May 2025 Policy Newsletter

Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Reauthorization Agenda

As RTC works to shape federal transportation priorities, we have 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

Read RTC’s full reauthorization agenda here.

Federal Funding News and Resources

This Moment in Washington: Actions You Can Take

Right now, news out of Washington, D.C., is complex. There is much uncertainty about the future of The news on federal funding for trails, walking and biking continues to be challenging as updates out of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) show little movement for active transportation projects, while Congress’ proposal to rescind millions in awarded funding for trails, walking and biking makes progress. In May, Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the department has approved 405 grant agreements. While this is a small fraction of the 3,200 grants that the administration said remain without agreements and are still pending review, it is encouraging to see initial movement.

As RTC focuses on ensuring that trails, walking and biking are protected and prioritized, there are things you can do to reinforce the transformative impact that trail and active transportation networks deliver for the entire country.

• 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 they 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 (ATIIP).

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

• Protect your at-risk federal grants.

Lawyers for Good Government (LFGG) is offering pro bono legal advice to support grantees whose funding is at risk as a result of current Trump Administration actions.

L4GG’s new Fund Protection Clinic is geared toward ensuring that grantees and sub awardees of federal programs through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) are protected from threats to their funds.

Please note that L4GG can offer higher-level guidance to all federal grantees who qualify for their clinic but can only offer 1:1 pro bono consultation to grantees at the EPA, USDA or DOE, and only on matters relating to compliance or investigative processes.

You can find more information about the Fund Protection Clinic here and access the Clinic Intake Form here.

Federal Funding Updates

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A): Applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 Safe Streets and Roads for All program are due June 26, 2025. The USDOT hosted informational webinars in April. You can find them here.

Save CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs

The President’s FY 2026 Budget proposes eliminating funding for CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO). This cut would severely impact communities across 42 states, removing over $65 million in support for programs that prevent chronic diseases and promote healthier lives.

What’s at risk:

• CDC BMI Calculator used by over 1 million people/month

• Growth chart updates pediatricians rely on

• Safe spaces for kids to play and be active

• Access to healthy food, breastfeeding support and local produce programs

• Proven programs that save health-care costs and save lives

The DNPAO’s work is essential to national health and cost-saving efforts. Please spread the word and share on social media using #maha #savecdcnutrition #savecdcphysicalactivity.

Opportunities for Engagement

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

Rails to Trails Conservancy 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.   

Learn more and register today. Early bird pricing ends May 30.

Resources and Must-Read News

Celebrate Trails Day: Recapping a Day of Joy and Impact 

In 2025, tens of thousands of people attended hundreds of group rides, nature walks, family-friendly festivals, volunteer cleanups and other events planned by our partners for Celebrate Trails Day, demonstrating appreciation and demand for trails and trail networks nationwide.

More than 33,000 people participated in 275+ celebrations hosted by 375+ partners across 49 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Thank you for making CTD a day of joy and impact!

Celebrating Wins From 2024: RTC’s Impact

While there is still much uncertainty about the future of federal funding for active transportation infrastructure, there are still plenty of federal and state-level wins to celebrate and give us hope. You can read more about these wins and how RTC helped secure them in RTC’s FY 2024 impact report.

Online Event Programming

Changemakers for Trails Campaign: Share With Your Audiences 

RTC’s Changemakers for Trails initiative is a new movement focused on increasing grassroots advocacy and support for trails. Our network of changemakers around the country are learning effective tools to advocate for trails and active transportation to their local, state and federal decisions-makers.

We encourage you to spread the word about this initiative, particularly to volunteers or others who are interested in learning more about grassroots advocacy.

Here are a few resources to share with your audiences interested in becoming Changemakers:

• Learn more about the initiative and watch previous trainings.
• Sign up for our Changemakers for Trails email list to receive regular updates about trainings, resources and action items.
• Register for our upcoming training “How Your Story Makes an Impact” in July.

Recent Webinar: Trail-Oriented Development: How Trails Create Connected Communities

Watch this recording to explore the core principles of Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD), case studies and practical strategies for implementation.

Watch the recording here.

Recent Webinar: When Disaster Strikes: The Role of Trails in Planning and Recovery

Watch this recording to learn how different communities across the United States have approached their natural disaster challenges through the lens of trails.

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!