Webinar – Trail-Oriented Development: How Trails Create Connected Communities
Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD) is an innovative planning approach that integrates multiuse trails with residential and commercial development to create walkable, bike-friendly communities that enhance mobility, promote healthier lifestyles, and strengthen local economies. Similar to Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), TrOD clusters businesses, housing, and other amenities around trails to foster vibrant, connected neighborhoods.
Join the TrailNation Collaborative, powered by Rails to Trails Conservancy, to explore the core principles of TrOD, showcasing case studies and practical strategies for implementation. Participants learned how trails can serve as economic catalysts – attracting investment while enhancing community livability. The discussion also addressed common challenges in TrOD initiatives, providing valuable insights into the funding and policy strategies that help drive success.
During this webinar, attendees heard from Jen Higginbotham from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, Maura Brophy from the NoMa Business Improvement District in Washington, DC, and Jennifer Jackson from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency in Albuquerque, NM. Our expert panel, with hands-on experience in TrOD, shared resources, lessons learned, and strategies you can apply in your own community.
Resources
- Learn more about Central Indiana Trail-Oriented Development with their study examining contributing factors to successful TrOD.
- Find out more about the Albuquerque Rail Trail.
- Learn more about the NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) in Washington, DC and the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
- Watch NoMa BID’s video, “Next Stop: NoMa”.
- Read RTC’s report, “From Trail Towns to Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD): Trails and Economic Development.”
- Here is more information about rail-with-trails like the Metropolitan Branch Trail in DC.
- Check out RTC’s, “Leveraging Data to Advance Equitable Planning and Development.”
- More tools on Equitable Practices in Trail Planning here.
- Click here to find an additional resource on Trail Networks and Housing Stability.
- Read, “The Right Path: A Trail-Oriented Development Primer,” created by the Houston-Galveston Area Council.
RTC’s TrailNation Collaborative, Trail Development and Policy teams produce a free webinar series designed to help trail professionals build, grow, manage, maintain, promote or otherwise support trails and trail networks. Sign up here to get webinar alerts.
Have a comment or question on our webinar series? Contact us below with topic or speaker ideas. We appreciate your feedback! Email us.
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