RTC Announces New Western Regional Office

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has launched its new Western Regional Office in San Francisco. Just as it has in the state of California for the last 10 years, RTC staff is now poised to offer trail advocacy and technical assistance services to communities across the Western region.

The new region encompasses Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, an area which currently boasts 175 rail-trails totaling 1,411 miles, with 1,358 rail-trail miles in the project stage. Initially the office will focus on expanding services to Idaho, Nevada and Oregon, with expansion to Arizona and Washington slated for 2007-08.

The regionalization strategy will allow RTC to engage with new partners throughout the Western region and catalyze the creation of trails and greenways systems within reach of every community. "We have set ambitious goals for ourselves," says Laura R. Cohen, RTC Western Regional Office director.

The opening of the Western office follows the formation of RTC's Northeast Regional Office in September 2004 and the Midwestern office in October 2005. RTC plans to open a Southern Regional Office within the next two years.