July 2025 Policy Newsletter

Federal Funding News and Resources

This Moment in Washington

The past few weeks have been bumpy in D.C. as we try to navigate mixed messages about active transportation coming out of the administration and Congress. Congress’ vote to strip away hugely significant investments in connectivity funding was quickly followed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) announcement about its BUILD grants that included marginal investments in active transportation infrastructure. Meanwhile, Secretary Sean Duffy’s remarks during a hearing in front of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee indicated that decisions on frozen federal grants are expected by the fall.

Please continue to reach out with updates about the status of grants you have previously been awarded, and any additional insights about local implications of ongoing federal actions. You can email Isabelle Lord at isabelle@railstotrails.org.

Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Reauthorization Agenda

Congressional committees are in the process of negotiating a new multiyear surface transportation bill to replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) when it expires in 2026. RTC has published our policy priorities for the reauthorization, focused on delivering safe, connected, convenient walking and biking to communities nationwide.

You can find RTC’s federal policy agenda here. You can also view the recording from our recent webinar, “Advocating for Active Transportation: Introducing RTC’s Reauthorization Agenda.”

Federal Funding Updates

Grant Rescissions

When the president signed the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4, it rescinded all unobligated funding for the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program (NAE), including as much as $750 million for connected active-transportation infrastructure. 

NAE grants created new opportunities for people and places by restoring connectivity in communities so that everyone can get where they need to go, and marked the largest one-time federal investment in active transportation infrastructure ever made—a testament to the unique role that trails and active transportation infrastructure serve in connecting people and places.

We must work together and remain vigilant in elevating this infrastructure as essential to the country’s economy, safety and quality of life. In the meantime, we’re working with partners and Congress to determine if there are alternative funding options to move these projects forward.

Read and share our statement. RTC’s Senior Director of Government Relations, Scott Goldstein, recently published an op-ed in Streetsblog USA titled, “Pragmatic Optimism in the Face of Active Transportation Clawbacks.” You can read this piece here.

BUILD Awards

This month, the USDOT announced the first round of Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants under the Trump Administration. The awards under the program formerly known as RAISE represent a shift away from funding projects that are solely focused on making it safe to walk and bike. Instead, there is greater investment in increased capacity for motor vehicles, though active transportation is included as an element for a little more than one-third of the projects, a pattern consistent with the president’s first term. You can find the full list of projects here.

Appropriations Update: $10 Million for ATIIP

Congress is working on a tight timeline to advance the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development passed its measure, including $10 million in funding for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). While inclusion of the program in a House bill for the first time is a welcome development in a tight fiscal climate, this funding is far short of the $200 million annual authorization and misses the core point that ATIIP is intended to fund large, network-scale projects. To date, Congress has provided only $45 million for the program, which was oversubscribed 40 to 1 in grant applications. The demand for these investments is overwhelming, and RTC is engaging Congress to build on this initial funding as the final appropriations are negotiated.

Opportunities for Engagement

Registration Now Open: Join Us at the TrailNation Summit in October 2025

RTC is hosting the TrailNation™ Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 27–29, 2025—a one-of-a-kind event that will bring together hundreds of leaders working to develop connected trail and active transportation networks for an immersive peer-to-peer learning event. You won’t want to miss two days of dynamic mobile workshops, immersive learning opportunities, strategic conversations and relationship building to unlock the power of trail networks for America’s communities.

The Summit is continuing to add to its amazing lineup of speakers. These leaders from across sectors—economic development, planning, research and evaluation, real estate, tourism and more—are contributing their expertise to empower us all to catalyze America’s trail networks. They’re inspiring action, sparking curiosity and contributing to a community of champions and innovators dedicated to creating healthier, more inclusive and resilient futures for all of us. You can find the full list of Summit speakers here.

Learn more and register today!

Changemakers for Trails Campaign: Share With Your Audiences

RTC has developed a program to bolster advocacy for trails, walking and biking at all levels of government. We encourage you to share the Changemakers for Trails initiative with your constituents so we can build the network we need to move the needle in the months ahead.

Ask Your Elected Officials: Pledge to Support Active Transportation Funding

Local elected officials play a critical role in advocating for funding for trails and active transportation. To help organize and uplift their voice, RTC has a new pledge your officials can sign to express their support for continued active transportation funding. This pledge highlights the importance of dedicated active-transportation funding programs like Transportation Alternatives, the Recreational Trails program and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program.

Ask your elected officials to sign RTC’s pledge to support large-scale and continued funding for trails and active transportation.

State Policy Updates

Ohio: On July 1, Gov. DeWine vetoed a provision in Ohio’s operating budget that would have prevented state and local governments from utilizing eminent domain for trail development. Gov. DeWine emphasized that trails serve a critical public purpose in helping to prevent serious crashes and injuries. RTC helped lead the fight against this dangerous provision in the budget, and we thank Gov. DeWine for his leadership on this issue. You can read more here.

Indiana: The 2025 state budget session closed with Gov. Braun signing a budget with zero funding for trail development, marking a drastic departure from recent years. Under Gov. Holcomb, Indiana had been a national leader in trail development. RTC continues to work with our state partners and local communities to demonstrate the strong need and desire for ongoing funding to advance the quality of life, public health and economic development benefits trails deliver.

Resources and Must-Read News

Online Event Programming

Webinar: Trails and Economic Development: Showcasing Impact

Watch this recording to explore the economic impact of trails and their important role in tourism, outdoor recreation, livability and more.

Watch the recording here.

Webinar: Advocating for Active Transportation: Introducing RTC’S Reauthorization Agenda

Watch this recording to learn about RTC’s federal policy agenda and how you can help send a clear message to the nation’s decision-makers and elected leaders: Americans want active transportation networks where they live.

Watch the recording here.

RTC: Webinars From the Archive

Miss a recent webinar or online dialogue? You can find free access to all our recent RTC virtual events in the webinar archive or Resource Library on our website!