Building Trails

New Jersey Awards More Than $27 Million for Trails, Walking and Biking Projects Statewide

Posted 05/23/19 by Liz Sewell in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, Delaware, Funding, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, State and Federal Programs, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, TrailNation

New Jersey trails got some great news with an announcement by the Department of Transportation (NJDOT) that more than $27 million has been awarded through the state’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) toward improvements to bicycle and pedestrian safety and connectivity across the state.

Seeds Planted for California's 300-Mile Great Redwood Trail

Posted 05/17/19 by Laura Cohen in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with California, Champions, Connected Systems, Ecology and Environment, RTC in Action, Rural Communities, Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Destinations, Walkability and Bikeability, Wild and Wonderful

Hundreds of trail enthusiasts gathered in Arcata, California, on May 4, for a Town Hall to learn more about the Great Redwood Trail—a 300-mile proposed walking and biking trail that would stretch from the shores of San Francisco Bay to the redwoods of Eureka on Humboldt Bay, highlighting California’s wine country as well as some of the state’s most treasured and remote natural areas.

From Dream to National Treasure: The Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 05/08/19 by Laura Stark, Brandi Horton in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Tourism and Economic Development, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

When complete, the Great American Rail-Trail will span more than 3,700 miles across 12 states and the District of Columbia—connecting Washington, D.C., and Washington State, and highlighting some of America’s most pristine geography, iconic landmarks and renowned cultural treasures in hundreds of communities along the route.

From Toxic Site to Thriving Rail-Trail: Montana's Silver Bow Creek Greenway

Posted 04/20/19 by Scott Stark in Building Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Design Strategies, Ecology and Environment, Featured Magazine Articles, Montana, Rural Communities

By the early 20th century, Butte, Montana, was already being called the richest hill on Earth, an acknowledgement of the nearly inconceivable amounts of ore being mined there. In 1910 alone, 284 million pounds of copper ore were extracted from the Butte area. “Butte electrified America,” said Dori Skrukrud, the community development coordinator for the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow. “Butte provided the metals to win world wars. But it paid a significant price.”

10-Mile Developing Trail Project in Burlington County, New Jersey to Provide New Bike-Ped Connections for Thousands

Posted 04/16/19 by Matthew Horne in Building Trails | Tagged with Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, New Jersey, RTC in Action, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Washington

Since May 2012, a broad coalition of nonprofits, trail groups, foundations and agencies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey has been working to create an 800-mile interconnected trail network to provide new opportunities for recreation, commuting and commerce—and make New Jersey a more welcoming place to live, work and play. Today, more than 300+ miles are complete—and the number of Circuit Trails grows each year, thanks to the efforts of local communities who are investing in the strength and potential of the region.

Notice: Upcoming Railroad Abandonment in Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Posted 04/09/19 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Abandonment Notices, Corridors and Railbanking, Oklahoma

Maryland Communities Are Hungry for Trails—and the Maryland General Assembly Can Help

Posted 02/27/19 by Patrick Wojahn in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, Local Organizing, Maryland, State and Federal Programs, TrailNation

With several landmark trail networks in progress, the State of Maryland is poised to serve as a nationwide example for other states. Marylanders are increasingly recognizing the benefits of trails for health, transportation and economic development. And many communities in the “Old Line State”—whether in the I-95 corridor’s suburban and urban areas, the fields of the Eastern Shore or the mountainous Western panhandle—are developing trail master plans and investing in trail networks.

Southeast Trail Planning Open House

Posted 02/12/19 by Avery Harmon in Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Blog

As you might have read in our initial blog post, we hosted a trail design happy hour on Jan. 31 at Monument City Brewing Company to talk about the southeast section of the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network. We showcased the great work being completed by one of our newest coalition partners, the American Institute of Architects Baltimore – Urban Design Committee (AIA UDC), in addition to inviting the city departments of Planning and Recreation & Parks to share information on their respective efforts to create a greener Baltimore. By the end of the happy hour, we counted close to 100 people from all over the city who showed up to learn about our recent progress and how they can get involved. This event was so successful as a direct result of our overwhelming community support and our incredible co-hosts at the Southeast Community Development Corporation (CDC)!

A View From … The Great American Rail-Trail

Posted 01/23/19 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, District Of Columbia, Featured Magazine Articles, Great American Rail-Trail, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, TrailNation, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

Imagine what’s possible with a trail that connects the country. Imagine ... pedaling across the entire country on a safe, seamless and scenic pathway—or walking a local trail that connects along historic routes. That vision will become a reality thanks to the Great American Rail-Trail, a signature project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and the organization’s most ambitious TrailNation™ project yet.

Notice: Upcoming Railroad Abandonment in Fremont County, Idaho

Posted 12/31/18 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Abandonment Notices, Corridors and Railbanking, Idaho

On or about Dec. 21, 2018, Eastern Idaho Railroad L.L.C. filed for the abandonment of 5 miles of track between Parker and Egin, Fremont County, Idaho. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

Missouri Trail Patron and Conservationist Pat Jones Passes Away at 93

Posted 12/19/18 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Champions, Missouri, Rail-Trail Champion, Rural Communities

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was deeply saddened to learn that Hilda P. Jones—known to family members, friends and colleagues as “Pat,” passed away on Dec. 17 at her home in Williamsburg, Missouri. Pat and her husband the late Edward Jones, who died in 1990, are known for their important contributions to the conservation movement, including supporting the creation of two epic rail-trails in Missouri: the 240-mile Katy Trail State Park and the developing 144-mile Rock Island Trail.