General Information:
Welcome to the Peoria Park District's Bike Trail Page. This page is our attempt to keep you up to date as to what is happening with the trail as we continue with our efforts to convert the Kellar Branch Line into the backbone of Peoria's bike trail system.

Latest News:

May 22, 2013: If you are curious about what an IDOT approved bike trail plan set looks like, here is a link: http://eplan.dot.il.gov/desenv/061413/89639-227/PLANS/PL-89639-227.pdf . Its about 15MB. You can also view the specifications, which are another 200 pages. Keep your fingers crossed for competitive bids!

May 13, 2013: Bridge plans were submitted last week to IDOT for review. Hopefully we will have them back and approved in a month. The trail section from Glen to Springdale Cemetery is now officially out to bid, and plans can be downloaded at IDOT's website within the next couple of days.

April 16, 2013: The final plans for the trail section from Glen Ave. to Springdale Cemetery have been submitted to IDOT for the June 14, 2013 State bid letting. This means the plans will go out to bid in May, bids will be received on June 14, and we will be under construction in late July or early August! Bridge plans are also nearing completion, and we expect them to go out to bid in roughly the same time frame.

October 30, 2012: After engineering work, utility locates, and consulations with IDOT and various utility companies, the Park District has decided to utilize a bridge to cross Knoxville Ave. instead of an underpass. The relocation of so many utilities (fiber optic, water, gas, electricity, and sanitary sewer) would be possible, but would require over a years worth of delays and cost an immense amount of money. Of special concern were 3 water mains 12" through 24" diameter (some over 50 years old serving large portions of north Peoria) that would have required significant excavations and engineering to relocate. The good news is the engineers feel that our construction schedule will not be affected, and we are still on track for a summer 2013 construction period.

August 21, 2012: Donation opportunities are available for bike trail enhancements such as tables, benches, water fountains and bike tracks. Please look farther down the page for details and links.

July 26, 2012: Design meetings are continuing for the underpass and Glen to Springdale sections. It looks like the underpass will be constructed 1/2 at a time, but the utilities and their relocation seem to be the trickiest part of the equation. IDOT and our engineers are preparing the plans for moving lanes of traffic during construction - first out of the way to build one half, then over the newly constructed half of tunnel while we complete the other side, then back to normal. Tree clearing and utility locates are completed for the temporary connection at Junction City. Hopefully this will be paved in the next week or two. 

July 13, 2012: Design is continuing on the sections from Glen to Springdale Cemetery, as well as the Knoxville underpass. South of Glen, design work continues on solutions to some of the troubling erosion areas. The subsurface utility investigation at Knoxville is (hopefully!) complete, and plans continue on how to relocate the underground gas, water, and fiber optic utilities that are in the way. The Park District and engineers will be meeting with IDOT in the next couple of weeks to discuss exactly how we're going to keep the Knoxville traffic flowing while we construct the underpass.  Should be interesting!

May 29, 2012: Due to some poor seed germination, last week the slope over the culverts was hydroseeded. Please excuse the patches of green mulch that were inadvertantly blown on to the trail during the seeding. Hopefully this seeding takes, and we can make sure that slope is stabilized.

May 18, 2012: The trail was officially named at the May 9, 2012 Board Meeting. The portion of trail under Park District ownership from Alta to the Bob Michel Bridge will be named the Peoria Park District's Rock Island Greenway. A new logo is under development by our Marketing Division. Currently, the underpass design work is focussing on the underground utilities around and under Knoxville Ave., and design is continuing on the Glen to Springdale section of trail.

March 9, 2012: Apologies for the lack of updates, but despite that, lots of things have been happening in the background. Great news - the Knoxville underpass has been funded! Design is underway on the underpass. Because Knoxville is a State highway, design will require multiple reviews by IDOT, so this will be a slow process. Design is also underway on the section of trail from Glen to Springdale Cemetery. Surveyors have been out pinpointing areas with poor drainage and steep slopes. Also, the tie removal contractor has finally finished their work. We hope to be out to bid on both the underpass and the Glen to Springdale Cemetery segments by year end. Finally, we have received a temporary easement from our friends at Junction City and US Cellular that will allow a temporary trail connection until construction on the underpass is complete. We hope to start paving that as soon as the asphalt plants open.

September 21, 2011: The rails have been removed from Teton, and the pavement patched. Punch-list work continues.

August 15, 2011: Candletree to Northmoor is paved! Seeding is down and mulched.

July 27, 2011: Traffic signal work at Giles/Sheridan for new pedestrian buttons/lights. Prime coating (liquid asphalt) of the gravel base has begun, which means paving is just around the corner- possibly as soon as Friday, but more likely next week.

July 15, 2011: Pavement base being placed between Giles/ Sheridan and Northmoor. Things are moving fast with the dry weather! New culverts in place at Giles/Sheridan.

July 6, 2011: New curb and concrete work at the Giles/Sheridan crossing is underway. Grading underway between Teton and Giles. Still backfilling over the large culverts.

June 15, 2011:

We started with this creekbed and two failed culverts that the railroads refused to fix (that's about 60' from the trailbed to creek bottom):

So first we establish a nice stable rock bed for the new culverts to sit on:

Then we attach the new culvert extensions and cement them in place:

This rock monstrosity at the end of the culverts is called a "stilling basin" which is designed to slow the flow of water and disspate energy, hopefully preventing future erosion problems.

Now we just have to fill another 40' to the trail!

June 7, 2011: Finally some dry days! Stilling basin almost complete, large culverts are finished, and backfill has begun. Trailside ditches under construction north of Teton Dr.

May 20, 2011: Candletree to Northmoor: Tree clearing almost complete. Culvert and erosion repair behind Versailles Gardens underway - culverts in place, stilling basin under construction.

May 10, 2011: Bike Trail page is up and running! Check back often for current information!



Trail Sections / Construction Schedule
The bike trail project has taken nearly 30 years from the first construction on the riverfront until today. Due to increases in costs of materials, labor, equipment, and fuel, the trail project was then divided into different sections and phases, and additional funding sought to complete each discrete section.

Candletree (Pioneer Parkway) to Northmoor Ave.:

Construction is complete.

Northmoor to Knoxville including bridge:

Project is in final review. We estimate it will be ready for bidding by July 2013.

Knoxville to Glen:

Section is complete. 

Glen to Springdale Cemetery:

Section is out to bid, construction in summer 2013.

Donations and Memorials: Benches, Racks, Etc.
A number of pople have expressed an interest in donating benches, racks, trees, etc. toward the bike trail project. In order to make sure these donations have the quality, appearance, and harmonious fit appropriate to the trail, the Park District has developed a list of Bike Trail Standards. You can view the document by clicking below. If you wish to donate one of the items, please see the contact information below. 

Bike Trail  Enhancements and Donation Opportunities

Contact Information
Please direct any comments or questions to Mike Friberg, the Park District's project manager for the bike trail construction. He can be reached at:
by email at:  mfriberg@peoriaparks.org
by phone at: 309-686-3386
by mail at: 1314 N. Park Road, Peoria, IL 61604

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is it taking so long to build? It's just a bike trail!
The bulk of the trail construction funding comes from federal transportation bills. The Illinois Department of Transportation administers the money, and has design and construction oversight. Because of the federal restrictions, the bike trail is designed and built just like a narrow highway to assure that the taxpayers get a long-lasting, properly designed trail. This oversight brings a lot of review time, and construction is handled via state letting like a road project. This takes quite a bit of time.

Why does the trail stop before it gets to Knoxville?
Until the crossing of Knoxville is completed, there will be a temporary routing to allow a crossing of Knoxville at Northmoor Avenue. This summer (2011), with the cooperation of our friends at Junction City, a temporary trail will be paved from the trailbed over to Humboldt and Prospect, where the sidewalk on the east side of Knoxville can be accessed to take users to the crossing at Northmoor.

Can I Rollerblade on the Trail? How about my Segway?

Rollerblades, strollers, bikes, wheelchairs (both manual and electric) and children's non-motorized scooters are allowed. Skateboards, motorized bikes, golf carts, go-karts, minibikes, Segways, motorcycles and ATV's are not allowed. The Peoria Park Board will be formalizing these rules at a later date and may allow or disallow these or other transportation methods at that time.

What is the trail's actual name?
The Peoria Park District Rock Island Greenway.

What about safety?
The Peoria Park District Police will be patrolling the trail on foot, bike, and horse. Emergency vehicle access is possible at each road intersection. Of course, the Park District reminds everyone that when walking or jogging anywhere, your own awareness and common sense remain the best safety factor of all. If you spot illegal or suspicious activity please call 911 and the closest available officer, from the Park District, City, or Village police forces will be dispatched. The Park District Police can be reached at 673-4521, or if you'd like to leave a message you can call 686-3359.

Wow, this trail is really nice! Who do I thank for doing such a fabulous job?
Thank the Park Board for remaining committed to the trail and setting aside the money for its construction through some really difficult times. Such long term commitment by elected officials is rare. We also need to thank dedicated volunteer groups that have assisted the Park District for years by conducting cleanups and public awareness campaigns. 

I'm a neighbor and I have personal items or landscaping on the right-of-way. Can I leave them?
There are several legal factors involved in this question. The City of Peoria and Village of Peoria Heights retain ownership of the land. The Park District has an easement to construct and maintain the bike trail on that land. So in simple terms, if your stuff is in the way of construction of the bike trail and its associated drainage, then you will need to move it, or it will be disposed of. If your items are NOT in the way of trail construction, then that question needs to be addressed to either the City or Village depending on where you live. Regardless, the entire Kellar Branch has been railbanked, which gives it federal protection should a railroad wish to come in at a future date and rebuild. Just because your stuff is there and has been for some time, does not mean the property it sits on is yours.

I see lots of areas where water is ponding along the trail. When are you going to fix that?
As trail construction has begun, the dismal condition of the Kellar Branch has become more evident. Obviously, little or no maintenance has been performed on the Branch since the 1950's when the Rock Island railroad was undergoing severe financial difficulties resulting in its bankruptcy. We have also documented numerous cases of landscape waste being dumped within the ROW. Leaves, tree limbs, and grass clippings can all have a negative effect on the existing drainageways, especially when storms wash that debris into culverts and clog them. The Park District urges all of its neighbors to please dispose of their landscape waste on their own property- Try composting! Its great for your garden! The Park District will be performing grading and drainage work associated with trail construction to assure the trail drains correctly. Remember, the trail construction will not be changing existing drainage patterns (except around the bridge). Areas that have drained slowly in the past will probably always drain slowly. The Park District is not responsible for mistakes made during the development or renovation of private homes and yards.

There's still garbage and railroad tie pieces out here! How do I get it cleaned up?
The Kellar has been a dumping ground for over a century, so obviously the Park District will not be able to clean everything up right away. The District looks at this as a long term project, and it may be several years before everything is beautiful and park-like. There are several user groups that are continuing to organize cleanups and "adopt-a-mile" programs for the trail. If you are interested, I would urge you to seek them out. Every little bit helps!

I'm a neighbor and I want a chain link fence to limit access, or landscape screening. Who do I talk to?
The Park District is asking that neighbors of the trail give the trail a full season after opening in order to see the true use patterns emerge. If after a season of trail use, you still feel you have access issues or need landscape screening, then the Park District is committed to meet with each neighbor individually to discuss possible solutions. Of course, this is not a one-time deal! If in the future, a use pattern emerges that needs to be addressed, we would be happy to come out and meet with you and work out solutions.

I'm a neighbor and I want to make a path from my property to the trail. Can I?
Yes, we encourage it! We want our neighbors to love the trail! This is a very common occurrence in other cities where  urban bike trails have been added. In many cities, neighbors have made new front yards out of their back yards and have quite grand entrances complete with bike racks for visiting friends. When you do however, be sure you do not fill in any drainage ditches, or you may cause serious problems for yourself or your neighbors during storm events.


History

1984      City of Peoria and Village of Peoria Heights purchase the Kellar Branch from the Trustees of the bankrupt Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad. City attempts to continue service to Pioneer Industrial Park businesses.

1993      Rail service down to two users. City asks for Park District assistance in acquiring grants to build trail on rail line.

1994      ISTEA funds acquired by Park District for design of trail

2000      Additional TEA-21 construction funds acquired

2006      Western rail connection completed to Pioneer Industrial Park

2007      STB rules in split vote that rail operators retain usage rights

2010      Kellar Branch Corridor Corporation, a local not-for-profit company, negotiates purchase of usage rights by superior easement from rail companies (PIRY and CIRY)

2010      Park District provides survey and appraisal of rail line

2010      City of Peoria and Village of Peoria Heights purchase superior easement from rail companies, allowing railbanking

2010      Surface Transportation Board approves rail company discontinuance and railbanking of Kellar Branch

2010      Park District purchases superior easement from City and Village

2010      CIRY removes rails and ties for salvage according to purchase agreement with KBCC

2010      Park District begins construction on the Knoxville to Glen section

2011      Park District begins construction on the Candletree to Northmoor section