Mt. Olive Resident Pitches Route 66 Recreational Trail Between Litchfield and Mt. Olive

Montgomery County Board Committee | May 4 Meeting

Article Summary: John Warga of Mt. Olive on Monday, May 4, 2026, asked a Montgomery County Board committee to authorize a feasibility study for converting 9.35 miles of abandoned Historic Route 66 right-of-way between Litchfield and Mt. Olive into a recreational trail. The committee took no action, with the chairman recommending Warga first seek input from the State of Illinois, which owns the right-of-way.

Route 66 Trail Proposal Key Points:

• The proposed trail would cover 9.35 miles of Historic Route 66 between Litchfield and Mt. Olive.
• Warga estimated construction costs at $600,000 to $3 million per mile, with the idea of layering state and federal grants to cover the work.
• His report cited possible economic development and public health benefits for the corridor.
• The committee did not vote; Chairman Chad Ruppert said the right-of-way belongs to the State of Illinois and suggested Warga seek state input before returning to the county.

HILLSBORO — A Mt. Olive resident on Monday, May 4, 2026, asked the Montgomery County Board Development & Personnel Committee to authorize a feasibility study that would explore converting nearly 10 miles of abandoned Historic Route 66 right-of-way between Litchfield and Mt. Olive into a recreational trail.

John Warga distributed packets to committee members and walked them through the proposal, which envisions repurposing 9.35 miles of the corridor for walking, biking and other recreational use. Warga’s report estimated construction costs ranging from $600,000 to $3 million per mile, depending on trail surface, drainage work and bridge or culvert needs. He told the committee the wide cost range could be addressed by layering state and federal grant programs, an approach common to long-distance rail-trail and historic-corridor conversions in Illinois.

Economic and Public Health Argument

Warga’s report also emphasized possible economic and public health impacts of a completed trail. Recreational trails along Route 66 elsewhere in Illinois — including segments incorporated into the broader Route 66 Bike Trail effort — have been associated with increased visitor traffic in trailhead communities, and supporters typically point to associated benefits for restaurants, lodging and small retail in those towns.

The minutes do not record specific projected visitor counts, business impacts or health outcomes from Warga’s presentation.

Committee Defers, Cites State Ownership

Committee Chair Chad Ruppert told Warga the abandoned right-of-way is owned by the State of Illinois and suggested the proponent first seek state input before the county takes any formal step. No motion was made, and the committee took no action on Warga’s request.

The pause does not foreclose later county involvement. Feasibility studies for trail conversions of this size are commonly funded through a mix of state Department of Natural Resources grant programs and federal transportation alternatives funding, and Illinois municipalities and counties often serve as the local sponsor of record even when the underlying land remains in state ownership.

Local Angle

The proposed trail would directly connect Litchfield and Mt. Olive — both Macoupin/Montgomery corridor communities with strong Route 66 tourism identities. Litchfield already markets multiple Route 66 sites to travelers, and a paved or improved trail running south from the city would add a recreational asset to that mix. The trail’s southern terminus in Mt. Olive sits near the Henry’s Rabbit Ranch and Soulsby’s Service Station heritage stops that draw Route 66 tourism in the region.

What Happens Next

Warga will need to engage the Illinois Department of Transportation or other state authority that holds title to the right-of-way before the county committee will take further action. The minutes do not record a specific timeline for Warga’s return to the committee.

Separately, the Development & Personnel Committee also discussed several active energy-project matters at the same meeting, including a proposed county-wide code of conduct for land agents, an update on The Shoals Wind Project and a reminder of the May 27 public hearing on the Elm Lawn Solar project.