Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Fiscal Year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021–Sept. 30, 2022) Impact Report chronicles a year of momentum and victory for the trails movement. Explore the ways that, together, we are making a difference.
IMPACT REPORT FY 2022
Advancing a Great American Icon for the Nation
Maryland's Great Allegheny Passage (gaptrail.org) at the Eastern Continental Divide in Maryland | Photo by David Ni
President's Message • Our Vision • TrailNation • TrailLink • Great American Rail-Trail • Trail Advocacy • Trail Building • Experiencing Trails • Finances • Team RTC
There was a lot to celebrate as we marked the end of another great year for the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail®, an epic trail in the making across 12 states and the nation’s capital—between Washington, D.C., and Washington State. Hundreds of partners are working together with a collective vision—in communities large and small—to complete this icon for the country.
The incredible energy and efforts of local partners resulted in a record $31.2 million in public and private funds raised in fiscal year (FY) 2022 to help complete gaps along the route—the highest amount secured annually for the Great American.
With the national focus and demand for trails at their highest point these past few years, we continued our work to build out the cross-country route in FY 2022, which is now more than 54% complete with 2,050+ miles.
Economic Potential of the Great American Rail-Trail
“The numbers make clear that the Great American is a win for long-term economic growth in communities all along the route.”
—Kevin Belle, Great American Rail-Trail Project Manager
In May 2022, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and Headwaters Economics released the results of a study examining the economic potential of the Great American Rail-Trail, which showed that the project will have a major economic impact routewide.
With support and investment by host communities, the Great American could generate an estimated $229 million+ in visitor spending and add $161 million to the GDP each year. Additionally, it was found that over 10 years, the Great American is expected to support more than 25,000 jobs across diverse sectors.
RELATED: Great American Rail-Trail Helps Revive Small Towns (National Geographic)
Iconic Infrastructure Advances Along the Great American
And what an incredible year it was for many communities along the route, who saw some major milestones in FY 2022.
In April, RTC and partners in Washington State celebrated a big win with the opening of the Beverly Bridge, a $5.5 million trestle retrofit along the developing 285-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The long-awaited bridge rehabilitation fills what was once a historically impassable trail gap over the Columbia River, and represents a major milestone in an effort to make cross-state tourism a reality.
Then in May, trail advocates celebrated the opening of another landmark, the 975-foot trestle in Tekoa, a longtime anchor for the eastern end of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, near the Idaho border.
“There is no Western Washington. There is no Eastern Washington. With the Beverly Bridge, there’s one Washington.”
—Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
World Record Holder Completes 475-Mile Wheelchair Trek on the Great American
In October 2022, Guinness World Record Holder and disability rights advocate Ian Mackay completed a 12-day, 475-mile ride along the easternmost portion of the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail, from Washington, D.C., to Columbus, Ohio. A project of Ian’s Ride, which he founded in 2017, in collaboration with the United Spinal Association (USA) and RTC, the ride was designed to raise awareness around the importance of, and need for, more access to the outdoors for people with mobility impairments and other disabilities.
Learn more about Ian’s Great American Ride.
Explore the interactive map to learn more about the Great American route.
Get Social With Us @railstotrails
