This 2012 lease renewal between Union Pacific Railroad and the Rockford Park District defines the premise of use and property agreements between the railroad and the Rock River Recreation Path in Rockford, Illinois. The city is required to indemnify Union Pacific from damages and provide proof of liability insurance at an amount determined by the […]

The main objectives of this report were to provide the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) with guidelines for the structural design of bicycle trail pavement and recommendations for bicycle trail pavement maintenance. A design procedure based on three construction traffic factors and three pavement load levels was developed for Portland cement concrete, hot-mix asphalt, and […]

This manual serves as a technical resource to guide parks and transportation agencies as they plan, design, and fabricate wayfinding signage along regional trails in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Metro and its partners developed the manual in response to requests from the public for better uniformity and consistency of signage along regional trails. Additional impetus […]

Trail advocates sometimes use the old mantra, “Build it and they will come,” to describe the immediate success of new trails. But complexities of the built and social environments in urban areas present factors that may affect trail use and require programmatic interventions to encourage use once the trail is constructed. Research indicates that strategies […]

Studies have shown that trails themselves do not generate crime. However in many urban areas, crime and safety are serious, pervasive issues, and even the perception of trail safety may influence trail use. Addressing concerns about crime and violence is particularly important in low-income urban communities where residents, especially children and women, may not be […]

Urban Pathways Initiative (UPI) is a program of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy that advocates for equitable investment in vulnerable communities to promote the health, transportation and environmental benefits of trail use. UPI provides community-based assistance to groups and municipal agencies which promote or develop pathways intersecting low-income communities. Through case studies in Memphis, TN, Houston, TX, Compton, CA, and New Orleans, LA, this […]

Urban Pathways Initiative (UPI) is a program of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy that advocates for equitable investment in vulnerable communities to promote the health, transportation and environmental benefits of trail use. UPI provides community-based assistance to groups and municipal agencies which promote or develop pathways intersecting low-income communities. Through case studies in Chicago, IL, Washington, DC, Richmond, CA, and Cleveland, OH, this fact […]

This primer explores the benefits of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Urban Pathways Initiative (UPI), a program that advocates for equitable investment in vulnerable communities to promote the health, transportation and environmental benefits of trail use. UPI provides community-based assistance to groups and municipal agencies which promote or develop pathways intersecting low-income communities. This report shares lessons learned from UPI and focuses on strategies to encourage […]

This 2011 report from Rails-to-Trails Conservancy discusses preliminary considerations and strategies in the process of developing a trail along a waterway. Topics include land ownership, developing an agreement, owner use, liability, maintenance, public safety and other considerations. The report includes sample cooperative agreements between water districts and local jurisdictions for trail development.

There are more than 20,000 miles of rail-trails crossing the nation and connecting towns and country. Getting out on the trail to enjoy the outdoors, exercise or spend time with friends and family is an option for everyone. However, when we think about commuting to work or running errands from A to B, many assume […]