Vote Clears Way for River Trail

                                                                           
 A vote Wednesday by the Metropolitan Utilities District was the last piece 
 of the puzzle needed for work to move forward on a hiking-biking trail     
 along Pershing Drive and the Missouri River.                               
                                                            
 The M.U.D. board approved letting the city build the trail on the          
 utility's property. The Omaha Public Power District and the U.S. Army      
 Corps of Engineers granted similar easements earlier.                      

 The easements will allow a stretch of more than three miles to be built -  
 the first leg to be completed of the more than 100-mile Back to the River  
 Trail, said Larry Foster, acting Omaha parks and recreation director. The  
 trail will run along both sides of the river and will be joined by a       
 bridge across the Missouri River.                                          
                                                                            
 Construction is expected to start in late summer or early fall, with the   
 section open next summer, Foster said. The section will run south from     
 N.P. Dodge Park to OPPD property. Next year, work is expected to begin on  
 the stretch that will continue south to Heartland of America Park.         

 "We're looking forward to the trail," said Tom Wurtz, general manager for  
 MUD. In light of the post-Sept. 11 realities, security personnel at M.U.D. 
 examined the trail's route and determined that it posed no threat to water 
 treatment facilities.                                                      
 
 The utilities and the corps will maintain ownership of their land but will 
 allow the trail development free of charge.

MUD Resolution Promotes Riverfront Cycling  -  Thank you MUD!