EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL-TRAIL VISION Imagine pedaling across the entire country on a safe, seamless and scenic pathway—or walking a local trail that connects you to historic routes from coast to coast. You’re enthralled in the experience of exploring America’s heritage—its potential, its beauty and bounty, its people and places. Consider the intimacy […]

In recent years, concerns have emerged through location-specific studies about the correlation between trails and gentrification, especially in high-profile urban trail markets with significant housing cost pressures. To better understand the relationship between trail development and housing stability in a wide range of neighborhoods and housing markets, RTC partnered with researchers from the University of Minnesota and the Brookings Institution to study this issue further, and with Johns Hopkins University’s 21st Century Cities […]

Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which passed last November, the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program is set to receive a 70% increase on average over the next five years in funds that support the development of trails and active transportation infrastructure. This latest iteration of the TA program includes program innovations to help more communities […]

Accessibility is integral to trail development—it ensures that trails are available to all users, including people with disabilities—and we want to make sure that you have the tools and information you need to enhance accessibility on your trails. This webinar provided an overview of the proposed Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) for shared-use paths. The webinar also […]

The passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) means that our work has just begun to make sure that state and local partners can make the most of new funding opportunities. Join Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to hear what comes next for federal funding and discuss how your trail and active transportation projects can meet the […]

What strategies and policies have or can be used by cities to build or preserve affordable housing near green amenities and urban trails? In this brief, we provide a review of the academic literature on strategies to preserve and build affordable housing with respect to green amenities and urban trails. We look at a variety of strategies including shared equity […]

The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition’s (IHTC’s) 1,500-miles-plus network vision spans 51 counties across Western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, 79 eastern Ohio and the southwestern corner of New York. When complete, the trail network will comprise the largest shared-use trail system in North America for tourism, physical activity and recreation. The plan tocomplete the network is […]

Whether you are building a new trail or already maintaining one, planning for routine trail maintenance is critical, but often overlooked aspect of the budgeting process. This webinar will introduce planning and budgeting tools that helps determine the cost of base level maintenance tasks, which, once accurately determined and differentiated from rebuilding and life-cycle costs, […]

Research Summary: Neighborhood Change and Gentrification Near Three Urban Trails Authors: Greg Lindsey, Yunlei Qi, Torsha Bhattacharya, Tracy Loh Published: October 2021 Read the full article in the journal, Findings, published October 2021: rtc.li/gentrification-study In recent years, some studies have suggested possible correlation between trails and gentrification. These studies tended to examine high-profile trails in markets […]

Kevin Mills, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)’s vice president of policy, will be on hand to provide timely updates on the negotiations, discuss what’s next, and answer your questions. We will also be joined by Marianne Fowler, RTC’s senior strategist for policy advocacy. Panelists: Kevin Mills – Vice president of policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC)  Marianne Fowler- Senior strategist […]