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Mission
Vision
Goals
Board of Directors
Road Sign Specifications

 

Mission
The mission for Mississippi River Trail, Inc. is to be a catalyst for the promotion and development of the Mississippi River Trail. [back to top]

 

Vision
The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) is a world-class bicycling route that travels from the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. It is a 3,000-mile system of bicycle-friendly roads and multi-use pathways. The MRT is a “string of pearls” that connects 10 states, the cities of Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans, and hundreds of smaller towns along the way. The MRT is a unique way to experience the Mississippi River’s natural wonders, transportation system, recreational facilities and cultural heritage.

Click HERE for complete MRT Vision Statement as narrated on our video.

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Goals
Defined in three categories, MRT, Inc.’s strategic goals include:

1. Organizational Development – MRT, Inc.’s vitality depends upon the growth and expansion of the organization itself. Defining priority actions, augmenting capacity, and improving fundraising are critical to the synergy of our work.

2. Route Development – Impacting the Mississippi River Trail by supporting transportation enhancement through community project planning, organized partner communications, and other means, MRT, Inc. helped bring over $33 million for trail construction projects along the river through earmarks in the SAFETEALU federal funding bill. Continuing the process of refining routes, seeking new trail opportunities, assisting communities with getting federal and state funding, and facilitating community efforts to plan and implement projects are just a few ways MRT, Inc. meets this goal.

3. Encouraging Use – Offering opportunities to plan a trip, learn more about the river environment in different states, engage in activities that support conservation, health and wellness, and economic development, post events on our calendar, attend conferences, participate in making the Mississippi River Trail part of your special experiences, and connecting you with other key trails in America are just a few of the ways we encourage trail use.

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Board of Directors

The Mississippi River Trail Board Members are single-minded in purpose, dedication and key decision-making skills. By leading strategically, the Board ensures that the trail is continually developing in ways that benefit its users, communities, states and the nation.

 

Board Members:

Mark Ackelson
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Des Moines, IA
mackelson@inhf.org

John Frusha, M.D.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
frushaj@hotmail.com

Dorian Grilley
Executive Director
Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
mgrilley@mninter.net

Ken Gould
University of Arkansas School of Law
Little Rock, AR
ksgould@ualr.edu

Ruth A. Hawkins (Vice Chair)
Executive Director
Arkansas Delta Byways
Jonesboro, AR
rhawkins@astate.edu

Briggs Hopson
Teller, Chaney, Hassell & Hopson
Vicksburg, MS
bhopson@tellerlaw.com

Dan Jatres
New Orleans Regional Planning Commission
New Orleans, LA
djatres@norpc.org

Munnie Jordan
Delta Heritage Tours
Helena, AR
munnie@suddenlink.net

Paul Labovitz
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA)
Saint Paul, MN
paul_labovitz@nps.gov

Christopher W. Williams, AIA
Pineville, LA 71360
cwwarchitect@suddenlink.net


Steve Durrant, ASLA
Alta Planning and Design
Portland, OR
stevedurrant@altaplanning.com


Todd Antoine, AICP
Deputy Director for Planning
Great Rivers Greenway
tantoine@greatrivers.info

Suzanne Pepin
Retired Senior Vice President, Allianz Life Insurance
Minneapolis, MN
chezpepin@mac.com

Michael W. Rewey, P.E
Madison, Wisconsin
hiwayman@chorus.net

Joe Royer
President, Outdoors Inc.
Memphis, TN
joeroyer@outdoorsinc.com

William "Bill" Waters
Memphis, TN
whwaters@comcast.net
Terry Whaley (Chair)
Ozark Greenways, Inc.
Springfield, MO
terry@ozarkgreenways.org
Sarah Lande
Retired, Executive Director
Iowa Sister States
Muscatine, Iowa
slande@machlink.com
Tim Threadgill
Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada, PLLC
Jackson, Mississippi
tim.threadgill@butlersnow.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Terry Eastin

Mississippi River Trail, Inc.
teastin@lynks.com

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Road Sign Specifications

Sign standards - an alternate version of the the M1-9 federal highway sign was approved by the Federal Highway Administration in 1996. The sign, size and specification is the M1-9, however, the standard was modified as follows: a reflective green border and reflective blue legend was approved in lieu of black. The sign conforms with MUTCD standards, as written at time of approval, and is used by state highway departments for all signed portions of the MRT route. For a copy of the Federal Highway Administration approval letter, please contact Terry Eastin at terry@mississippirivertrail.org.

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