Since Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s founding, we have been the nation’s foremost—and in most cases, only—legal advocate for rail-trails in the nonprofit sector. Under the direction of Andrea Ferster, RTC’s general counsel, our legal program has participated in numerous landmark rail-trail cases and supported countless trail managers, trail advocates and their legal counsel across the United States. […]

The legislation adds trails among a number of eligible sources of funding for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 

Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to establish minimum safety design criteria for the planning and construction of bikeways and uniform specifications and symbols for associated signs, markers, and traffic control devices. Existing law requires all city, county, regional, and other local agencies responsible for the development or operation of bikeways or roadways where […]

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 […]

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 […]

Electric bicycles—or e-bikes—are becoming increasingly popular nationwide. These bikes look like traditional bicycles but are equipped with an electric motor that can be used to assist the rider. While there are a variety of e-bike types—ranging from pedal-assist, which simply give riders a boost, to bikes with throttles that allow users to choose to pedal […]