WHO IS TED CURTIS? Biography of Trailnet founder and new City of Columbia Bicycle/Pedestrian Planner
24th August 2006
Ted Curtis was a co-founder and, until earlier this year, Executive Director of Trailnet, Inc. (formerly Gateway Trailnet, Inc.) - an 18-year-old non-profit land trust in the greater St. Louis region.
Throughout this time, Ted has been active developing trails and greenways in the metropolitan area. Projects he has been directly involved in include Grants Trail, the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Eads Bridge MetroBikeLink and most recently the Confluence Greenway Project, which will extend along both sides of the Mississippi River from the Arch to the confluence of the Missouri River and continue to the confluence of the Illinois River.
Ted volunteered to help start Trailnet and became its first President in 1988. As the organization grew he moved from unpaid President to assume the role of Executive Director in 1993. He was the principal technical staff person responsible for planning, acquisition, design and construction of trails and greenways. In addition to the projects mentioned above, he consulted on the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities plan, MetroBikeLink, and various other bicycle trail projects.
As a result of Ted's leadership, Trailnet now owns or manages over 100 acres of land, five rail-to-trail conversions, a major Mississippi River pedestrian bridge, and has 2000 paying members, 18 employees and a yearly income between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 including capital projects. Trailnet is recognized as one of the largest and most successful trail and greenway organizations in the country. In addition to greenway development, the organization has a large bicycle transportation and recreation program.
Ted holds Masters degrees in Management and Engineering from Washington University and a Bachelors degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Prior to 1993, he held various engineering and management positions at McDonnell Douglas during a 24 year career there. He is a long-term resident of Webster Groves where he and his wife Celia ride a tandem bicycle which they use to explore St. Louis neighborhoods.
Ted Curtis was a co-founder and, until earlier this year, Executive Director of Trailnet, Inc. (formerly Gateway Trailnet, Inc.) - an 18-year-old non-profit land trust in the greater St. Louis region.