RTC’s advocacy toolkit offers you key resources to meet with your elected officials and invite them out on the trail. For additional advocacy resources, check out www.railstotrails.org/policy/changemakers and for additional advocacy actions you can take today, head to www.railstotrails.org/takeaction!

Executive Summary The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) is the largest dedicated source of funding for trails, walking and bicycling in the United States. Since 1991, this program, formerly known as Transportation Enhancements (TE), has transformed the landscape of the country. While projects in several categories (including eligibilities such as historic preservation and highway beautification) are […]

How to Prepare Active Transportation Infrastructure for Future Successes Prepared for REI Cooperative Action Fund, March 2026 Authored by: Overview In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—was hailed as being transformative by its supporters, both for its size ($1.2 trillion, with a total of $550 billion […]

Better Transportation Alternatives Implementation Key to Narrowing Gap of Unmet Demand for Safe Routes to Walk and Bike LESSONS FROM FY 2025 More Funding Represents More Progress But Still Falls Short of Demand IIJA provides states with a nearly 70% increase to the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) on average over five years beginning in FY […]

In May, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee took the first step towards passing a new federal transportation law when it announced a bipartisan agreement entitled the BUILD America 250 Act – Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act. While the bill continues legacy active transportation programs, it fails to prioritize […]

This webinar explains the growing challenges and policy responses surrounding micromobility, especially the confusion between e-bikes and faster, more powerful e-motos. Speakers emphasize that safety, clear definitions, and proper regulation are essential to maintaining accessible and inclusive multi-use trails. They outline federal, state, and local efforts—along with industry-led solutions—to clarify rules, improve enforcement, and educate […]

Dear Chairmen Capito and Graves, and Ranking Members Whitehouse and Larsen: We write in strong support of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), and request that you extend and strengthen this program in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. ATIIP was authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with bipartisan support. It is […]

This webinar, “Federal Transportation Bill: What It Means for You and How You Can Make an Impact,” explained why the upcoming federal surface transportation reauthorization is a critical moment for trails, walking, and biking, and how it will shape transportation funding and policy nationwide for years. Speakers from Rails to Trails Conservancy outlined current political dynamics in […]

This webinar explains how communities can use unobligated federal transportation funds—especially through the August redistribution process—to advance trail projects. Speakers Stephanie Pollack and Derek Shooster highlight how formula funds work, what makes a project eligible for redistribution, and why timing and readiness matter. They emphasize building strong partnerships with MPOs and state DOTs to position […]

Join Rails to Trails’ Changemaker for Trails campaign for our February training, “Celebrate Trails Day: How to Engage in a Day of Joy and Action.” During this training, Changemakers learned how to use Celebrate Trails Day, taking place in April 2026, as a tool to advocate for trails and send a message to elected officials at […]