The LCTA Mayors' Bike Ride is almost here
The annual LCTA Mayors' bike ride is almost here! Registration for the event will start on Monday at 9am at the Ellis Park Pool parking lot, and the ride will start at 10am after a few brief announcements. For more information please visit: https://linncountytrails.org/mayorsbikeride
Vote for bike racks!
Marion has submitted a project for the Wellmark Grant competition, but they need your help to win! The proposed project will fund bike racks for the city parks. Voters are eligible to vote once per day during the contest. Please show your support and help put this project at the top!
Bike Racks in Marion Parks:
http://wellmark.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=134845&s=68509816&i=1&sort=VOTES_DESC#SD
Home page for the competition:
New logo survey
We have been working on updating our logo, and we would love to hear what you have to say about some of the new options. Please take the survey and let us know what you think:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LCTA
Thanks!
Legislative Update - Trail funding in danger
LCTA members, please contact our local State Senators and the Speaker of the House and ask them restore funding to the Joint Senate-House Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee for the Eastern Iowa Trail system (Cedar Valley Nature Trail).”
Your message (email or phone) could say:
“Dear Senator/Speaker – As you are aware, the Black Hawk, Johnson and Linn County Conservation Boards had made a request to the Joint Senate-House Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee for the Eastern Iowa Trail system (Cedar Valley Nature Trail). The subcommittee included $3 million in their budget allocation for the trail system. I understand that the Senate passed the bill with this funding included. However, we recently learned that the House stripped and removed this trail funding from the bill that passed the House.
This funding is critical to allow us to make key trail connections in the corridor. Please urge your Senate colleagues on the conference committee to support reinstatement of this funding for the Eastern Iowa Trail system. Thank you for your support and any help you are able to provide.”
Contact information for the Linn County Senators is below:
Senator Liz Mathis - [email protected]
Senator Wally Horn - [email protected]
Senator Rob Hogg - [email protected]
Senate Switchboard (515)281-3371
Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen - [email protected]
Speaker Paulsen's Office:(515)-281-3521
House Switchboard:(515)281-3221
Marion Master Trails Plan follow-up and new online mapping tool
Following the Marion Master Trails Plan input meeting, a website and survey have been created to collect additional feedback.
The City of Marion also has a new online mapping tool for trail comments and input. This tool can be used to suggest new trails, safety improvements, or even general comments about the trails. The mapping tool can be found at this URL: http://marion-soulside.dotcloud.com/
If you'd like to fill out the survey, the PDF is attached in following link. Please complete it, and either return it to City Hall, or e-mail it to Kesha Billings at [email protected]
Survey
Upcoming Event: Marion Master Trails Plan Open House
The Marion Master Trails Plan Open House will be held this Tuesday, February 25th. This would be a great time to provide feedback on the future of trails for Marion. Here's a link to the event: https://linncountytrails.org/event/marion-master-trails-plan-open-house/
Lindale Trail Paving
The Cedar Rapids portion of the Lindale Trail is in the process of being paved! Work should be finished by Tuesday (10/15), so please use caution if you plan to use this trail before then. Please check the trails status page for the latest updates on all Linn County Trails.
https://linncountytrails.org/maps/trail-status/
Mayors' Bike Ride on Monday!
Don't forget to come out for the Mayors' Bike Ride this Monday, September 2nd! Registration will start at 9AM near the Ellis Park Pool, and the ride starts at 10AM. For more information please visit: https://linncountytrails.org/MayorsBikeRide/
See you there!
Upcoming Cedar Valley Nature Trail Repairs
A contractor will be starting repair work on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail on Tuesday, August 13. The repairs will require temporary closures of the trail from Robins Road to County Home Road. Current plans are to start work on Tuesday, August 13 and complete repairs by Friday, August 16. The contractor will attempt to reopen the trail segments as work is completed. There is a possibility that the contractor be able to open the trail some evenings while work is in progress, but opening will depend on getting the trail in a safe condition for public use. Trail users should plan on this section of the trail being closed most of next week. Access to the trail north from the County Home Road parking area will remain available.
The trail will be closed at the Interstate 380 underpass north of Center Point for approximately two months starting Monday, August 19. Linn County Conservation crews will be rebuilding a trail crossing at this location which will also require the trail surface to be reconstructed in this location. We will reopen the trail as soon as possible, but it appears likely the trail will remain closed through September.
Later in the month a sealant will be applied to various segments of the trail that will also require temporary closures until the sealant is dry. Currently this work is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28 and Thursday, August 29. We will update you if these dates change.
Trail Ride Video: Hiawatha to Lafayette
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBtfljYVBfM[/youtube]
Thanks again to Paul Jenkins for this neat video showing the trail from Hiawatha to Lafayette along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Thanks again for sharing Paul!