Opening of Bike Trail Offers Scenic New Entrance to SIUE Campus

Madison County Transit (MCT) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony the morning of October 29 on the newly opened MCT Yellowhammer Connector, a picturesque bike path, bridging the gap between the scenic MCT Trails and the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Watch Chancellor James T. Minor bicycle the new pathway.

"Madison County is one of the most bikeable, walkable places in the Midwest," said SJ Morrison, an alumnus ('02) and Managing Director of Madison County Transit. "It's [MCT Yellowhammer Connector] only 2400 feet from the MCT Goshen trail to the SIUE Delyte W. Morris Trail, but building this trail was no small feat at all."

The ADA accessible bikeway that includes a 200-foot bridge is the result of a collaboration with SIUE, which granted an access easement, construction support and donated 4.86 acres of University property to MCT to complete the trail. Though the project was first envisioned in 2003, funding was made possible by a recent $3 million infrastructure investment by the state of Illinois through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan.

Recognized were Craig Holan, director of facilities management, Matt Miller, campus project architect, MCT board chairman Ron Jedda, representatives from Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), State Senator Erica Harriss of the 56th District, State Representative Amy Elik of the 111th District and State Representative Katie Stuart of the 112th District.

"This is why I was so proud to vote for the rebuild Illinois program. This is what it's all about," said Stuart, "And this connector is just another piece of the puzzle of connecting the University, which is the gem of our region, to the trails which are a gem of our region, connecting the University to the town and everything else that we have to offer. Making it bikeable, walkable, accessible for everybody, is just really important. And we bring in tourism from all over to use our trails, but we also use them locally all the time."

Metro East Women's Cycling and Fitness member Shelly Palumbo is 71 years of age and has worked up to biking 100-mile days. She said just prior to the ceremony friends in the 500-member cycling group were texting to hear from her about the opening.

"The women have been excited for this trail to open," said Palumbo. "And MCT does such a wonderful job maintaining. It's not just putting the trails in, but they maintain them so well."

PHOTOS: Jerry Kane, former executive director of MCT, Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, State Representative Katie Stuart, SJ Morrison, an alumnus ('02) and Managing Director of Madison County Transit; Grand Opening of the MCT Yellowhammer Connector