TrailBlog

New Transbay Crossing: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Path Opens in California

Posted 11/18/19 by Ben Kaufman, Mary Elise Conzelmann in Building Trails | Tagged with BATC, Bike Commuting, Biking, California, Connected Systems, TrailNation, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

Bicyclists gathered outside of the Richmond BART Station on Nov. 16, 2019, to ride together to the opening of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike and pedestrian path | Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

On Nov. 16, 2019, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bicycle and pedestrian path—a new 6-mile trail that parallels I-580 in the San Francisco Bay Area, officially opened to the public in a special ribbon cutting ceremony. The opening of the new pathway—a fully protected east–west pedestrian and bicycle connection across the Bay—signifies an exciting time in California trail history, as people can now safely walk and bike between the North and East Bay for the first time.

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The Underline in Miami, Florida | Photo by Lee Smith

USDOT Awards Over $120 Million to Benefit Trails and Active Transportation Around the Nation

Posted 11/13/19 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Alabama, Federal, Funding, Miami LOOP, Missouri, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

On Nov. 12, 2019, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded substantial grants to support several trail and active transportation projects, as well as multimodal projects with trail and active transportation elements, around the country. These investments rose to the top in the highly competitive BUILD program (or Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments), which has taken the place of the popular TIGER grant program as USDOT’s means of funding important transportation projects that otherwise lack sufficient funding from other sources.

GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail in South Carolina | Photo by Ian Curcio

A Q&A With Ryan Chao: Connecting Communities from Coast to Coast

Posted 11/13/19 by Brandi Horton in America's Trails, Taking Action | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, Connected Systems, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, RTC in Action, Tourism and Economic Development, TrailsTransform, Transportation and Health, West Virginia

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is forging ahead with a new focus: to connect critical walking and bicycling infrastructure across the country, and demonstrate the powerful benefits trails and trail networks deliver communities, through projects such as RTC’s TrailNation™ initiative and the Great American Rail-Trail™. Recently, the Trailblog chatted with RTC President Ryan Chao on how the organization is making this work happen in collaboration with thousands of partners across the country.

Milwaukee Road Rail-Trail in Thompson Park | Photo by TrailLink.com user jdodge_tl

The Great American Rail-Trail Experience: Connections to Our National Scenic and Historic Trails

Posted 11/12/19 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, District Of Columbia, Great American Rail-Trail, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Trail Destinations, Washington, Wyoming

The Great American Rail-Trail’s own unique journey through 12 states and the District of Columbia, combined with its ties to both National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails, offers an enriching and meaningful lens through which to see the country.

Nashua Rail River Trail | Photo by Milo Bateman

Massachusetts and New Hampshire’s Nashua River Rail Trail

Posted 11/08/19 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

New England in autumn is nature’s spectator sport, and a special place to view its riotous colors is the Nashua River Rail Trail, spanning just over 12 miles in Massachusetts and spilling into New Hampshire.

Mural by Cinta Vidal along Napa Valley Vine Trail | Photo by Maureen Gaffney

Napa Valley Vine Trail Brings a Wealth of Benefits to California’s Wine Country

Posted 11/07/19 by Maggie McAden in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Art, Best Of, California, Community Events, Connected Systems, Health and Active Living, Mode Shift, Signage and Amenities, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Walkability and Bikeability

Northern California’s Napa Valley is becoming known for the 47.5-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail, a developing pathway stretching north-south from Vallejo to Calistoga and featuring the area’s vineyards, clear skies and a staggering mountain backdrop.

The family-friendly Grand Canyon Greenway Trail | Photo by Sarah Neal, courtesy Bright Angel Bicycles

Arizona’s Grand Canyon Greenway Trail

Posted 10/16/19 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Arizona, Best Of, Ecology and Environment, Health and Active Living, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Trail Use Tips

The Grand Canyon Greenway Trail totals 13 miles of paved pathway for biking and walking, providing access to numerous scenic viewpoints and attractions in the park. In Grand Canyon National Park, which sees more than 6 million visitors each year, the park’s greenway trail system offers a delightful way to connect travelers to those quiet moments where they can take in the awe-inspiring beauty that surrounds them.

Facatativá to Puerto Salgar rail-trail project corridor field visit | Photo courtesy RTC

RTC Brings TrailNation Vision to President Duque of Colombia

Posted 10/11/19 by Liz Thorstensen in Building Trails | Tagged with Champions, Demand for Trails, Heritage and Restoration, RTC in Action, Rural Communities, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trails of the World, Urban Pathways

RTC was invited to Bogotá, Colombia by the city’s renowned Mayor Enrique Peñalosa to lend our assistance in the planning of the country’s first rail-trail project, just outside of Bogotá, culminating with a presentation to Colombia President Iván Duque Márquez.

New Zealand's Otago Central Rail Trail | Photo courtesy Otago Central Rail Trail Charitable Trust

Seven Bucket List Rail-Trail Destinations Around the World

Posted 09/27/19 by Laura Stark in Trail Use, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Biking, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trails of the World, Why Use Trails?, Wild and Wonderful

Thousands more miles of rail-trails are available all across the globe. For World Tourism Day, we thought we’d take a look a few bucket list international rail-trail destinations.

Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Shining a Light on the Transformative Impact of Trails in the Quad Cities

Posted 09/12/19 by Brandi Horton in Building Trails, Policy, America's Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Facts and FIgures, Great American Rail-Trail, Illinois, Iowa, Local Organizing, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, TrailNation, TrailsTransform

The Riverfront and Great River trails, both host trails of the Great American and “spines” of a regional trail system between the states. Yet, while those trails have been so important to the region’s riverfront revitalization strategy, there is much more benefit that could be realized if two key gaps are filled, one in the Riverfront Trail in Davenport, Iowa, and the “Critical Gap Connector” between the Great River Trail and the Hennepin Canal Parkway in Illinois.