Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: Trails and Greenways Publications Library

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RTC Trails and Greenways Publications Library

Be sure to take a look at our Trail-Building Toolbox for more assistance. Also, check our library archive for past resources listed on this page.
Want to read stories about successful rail-trails? Check out featured articles from our magazine, Rails-to-Trails, or take a look at our Trail of the Month Archive.
MANUALS

Acquiring Rail Corridors: A How To Manual
Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails: An Acquisition and Organizing Manual for Converting Rails into Trails (678K)
Trail User Surveys:

Trail User Survey Workbook: How to Conduct a Survey and Win Support for Your Trail (2.1M)
Survey Templates and Spreadsheets( 630K).
More information on RTC's Trail User Survey work for Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

REPORTS

User Surveys and Economic Impact Analyses: These reports—substantiating each trail's success for conservation, recreation and economic development—can help other trail projects gain support from local municipalities, businesses and adjacent property owners. Use it as a selling tool.

Pine Creek Rail Trail, 2006 (1.36M)
Perkiomen Trail, 2008 ( 3.47M)

Rail-Trail Maintenance & Operation: Ensuring the Future of Your Trail - A Survey of 100 Rail-Trails (1.6M)
Creating Active Communities: Ten Case Studies of Programs and Partnerships (1.56M)
Trails & Greenways: Advancing the Smart Growth Agenda (1.35M)
Rail-Trails and Community Sentiment (1.58M)
Rail-Trails and Safe Communities (778K)
Rail-Trails and Liability (866K)
Rails-with-Trails Report (1.3M): In response to the growing number of rails-with-trails projects across the nation RTC has added new clarifying language promoting safety when developing these trails. The addition can be found in the Working With Railroads section of the report.
Tunnels on Trails (1.1M)
Railbanking and Rail-Trails: A Legacy for the Future (869K)

FACT SHEETS

Use these fact sheets to "make the case" for trails and other active transportation opportunities in your community:

Railbanking Fact Sheet (150K)
Local Funding Sources (76K)
Rail-Trails & Utilities — How to Share Your Corridor with Other Uses (110K)
Work with Trail Opponents (85K)
Who Actually Owns the Right-of-Way? (83K)

Can't find it? Check our library archive for past resources.
PROJECT PORTFOLIO REPORTS
For more information on RTC's trail planning project work, be sure to visit our Project Portfolio page.

Survey and Recommendations to Encourage Trail Use on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, DC (5.1M)
Greenways Initiative: Planning for Detroit's Rail-Trails (4.6M)
Reconnecting Communities: Atlanta Rail Corridors Assessment (3.4M)
Trail Assessment Study: Florida Power and Light Greenway, a Shared-Use Corridor Pilot Project (12.4M)
Mission Creek Bikeway Bay Trail Connector Study (5.2M)

Learn more about RTC's work on this project

Cross Alameda Trail Vision - California (780K)
Understanding Environmental Contaminants: Lessons Learned and Guidance to Keep Your Rail-Trail Project on Track (1.55M)
Regional Trail Systems (839K)
The Great American Rail-Trail: Milwaukee Road Segment

Montana (2.4M)
Idaho (2.1M)

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
The Duke Ellington Building
2121 Ward Ct., NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
+1-202-331-9696