MRT led monthly discussion meetings for the coalition Hands-Free Missouri, who worked to educate the Missouri legislature on the critical importance of the need for distracted driving legislation in our state. Hands-Free Missouri is a partnership comprising state highway department employees, insurance personnel, safety advocates, victim's advocates, and law enforcement officers that are fighting for safer roads by fighting against distracted driving. These individuals and organizations meet regularly to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving in Missouri in hopes of reducing the number of crashes each year attributed to distracted driving.
On June 30th, 2023, Rock Island Trail State Park was named Missouri's 93rd and newest state park! Throughout the last several years, MRT worked alongside many organizations (including Missouri State Parks, Missouri State Parks Foundation, Missouri Parks Association, Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park, and Conservation Federation of Missouri) to grow community support, awareness, and funding for the establishment of the 154-mile Rock Island Trail corridor extension from Windsor to Union. As a result, Missouri established the Rock Island Trail as a state park for all to enjoy, and headway is being made toward trail development.
