Keith Laughlin at Flat Branch Park in Columbia, Mo.

The Future Couldn't Be Brighter

The rail-trail movement has grown by leaps and bounds since Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) opened its doors in 1986. I am always impressed by the vision and sheer tenacity of the local advocates who built spectacular trails in the 1980s when the idea of rail-trails was brand-new, and there were few success stories on the ground to point to for guidance or inspiration.

Now, with more than 15,000 miles of rail-trail open for millions of people to enjoy
across the country, that great idea has matured into a full-bodied movement. And as
another year comes to a close, three recent
developments lead me to believe our movement
is on the verge of another leap forward.

• In June I had a very productive meeting
with U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Ray LaHood. Prior to joining the executive
branch, Secretary LaHood was a veteran
Republican member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, where he was a long-time champion of rail-trail projects in his district and rail-trail policy in Washington. We have
never had such a strong trails supporter in such an important position of influence.

• I recently visited the first section of the High Line, which opened in June on the
West Side of Manhattan in New York. This trail on an unused elevated railroad will
eventually be a 1.5-mile linear park running through one of the most densely populated
cities in the country. Not only has this marvelous trail captured the imagination of the
national press, but it is already becoming a model for trail building in urban America.

• To my amazement, summer traffic on RTC's trail-finder Web site, TrailLink.com,
grew by more than 50 percent from last year's levels. This surge is exciting evidence
that as we're building our database of free rail-trail information and maps, we're tapping
into a growing audience of people seeking safe, fun places to walk, run, skate and
ride. We're reaching more new trail users every day.

In short, we now have an old friend in a high place, a new trail in an old place,
and tens of thousands of new supporters across the nation who are eager to enjoy
the trail experience.

We've come a long way since those days back in the 1980s when a relative handful
of visionaries could see the many benefits that rail-trails would bring to America's communities. But we never would have achieved such progress without the strong support of our members. As 2009 comes to a close, I particularly want to thank you for your continued support during a period of national economic crisis. With your help, RTC
remains a strong and effective voice for the trails movement. And, as recent events
indicate, the future of our movement couldn't be brighter.

Happy Trails!

Keith Laughlin
President

Winter 2010