New England Rail-Trail Spine Network The New England Rail-Trail Spine Network initiative was launched in March 2019 during a two-day regional meeting on multiuse trail development and policy in New Hampshire. Held at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Cardigan Mountain Lodge in Alexandria, the regional meeting included 12 New England experts on bicycle/pedestrian issues and multipurpose […]

The Montgomery County Trail Access, Diversity and Awareness Plan provides detailed descriptions of the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown and Pottstown, as well as the portion of the Pennypack Trail located in Montgomery County, PA. Analyzing how a trail looks and functions is the first step to determining which factors may prevent people from using a trail. This […]

Executive Summary The small towns and cities between Cleveland and Pittsburgh are home to some of America’s richest industrial heritage and history. Innovations in 19th-century transportation unlocked the region’s potential, delivering new people and new economies, and fueling westward development and a booming industrial market nationwide. As these economies took hold, the “industrial heartland” emerged—from the coal mines of West […]

The purpose of the Minnesota Bikeway Facility Design Manual is to provide engineers, planners, and designers with a primary source to implement the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT’s) vision and mission for bicycle transportation in Minnesota. This manual also provides citizens, developers, and others involved in the transportation planning process, guidance on the critical design […]

This plan provides a detailed list of required trail maintenance activities for the proposed Albany Hudson Electric Trail, including the frequency of each task. It also estimates the annual cost per mile to maintain the trail (Appendix A).  More information on the developing trail can be found at its official website. Created by Hudson River […]

The Northampton Township Master Trail and Bicycle Plan (The Plan) outlines a vision for improving the quality of life in the Township; providing a wide range of outdoor experiences; and supporting economic development through the development of a comprehensive township-wide trail and bicycle facilities network. The process of developing this Master Trail and Bicycle Facilities […]

Why predict the cost of the network? The Capital Trails Coalition seeks to create an 800-miles-plus world-class network of multiuse trails that are equitably distributed throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. The trail network is a key strategy in an effort to create a healthier, more connected populace. With the third-highest amount of traffic in the nation, […]

Transportation in communities across America is changing with the advent of many small and light personal-mobility options, which typically run on electric motors, such as electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes), e-scooters (scooters) and hoverboards. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) offers this perspective to assist communities, trail managers and policy makers in making decisions about how best to manage these devices […]

In 2017, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) was funded by the William Penn Foundation to advance planning and development of a trail along the Richmond Industrial Track Rail Corridor in the Kensington, Fairhill and Port Richmond communities. A $1.8 million corridor cleanup by Conrail, the adjacent rail road, with the City of Philadelphia created an opening for […]

A key goal of the 11th Street Bridge Park is to serve as an anchor for equitable and inclusive economic growth. The Bridge Park’s design strategies will increase connectivity between those living on both sides of the Anacostia River, but more must be done to ensure that residents and small businesses nearby will continually benefit from […]