McLean County, Ill., will apply for a grant that will extend the Historic Route 66 Bike Trail about 2 1/2 miles north from Towanda, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph.
The extension would begin at County Highway 29 north of Towanda and connects an old alignment of Route 66. The state of Illinois would cover 80 percent of the $1 million cost. The county’s share would be just under $50,000.
The county board approved the application by a 15-3 vote.
“We are talking about an enhancement for the community and the benefits of an extension of a bike trail may show up in other areas,” said board member George Gordon.
“This is a great investment for our community,” said board member Sondra O’Connor.
“There is an old saying about being pound foolish and a penny saved. Well, we would look like idiots if we turned this down.”