Branch, see Billy Dennis’s and PeoriaIllinoisan’s [...]

]]> By: SD http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39394 SD Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:09:07 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39394 Amen Bean Counter. I have never liked the idea of being the San Francisco of the Midwest. I've lived in San Francisco and while it has its points it has no business here in the Midwest. We can have it all right here in Peoria. We can have rails and trails and benefit everybody and live life to the fullest. Let's quit all this bickering and spend that time and money and energy working together to get it done for all. I would dearly love to see both rails and trails complimenting one another right here in the heart of Peoria. Amen Bean Counter. I have never liked the idea of being the San Francisco of the Midwest. I’ve lived in San Francisco and while it has its points it has no business here in the Midwest. We can have it all right here in Peoria. We can have rails and trails and benefit everybody and live life to the fullest. Let’s quit all this bickering and spend that time and money and energy working together to get it done for all. I would dearly love to see both rails and trails complimenting one another right here in the heart of Peoria.

]]> By: BeanCounter http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39381 BeanCounter Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:35:48 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39381 Madison is one on of my favorite places. If it wasn't so far from my favorite people I would live there. When I visited Madison in August I went with a friend to take some pictures too. I was going to start blogging, but I really am not that interesting. The pics aren't as pretty as yours, but we were focusing on how close the trail is to the active tracks. I can't remeber if the path was 14 steps wide and 9 steps from track or vice versa. The much of the city is so bike and pedestrian friendly but that doesn't mean it is auto unfriendly. Everything is balanced. So much talk about being the San Fransico of the Midwest, I think we should be the Madison of Illinois. http://tinyurl.com/ywoz5p Madison is one on of my favorite places. If it wasn’t so far from my favorite people I would live there. When I visited Madison in August I went with a friend to take some pictures too. I was going to start blogging, but I really am not that interesting. The pics aren’t as pretty as yours, but we were focusing on how close the trail is to the active tracks. I can’t remeber if the path was 14 steps wide and 9 steps from track or vice versa. The much of the city is so bike and pedestrian friendly but that doesn’t mean it is auto unfriendly. Everything is balanced. So much talk about being the San Fransico of the Midwest, I think we should be the Madison of Illinois.

http://tinyurl.com/ywoz5p

]]> By: David P. Jordan http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39311 David P. Jordan Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:49:34 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39311 To add to Ed's comments, the reason Union Pacific has not sought permission to abandon that 24.5-mile line that roughly parallels Rt. 116 is Allied Waste Handling's Spoon Ridge Landfill. The landfill, which is on formerly strip mine land, and is unsuitable for farming, has been closed since 1998, but will someday return to operation, probably to receive Chicago garbage. If and when that occurs, Union Pacific will rebuild the line to again handle trains. To add to Ed’s comments, the reason Union Pacific has not sought permission to abandon that 24.5-mile line that roughly parallels Rt. 116 is Allied Waste Handling’s Spoon Ridge Landfill. The landfill, which is on formerly strip mine land, and is unsuitable for farming, has been closed since 1998, but will someday return to operation, probably to receive Chicago garbage. If and when that occurs, Union Pacific will rebuild the line to again handle trains.

]]> By: Ed Sanders http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39305 Ed Sanders Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:05:54 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39305 Ilstateredbird, By the way, How is it that former railroad properties that go to farmers (the salt of the Earth) or businesses (providing JOBS for the many) suddenly a bad thing? Land being used by farmers or business IS NOT LOST. There are plenty of rural roads for folks to hike and bike on; more land off the tax rolls and onto the government taxing rolls is not needed. I think what should be addressed by government is urban and suburban sprawl. Cities need to be kept more compact to cut energy use and make for more efficient public transportation. When towns expand sidewalks and bike lanes should be required then separate bike trails would not be needed. Why can't we work for this goal instead of attacking railroads, farmers and other business? Ilstateredbird, By the way, How is it that former railroad properties that go to farmers (the salt of the Earth) or businesses (providing JOBS for the many) suddenly a bad thing? Land being used by farmers or business IS NOT LOST. There are plenty of rural roads for folks to hike and bike on; more land off the tax rolls and onto the government taxing rolls is not needed. I think what should be addressed by government is urban and suburban sprawl. Cities need to be kept more compact to cut energy use and make for more efficient public transportation. When towns expand sidewalks and bike lanes should be required then separate bike trails would not be needed. Why can’t we work for this goal instead of attacking railroads, farmers and other business?

]]> By: Ed Sanders http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39302 Ed Sanders Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:50:55 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39302 ilstateredbird, The rail line that you that you wrote about is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and has been officially railbanked and not abandoned. The Union Pacific is keeping ownership of the line in case a business would arise between Peoria and Middlegrove or even beyond. This was originally the Iowa Central Railroad, then the M&SL, Minneapolis and StLouis Railway, and the C&NW, Chicago and Northwestern before being bought by the Union Pacific. Since the UP has done their legal due diligence and until they decide to ask the STB to officially abandon the line (which may never happen) this line will not become a hiker/biker trail. ilstateredbird, The rail line that you that you wrote about is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and has been officially railbanked and not abandoned. The Union Pacific is keeping ownership of the line in case a business would arise between Peoria and Middlegrove or even beyond. This was originally the Iowa Central Railroad, then the M&SL, Minneapolis and StLouis Railway, and the C&NW, Chicago and Northwestern before being bought by the Union Pacific. Since the UP has done their legal due diligence and until they decide to ask the STB to officially abandon the line (which may never happen) this line will not become a hiker/biker trail.

]]> By: ilstateredbird http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/comment-page-1/#comment-39288 ilstateredbird Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:11:03 +0000 http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2007/10/31/the-missing-link/#comment-39288 Wisconsin is truly a trail blazer in the rails to trails program. (Pardon the pun) Fron the Horicon Trail, The Sparta Elroy trail and many more. There is another rail that has been abandoned in Limestone Township. Since it does not connect the affluent suburbs it is not any radar. The track starts at Kickapoo Creek Road and goes out through Trivoli, and into the Coal area of Western IL. It could hook up with Taylor Road to Wildlife Prairie Park. I am sure it is overlooked due to the lack of connection to the North West Burb's. It is a place that should be looked at for future growth before it is lost. If you look at the abandoned rail that stretched from Morton to Bloomington. That land was lost to farmers and businesses. It would be great to have more trail options in the area. Wisconsin is truly a trail blazer in the rails to trails program. (Pardon the pun) Fron the Horicon Trail, The Sparta Elroy trail and many more.

There is another rail that has been abandoned in Limestone Township. Since it does not connect the affluent suburbs it is not any radar. The track starts at Kickapoo Creek Road and goes out through Trivoli, and into the Coal area of Western IL. It could hook up with Taylor Road to Wildlife Prairie Park.

I am sure it is overlooked due to the lack of connection to the North West Burb’s. It is a place that should be looked at for future growth before it is lost. If you look at the abandoned rail that stretched from Morton to Bloomington. That land was lost to farmers and businesses.

It would be great to have more trail options in the area.

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