US Bike Route 51 Southwest MO Meeting

Thursday, January 30th, 2020 at 4 pm – US Bike Route 51 in Southwest Missouri Coordination Committee

Notes provided by David Hutchison

SMCOG / Levy/Wolfe Building – 110 Park Central Square, Springfield

Attendees: Megan Clark, SMCOG; Ryan Cooper, HSTCC; Zeke Hall, MoDOT: David Hutchison, SpringBike; Natasha Longpine, OTO: Randy Jackson, BikeNWA (phone); Patrick Tuttle, Joplin COC (phone)

Meeting Notes

• Review scope and process for USBR route development and approval
  • AASHTO has created an outline of potential US Bike Routes. USBR 51 from New Orleans to northwest Minnesota
  • Process is to map out routes, gain approval of local jurisdictions, gain state approval, State will submit in February/March for US approval
  • Councils of Government are working on approvals from local jurisdictions
  • Loop and spur routes are possible: main route will be USBR 51; spurs are preceded by odd number, as USBR 151; loop routes are preceded by even number, as USBR 251
  • (As I understand, route segments must be approved between state lines and previously approved and designated US Bike Routes, i.e.- USBR 66 and USBR 76)

• Summary of 1/15/2020 Missouri USBR 51 e-conference
  • Attended by MoBikeFed, Adventure Cycling Assoc, MoDOT, ADOT, Joplin area, SMCOG/Springfield area, Kaysinger Basin RPC / Warsaw area, Pioneer RPC / Warrensburg area (absent were HSTCC and NWAR)
  • Routes have been identified and are being refined from Bentonville to Richmond
  • I-49 from Pineville to Bentonville has been funded
  • ADOT will make application for a route along US Highway 71 to State Line in fall 2020 
  • ADOT, NWAR, HSTCC, and Joplin area are working toward route continuing to Joplin and along USBR 66 to Springfield
  • MoDOT will approve a route from state line to state line, not in segments
  • Need to develop contacts in north half of Missouri and find out what Iowa is doing
  • Next teleconferences 5/6/2020 and 9/2/2020

• Review alternative alignments
  • Direct route from Bentonville to Springfield developed by David that generally parallels and sometimes follows Butterfield Trail and Cherokee Trail of Tears
  • Northwest Arkansas to Joplin area to Springfield via Route 66
  • Consider distance between food, water, and other services along recommended route
  • Designation of routes from Northwest Arkansas to both Springfield and Joplin set up a triangle of approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) that could be promoted
  • David has researched roadways between Bentonville and Springfield on Google Earth and Ride with GPS, driven most of the routes in auto, and bicycled between Springfield and Aurora
  • Patrick and Brent have been refining the route between Bella Vista and Joplin
  • Randy and Bike NWA team have been focused on route between Fayetteville and Fort Smith and are somewhat familiar with roadways north and east of Bentonville

• Discuss community desires for route alignment
  • David’s current recommendation
    • Generally, on local roads and some low volume state routes
    • Is on roads that cyclists prefer for rides today
  • Future trail development in Springfield area
    • Grant Avenue Complete Street, 
    • Wilson’s Creek connection between Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park and Ewing Park, 
    • Schuyler Trail along FR 182 between Wilson’s Creek Battlefield and Republic, 
    • Connection between Wilson’s Creek Battlefield and Wilson’s Creek Trail at Republic Road
  • Future preferred route
    • Would more closely align with Butterfield Stage route and pass by Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
    • Use of trail corridors under development would provide an alternative to some of the less desirable roadways (traffic volume, grade, etc.) to meet destination goals 

• Assignments
  • Megan, Ryan and others will inform local county and municipal officials and leaders of the route and the preferred roadways
  • SMCOG will prepare map of preferred route and alternatives
  • David will organize bicycle rides from Springfield ultimately to northwest Arkansas
  • Randy will help with roadway review and evaluation from northwest Arkansas

• Set up next meeting after 5/2/2020 Missouri USBR 51 e-conference

Route LINKS

USBR National Corridor Plan
Statewide Missouri bicycle touring routes/potential connections
Kerry’s current USBR 51 summary map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19178352
Butterfield Stage Map & potential synergy with USBR 51.pdf – USBR 51 – Missouri
SW Missouri Regional Trails Plan overview, Jan 2018.pdf – USBR 51 – Missouri
USBR 66 & potentially USBR 51 in west Springfield
Strava cycling heatmap for area
Patrick Tuttle’s Suggested possible routes in SW MO
Brent’s possible routes & related regional bicycle touring route connections in SWMO & NWArk
Brent’s updated, additional regional bicycle routes
Possible USBR 51 from NWAR to Springfield by Springfield area cyclists

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27904569 (David’s Butterfield Google Map route, not ridden)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31754427 David’s recommendation as of January 2020