Since early 2025, RTC has tracked and reported decisions made by the White House and the US Department of Transportation regarding active transportation and advised trails, walking and biking advocates as they have endured whiplash, grant cancellations, and ongoing uncertainties about frozen federal transportation grants. Congress rescinded $750 million in active transportation Neighborhood Access and Equity grants […]

Join Rails to Trails Conservancy to learn more about, “Innovative State Legislative Approaches: Addressing a Challenging Environment.” During this webinar, RTC policy staff and featured guests discussed best practices for building a state legislative agenda focused on achieving policy wins and funding for active transportation. The session touched on legislative basics and timelines before diving […]

Join Rails to Trails Conservancy to learn more about, “State DOT Engagement: Relationship-Building and Advocacy.” During this webinar, RTC policy staff and featured guests discussed the importance of building relationships with your state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) when advocating transportation policy change at the federal level. This session explored the connection between the work of […]

Join Rails to Trails’ Changemaker for Trails campaign for our training, “Power in Numbers: Building Grassroots Partnerships in Your Community.” During this training, Changemakers heard from individuals who have been successful in activating community members and engaging key players, including elected officials to develop trail infrastructure in their region. This was an opportunity for Changemakers […]

Railbanking, established in 1983 as an amendment to the National Trails System Act, is the foundational law making possible thousands of miles of rail-trails nationwide. Recently, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would effectively destroy the viability of railbanking going forward, resulting in fragmented and lost corridors—and poses a threat […]

This webinar explores RTC’s recently released TrADE report, which serves as an important tool for states, regions and active transportation professionals to understand spending patterns and strengthen the program, thus improving the efficiency and impact of investments made. We hear from Kevin Vettraino, Planning Director of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) about how […]

TrADE > FY 2024 At A Glance The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) is the largest dedicated source of funding for trails, walking and bicycling in the United States, focused on improving conditions for walking and bicycling. Since 1991, this program, formerly known as Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), has transformed the landscape […]

One important way to advocate for trails, walking and biking, is to effectively tell decision makers how and why trails, walking and biking matter to you and your community. Storytelling is a vital piece of advocacy, and we want to empower you, RTC’s Changemakers for Trails, to share your stories in ways that resonate with […]

There is much uncertainty right now about the future of federal funding for trails, walking and biking. In this webinar, you will learn about what Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) is doing—and actions you can take—to reinforce the transformative impact of trails in your community.    For decades, RTC, its members and partners have advocated for […]

Join Rails to Trails’ Changemaker for Trails campaign for a training on “Preparing for the Next Transportation Bill: How Federal Transportation Decisions Affect Walking, Biking and Trails.” During this training, we discussed the federal legislation that makes trails possible and how you can directly influence the creation of this legislation. More specifically, we discussed Rails […]