New bike and pedestrian trail will follow historic trolley line from O’Fallon to Lebanon

Plans for the Trolley Trail, a bike and pedestrian trail to connect Lebanon and O’Fallon, are in the works from Gateway East Trails.

The trail’s path, located north of U.S. 50, will take over the abandoned former inter-urban trolley line that once connected Lebanon with St. Louis. Remnants of the old trolley line still exist, and Lebanon’s St. Louis Street has faux rails running its length in bricks.

A trail connection to a MetroLink extension at MidAmerica Airport, which is supposed to take two to three years to complete and connect the Scott-Shiloh station, is also planned.

The trail will connect the southwestern end of Belleville Street in Lebanon with Rieder Road on the west side of Silver Creek. A section of that line runs just north of U.S. 50.

George Fero, Gateway East Trails vice president, said the segment of U.S. 50 is one of the most highly traveled two-lane highways in the region.

“It has a 55 mph speed limit and no shoulders,” he said.

Fero, a professor of education at McKendree University, is a founding member of Gateway East Trails. He said about half of the land is owned by either Lebanon or O’Fallon, and the other three landowners have been contacted. Each are willing to discuss land purchase or right-of-ways to enable a trail to be built along that historic section of trolley line, he said.

Fero said foundations for two bridges are still there but cannot be used since the structural integrity may not support them, but the foundation abutments must be preserved for historical reasons. The group’s plans include a new bridge over Silver Creek.

In all, Fero said three bridges will need to be built in that one-mile segment to accommodate the trail. The only alternatives for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel to the west is either to first go five miles north, or to travel along U.S. 50.

Fero said the cost for this one-mile segment is $2.75 million because of the additional bridges and right of way acquisitions.

“Lebanon is bound by highways and creeks,” he said.

Needing funding and multi-agency support to complete its ambitious plans, the non-profit organization is spreading the word as it prepares for its annual fundraiser, the Tour de Stooges bike ride, on the first Saturday in May.

Fero said his organization was notified Jan. 4 that it will receive a $900,000 Congressionally Directed Spending Award through Sen. Dick Durbin’s office.

“These funds will be used to cover the cost of engineering and design for the Trolley Trail Connector that eventually will connect Lebanon, O’Fallon, MidAmerica Airport and Belleville,” Fero said. “Engineering is very expensive.”

Because of the MetroLink expansion, the St. Clair County Transit District may get involved, too.

Fero said he expects to hear from the Illinois Department of Transportation soon. He met with them Tuesday.

“We found that the funding is only for the engineering and land acquisition for Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 is the Trolley Trail that will run along the old trolley route between Belleville Street and Reider Road. Once this segment of the trail is completed, the plan is to go south on Reider Road to connect with the MetroLink Trail that will connect with MidAmerica Airport and Belleville,” he said.

“This will open up miles of trail access for Lebanon and this part of St. Clair County. The plan is to move as quickly as is possible to get the engineering and land acquisition completed so that funding can be sought for trail construction,” he said.

‘We have letters of support’

Fero explained promoting health, helping make riding safer for bicyclists and improving infrastructure for walking pedestrians needs to have some advocacy connections with government agencies and nonprofit corporations to accomplish their goals. He is also on the Lebanon City Council.

Gateway East Trails continues to move forward with seeking funds and building coalitions. The Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) has assisted, and the League of Illinois Bicyclists, Metro East Cycling Club, Ride Illinois, St. Clair County Health Summit, Get Up & Go, Bike Surgeon and other businesses and groups are supportive, he said.

“We have letters of support from the mayors of O’Fallon, Belleville, Mascoutah and Lebanon, and St. Clair County Board chairman,” Fero said.

GET president Robert Wilhelm is a Lebanon resident who thought it would be a great idea to have bicycling and walking routes and trails in and around Lebanon all joining neighboring cities.

He started the Ridge Prairie Trail Initiative in 2010 “to develop and improve trails and routes in St. Clair and surrounding counties and to promote safe and considerate walking, running, and biking.”

“I believe biking is a great way to relax, get exercise, develop friendships, and stay healthy,” he said.

The Gateway East Trails board of directors also includes secretary/treasurer Harlan Gerrish, Mark Wilhelm, and Duane Olson, a professor of religious studies at McKendree.

Their first completed project was the Trestle Trail, named for the former Baltimore & Ohio (CSX) railroad bridge passing overhead, which officially opened Sept. 1, 2018, and is available from dusk to dawn.

The short connector trail allows bicyclists and pedestrians to avoid traffic and access the lightly traveled roads southeast of Lebanon, along Little Silver Creek and the Looking Glass Prairie — connecting the east end of East McAllister Street in Lebanon with Korte Sewald Road in St. Clair County.

Tour De Stooges on May 6

Initially started by the late Roger Kramer of BABES (Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society), the 26th annual Tour de Stooges will take place on May 6 at McKendree University.

All proceeds go to help fund bicycle trail development and cycling education activities. Registration is available on their website.

“It has become one of the premier rides in the metro area,” Fero said. “We had 800 riders last year, the biggest yet. We had people come from five different states.”

There are five routes that people can choose, from one for 16 miles to the largest one for 100 miles.

They need about 200 volunteers every year to assist, and people are welcome to sign up. Fero said boy and girl scouts also help out.

A lunch is served in the dining hall afterwards.

For more information, visit http://www.gatewayeasttrails.org/.

This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 6:30 AM.