Ray (webmaster) on 5/23/2005 3:28:49 PM:
When it comes to legal issues, things are rarely as simple as they first look. Whether the bridge is used in the Katy Trail or not is beside the point. The issue is whether the old railroad right-of-way remains intact, because the Katy Trail's existence is based upon that railbed remaining in place. If the bridge is removed, the legal basis for the Katy Trail might no longer exist.
What we're talking about is a legal technicality, but with legal issues a technicality is all it takes. Some of the links on the homepage explain this, in particular please read this article. I'm not a lawyer, but I think the article makes a logical and unsettling argument.
Read beyond the headline - this could literally lead to pieces of the trail being reclaimed and closed to the public by adjoining property owners. And if the Katy Trail becomes a bunch of smaller unconnected trails, that really kills the whole concept, in my opinion. I'd rather err on the side of caution when we're talking about something that brings millions of tourist dollars into Missouri and provides great recreational opportunities for our citizens.