Executive Summary: In West Virginia, an incredible opportunity awaits. The 238-mile Parkersburg to Pittsburgh (P2P) rail-trail is already nearly 80 percent complete; just a few short gaps exist in West Virginia to unlock a contiguous 150-miles-plus stretch of the rail-trail from Parkersburg to the state’s border with Pennsylvania. Completing these short gaps in Wood, Harrison […]

Electric bicycle (e-bike) use is a rising phenomenon in North America as a growing number of manufacturers produce a variety of bicycles which can accommodate the needs of diverse populations. With the growth of the e-bike industry, e-bike users are an increasingly integral part of both the transportation network and recreational trail system. However, little […]

Establishes a Safe Routes to School program.

Project Details Lead Authority: Napa Valley Vine Trail CoalitionTotal Project Cost: $55 millionFunding Pledged to Date: $41.7 million Federal/State: $16.7 millionLocal: $11.5 millionPrivate: $13.5 million Shovel-Ready: Within 2 years or lessType: Rural, urban Transformative Impact Job Creation: An estimated 935 jobs directly1 Transportation: Trail could provide a safe off-road transportation alternative for18,000 students attending school within a half-mile of the trail; also reduces congestion […]

Project Details Lead Authority: Baltimore City, Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Bikemore, Greater Washington Partnership, Southeast Community Development Corporation, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership  Total Project Cost: $28 millionFunding Pledged to Date: $4.7 million Federal: $2,250,000Local: $1,650,000Private: $840,000 Shovel-Ready: 1 year or lessType: Urban Transformative Impact Job Creation: An estimated 476 jobs directly3 Transportation Impact: The network will provide connections to over 75 […]

Project Details Lead Authority: MetroplanTotal Project Cost: $33 millionFunding Pledged to Date: $6 million Federal: $0State: $0Local: $6 million Shovel-Ready: 2 years or lessType: Rural, Suburban, Urban Transformative Impact Job Creation: An estimated $26.6 million in construction expenditures supporting 320 direct jobs1 from construction and 130 indirect jobs (e.g., from materials manufacturing); $2 million in total tourism expenditures resulting in 27 induced jobs per year […]

In 1996, Fayette County received a planning grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and selected Mackin Engineering to conduct a trail feasibility study. A major study goal was to define and assess the potential trail route. The 1999 Feasibility Study produced evidence that the Sheepskin Trail was a viable project. As […]

This legislation established the Jonesville Public Use Area for protection of wildlife and motorized and nonmotorized vehicle use and passed House Committee.

This matrix is intended to present a summary of state laws pertaining to the legal liability of trail managers as of the year 2018. Every effort has been made to provide accurate citations and summaries in this matrix. However, due to the fluid nature of legislation and the limits of a summary format, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy […]

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association developed model trail easement agreement for the benefit of owners, charitable organizations, government and their respective legal counsels. These models are periodically updated to reflect user experiences and advances in the field. The most recent editions are posted at ConservationTools.org. A commentary accompanies each model and explains the reasoning behind each […]