Posts by Marianne Wesley Fowler

Hal Hiemstra | Photo courtesy Summit Strategies, graphic by RTC

Remembering Hal

Posted 08/10/23 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Champions, RTC in Action

Hal Hiemstra was a pivotal figure in the active transportation movement and served as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s vice president of national policy in the 1990s.

Photo courtesy Love Healing Deb

RTC Mourns the Passing of Friend and Bike/Ped Advocate Deb Hubsmith

Posted 08/19/15 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy, Success Stories | Tagged with California, Success Stories

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Deb Hubsmith on Aug. 18, 2015, after a two-year battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She was 46. Deb was a passionate, persistent and amazingly gifted champion for the many advances the nation has seen in trails and bike/ped policy and practice over the past 20 years.

Photo CC Heather Harvey via Flickr

Featuring Minnesota: A Spotlight on the North Star State in April

Posted 03/31/14 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Success Stories | Tagged with Minnesota

Smack dab in the middle of the radar is Move MN, a coalition dedicated to addressing critical transportation needs in the state. This diverse group of advocates is leading a charge to urge the Minnesota Legislature to pass a transportation funding package that would support: highway and bridge improvements, the development of regional transit systems and the expansion of safe, convenient bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Photo of park dedication © National Park Service

How We Can Preserve the Character and Landscape of the Great Smokies

Posted 08/23/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in America's Trails | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, Tennessee

Call it virtual travel! We explored the renaissance of urban cycling in Memphis and a unique trail in Central Tennessee, and celebrated with the locals at the announcement of federal grants for new recreational trails projects. We wrap up our Tennessee month today with a glance back, and glimpse forward.

Photo © Friends of Beaman Park

Gov. Haslam Unlocks $1.6 Million for Tennessee Trails

Posted 08/19/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Products of Good Policy, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

The people of Tennessee are today expressing their gratitude to Governor Bill Haslam for ensuring their state, famous for its rural and wilderness areas and open spaces, continues to take part in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Trails projects across Tennessee last week received more than $1.6 million in RTP investment, unlocking much more in private matching funds and volunteer contributions.

Photo © www.harahanbridgeproject.com

Bridging Two Cities Across the Mississippi, New Trail Project a Grand Moment for Tennessee

Posted 08/09/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

In the second decade of the 20th century, the world was engulfed in war. The city of Memphis was an important center of military and industrial activity, yet there were few ways for goods and people to cross the mighty barrier that was the Mississippi River.

Today's House of Reps Hearing on Transportation Funding

Posted 04/24/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Statements of Support

Earlier today the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted a hearing on the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. As generally acknowledged, current funding sources for the Trust Fund (notably gasoline and diesel taxes) are not sufficient to maintain a reliable transportation system. You can read all the testimony from the hearing at the House website here.

What Sequestration Will Mean for Trails: The Latest

Posted 03/27/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs, Threats to Trail Building

Last month, we posted our analysis of the impact of sequestration on the nation's trails, and biking and walking infrastructure. On March 1, as scheduled, federal agencies were subject to mandatory funding cuts. As we expected, monies in the Highway Trust Fund were protected from cuts, and programs funded with these monies continue as normal.