Jackson County can ﻿move ahead with second phase of Rock Island Trail project

Jackson County announced Monday that it now has a trail-use agreement with Union Pacific Railroad.The deal will allow the county to move forward with construction of the second phase of the Rock Island Trail project.The finalized agreement has been submitted to the Surface Transportation Board, which one month ago, issued its decision permitting the county and the railroad to move forward with the railbanking process. Construction crews are expected to resume work on the northern section of the Rock Island Trail this week.In June 2019, Jackson County officially opened the southern section of the Rock Island Trail. This section of trail is 6.4 miles and stretches from Jefferson Street, west of Missouri 291 in Lee’s Summit to Brickyard Road, south of Blue Parkway in Kansas City. Improvements included a new surface for walking and biking, as well as the rehabilitation and preservation of existing bridges at Third Street, the Little Blue River and historic Vale Tunnel. When completed, the 7.1-mile northern section of the Rock Island Trail will extend the trail to the Truman Sports Complex.

Jackson County announced Monday that it now has a trail-use agreement with Union Pacific Railroad.

The deal will allow the county to move forward with construction of the second phase of the Rock Island Trail project.


The finalized agreement has been submitted to the Surface Transportation Board, which one month ago, issued its decision permitting the county and the railroad to move forward with the railbanking process.

Construction crews are expected to resume work on the northern section of the Rock Island Trail this week.

In June 2019, Jackson County officially opened the southern section of the Rock Island Trail. This section of trail is 6.4 miles and stretches from Jefferson Street, west of Missouri 291 in Lee’s Summit to Brickyard Road, south of Blue Parkway in Kansas City.

Improvements included a new surface for walking and biking, as well as the rehabilitation and preservation of existing bridges at Third Street, the Little Blue River and historic Vale Tunnel.

When completed, the 7.1-mile northern section of the Rock Island Trail will extend the trail to the Truman Sports Complex.