The advocacy efforts of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation's Capitol Day on Monday centered around four issues - the foremost was support for an anticipated expansion of the Rock Island Trail, likely threatened by a bill to limit acquisition of land for state parks.
"It's an amazing investment in rural communities we don't want to miss," the federation's Executive Director Brent Hugh said of the trail's expansion.
The federation is the only statewide advocacy organization that works on behalf of the state's 2 million bicyclists and 6 million walkers, according to its website.
Hugh said the trail expansion in the corridor of the former Rock Island Railroad is a multi-million-dollar gift Missouri can get for free, "if the state will take it."
Ameren bought the Rock Island rail corridor in 1999 and is prepared to donate another 144-mile stretch to the state later this year. The new stretch would connect communities including Eldon and Eugene with Windsor to the west and Beaufort to the east.
However, if the Legislature passes HB 698, that would probably mean no expansion of the Rock Island Trail in the immediate future. The bill's conditional prohibition of the Missouri State Parks department from creating any new state park includes acquisition of any land by purchase, lease, agreement, eminent domain or donation.
HB 698 seeks to prevent the state from creating new state parks or expanding existing ones by more than 10 percent of their current acreage - unless all current state parks are properly maintained, up to date and in good working order. That means there would be no new or expanded parks until no park in the state has any deferred maintenance - which refers to maintenance and repairs that have not been performed when necessary or when scheduled because of cost or budget constraints.
Hugh is concerned the deferred maintenance standard is unrealistic.
The federation's website reports amendments in preparation for HB 698 would allow the state to accept Ameren's Rock Island corridor donation, and the organization strongly opposes the bill unless those amendments are included.
Hugh explained the goal for Monday's event was "we really want people to understand the importance of the Rock Island Trail."
He cited an economic incentive that the up-front cost of building a trail is usually recouped every year of its operation.
Other issues the federation is advocating for this year are inclusion of organizations representing walkers, bicyclists and public transport riders on the state's transportation task force; closing a loophole that untethers dog owners of liability for injuries caused by their animals on public property; and passage of several bills that prohibit texting while driving.
Missouri is one of four states in the country that allow texting while driving, though drivers under age 21 are prohibited from texting. After support for the Rock Island Trail's expansion, Hugh said, measures in the Legislature to curb distracted driving are the federation's second priority for this year.
About 25 people turned out on the Capitol's south lawn at the federation's advocacy day. Before a scheduled bike ride open to state legislators, speakers including Missouri Rock Island Trail Inc. Executive Director Greg Harris and a bi-partisan assemblage of legislators from Branson, Blue Springs, Kansas City and St. Louis voiced support for trails and walking paths in the state.