Advocating for Active Transportation
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Now is the Time to Fight for Federal Active Transportation Programs
Right now, there is serious concern about the future of federal programs that fund America’s trails and active transportation infrastructure. Against a backdrop of rising safety concerns—20 people die while walking in America every day—and significant unmet demand for investment—federal active transportation programs like Transportation Alternatives are oversubscribed by a ratio of 4 to 1—there are vocal attacks on these vital funding programs.
RTC is acting with urgency to push Congress to support and preserve these critical investments, helping to organize support from more than 1,100 organizations, businesses and elected officials from all 50 states representing millions of constituents and a broad cross-section of American priorities—from manufacturing to agriculture, healthcare, economic development, tourism and retail—for federal programs that deliver investment and safety for bicycling and walking.
Working in partnership with the country’s top advocacy organizations for trails, walking and bicycling—the American Hiking Society, American Trails, the League of American Bicyclists, PeopleForBikes and the Safe Routes Partnership—RTC led efforts to send a letter to leadership of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee calling for the next surface transportation bill to include a fortified Transportation Alternatives program, and maintain broad eligibility for trails, walking and bicycling across transportation programs, as well as existing provisions for safe walking and bicycling.
RTC’s Reauthorization Agenda
As we work to shape federal transportation priorities, RTC has put forth a policy framework for the next reauthorization of the federal surface transportation bill focused on ensuring a robust ecosystem of policies and programs that prioritize connected walking and biking routes, making it safer and easier for Americans to move around the regions where they live, work and play. Priorities include:
- Growing and strengthening all three pillars of dedicated federal programs that support active transportation: Transportation Alternatives, the Recreational Trails Program, and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program
- Ensuring that multimodal federal discretionary grants catalyze innovation and address limitations of formula programs to support critical projects
- Calling for accountability in how states deploy formula funds to maximize impact
Creating vibrant trail and active transportation networks that serve neighborhoods across America requires public policies and programs that robustly fund this infrastructure. For decades, RTC, its members and partners have advocated for investments in the infrastructure communities need to safely walk and bike where they live. Together, we’re sending a clear message to the nation’s decisionmakers and elected leaders: Americans want active transportation networks where they live.
Our collective advocacy has translated into billions of dollars for trails, and innovative new policies and programs that make it easier to fund projects that connect trails and other walking and biking infrastructure. Today, our focus is on protecting and expanding those programs so that resources to connect the nation by trail are available and accessible to the entire country.
The Very Real Threats to Trails
At Rails to Trails Conservancy, we work hard every day to create more safe spaces for everyone to walk, bike and be active outside. Right now, the future we’re building—where trails create new connections for people to each other, their communities and the places they want to go—is under attack.
Serious challenges threaten to derail progress for trails, walking and biking and the positive impacts they deliver. Alarmingly, actions being taken at the federal level seek to undermine—or even eliminate—the crucial programs and funding sources that make trails and active transportation networks possible. The U.S. Department of Transportation has gone as far as to label some trail projects as “hostile to cars,” and members of Congress have vowed not to include any funding at all for trails in the next federal transportation bill.
With your support, RTC is fighting to defend vital trail programs and funding that are under attack in Washington, D.C.—helping us deliver the active transportation infrastructure Americans need.
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BUILD America 250 Act Poses Challenges for America’s Active Transportation Future
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America’s Trails Are Under Fire
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Reconciliation Bill Claws Back Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Trails, Walking and Biking
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What’s at Stake: Federal Funding Threats Sacrifice Community Connectivity
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Prioritizing a Safer, Connected America
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A Look at Railbanked Trails Across America
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Standing Up for Trails
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Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act Fact Sheet and RTC Sign-On Letter
Protecting the Future of Trails Now
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
When the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (H.R.3684), otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed in November 2021, it included reauthorization of the nation’s federal surface transportation bill that more than doubled funding for trails, walking and biking. The bill bolsters long-standing federal programs for trails and active transportation and creates new funding and new opportunities to advance trail networks nationwide.
Changemakers for Trails
RTC has resources to help you join the ranks of changemakers for trails nationwide. Learn more about what advocacy involves, why it is important, what RTC is advocating for and how you can get involved.
Ask Your Elected Officials: Pledge to Support Active Transportation Funding
Funding sources like Transportation Alternatives, the Recreational Trails program and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) are vital for community success. Local, state and federal elected officials are essential for seeking out and applying for funding to build trail networks, as well as advocating for grants and policies that connect people across communities and provide safe active transportation routes.
Ask your elected officials to sign Rails to Trails Conservancy’s pledge to support funding for trails and active transportation.
Stories About Trail Advocacy
View More Blogs
Congress Takes First Step On New Transportation Law
BUILD America 250 Act, the new transportation law, preserves beneficial programs and policy, but it is not a victory lap for trails.
Preseault v. Interstate Commerce Commission
In 1990, Preseault v. Interstate Commerce Commission, a Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Helped Shape the Future of Trails.
It’s Time to Prioritize Active Transportation Connectivity
Learn how the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program supports trail networks across America in the new transportation bill.
Keep Up With The Latest
Resources
Advocating for Trails and Active Transportation
Advocacy is key to building connected, accessible trails across America. Learn what it takes to advocate for a nation connected by trails and get information and resources to help you become a successful changemaker for trails.
State Policy Legislation Examples
Use RTC’s Resource Library to view sample legislation to empower transportation advocates, legislators, government officials and their staff with information and examples of effective funding models that can be replicated to secure the investments they need locally.
Resources for Local Leaders
Officials at the local, state, regional and federal levels often hold the keys to funding or policy changes to catalyze networks.
Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange
Rails to Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE) is the nation’s go-to transportation funding data source for trails and active transportation, tracking TA spending for tens of thousands of projects.
Inside Track Policy Newsletter
Sign up for The Inside Track to receive the latest updates from inside Capitol Hill, the White House and—when relevant—state legislatures. Best suited for: elected or appointed officials and their staff; advocacy organizations, businesses, industry groups and similar entities involved in the trail-related space; and trail and active transportation policy enthusiasts.
Case Studies
RTC has compiled a collection of case studies that you can take with you to your next meeting with an influential decision maker or official. Our story bank demonstrates how trails, walking, and biking are making a real impact in communities across America—large and small, urban and rural. A simple and compelling story can make a lasting impression with a decision maker and convince them of the value of these projects.
Choose a story that highlights a project in a community near you, or bring along an example from outside your region that showcases the type of vision you want to achieve.
- Arkansas’ Southwest Trail
- Maryland’s Baltimore Greenways Trail Network
- California’s Napa Valley Vine Trail
- New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s Circuit Trails
- Columbus, Ohio’s Olentangy Trail
- Pennsylvania’s and West Virginia’s IHTC: Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Corridor
- Illinois’ Route 66 Trail
- Florida’s Emerald Trail System
- Kentucky’s Louisville Loop
- Florida’s Ludlam Trail Project
- Nebraska’s Prairie Corridor
- Mississippi’s Longleaf Trace
- Florida’s Paradise Coast Trail
- New York’s Empire State Trail
- Oregon’s Salmonberry Trail
- California’s San Diego Regional Bike Plan
- Illinois’ Kickapoo Rail Trail Extension
