Policy

How Funding for Trails Moves America: 5 Trails Funded by TIGER

Posted 08/22/17 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy | Tagged with Arkansas, Case Studies, District Of Columbia, Federal, Funding, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Private Fundraising, State and Federal Programs, Success Stories, Trail Destinations

Tampa Riverwalk, funded by a TIGER grant | Photo courtesy Matthew Paulson | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The federal TIGER program has funded more than $340 million in projects for trails, walking and biking to date—making it a powerful resource for those who want to create multimodal transportation choices in their communities for those who cannot or choose not to drive. Through the leveraging of additional federal, state, local and even private philanthropic sources, the highly competitive program (which also funds highway, freight rail, transit and maritime projects) promotes interplay between all levels of government and the private sector and strikes a good deal for federal transportation investments.

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Mount Vernon Trail in Northern Virginia | Photo by Milo Bateman

Trail Policy 2017: The Latest Reports from Washington

Posted 08/17/17 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs

When Congress returns after Labor Day with 12 legislative days left in the fiscal year, there will be a lot on the agenda! In this video, Leeann Sinpatanasakul and Patrick Wojahn—Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s advocacy manager and director of government relations, respectively—break down what’s in store for trails.

New River Trail State Park, Virginia | Photo by Tom Bilcze

Moving the Dial: RTC Celebrates 30 Years of Impact

Posted 08/15/17 by Brandi Horton in America's Trails, Building Trails, Success Stories, Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Best Of, Case Studies, Facts and FIgures, RTC in Action, Success Stories, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

For three decades, we have served as the national voice for trails, establishing a movement and setting the precedent that rail-trails are need-to-have community assets. As we build momentum, it’s a great time to pause and reflect on our achievements—and those of the rail-trail movement—summarized in RTC’s recently released 2016 Annual Report.

Napa Valley Vine Trail in California | Photo courtesy TrailLink.com/tommyonbike

California Ups the Ante With Billion-Dollar Active Transportation Plan

Posted 06/05/17 by Laura Cohen, Andrew Dupuy in Policy | Tagged with California, Cross-Sector Collaboration, Funding, State and Federal Programs

On the tail of a historic three-year funding ride for biking and walking projects, California upped the ante this spring by announcing a $1 billion increase to its innovative Active Transportation Program (ATP) over the next decade.

Photo courtesy Gareth Milner | CC BY 2.0

White House Budget Sets Troublesome Tone for Trails

Posted 05/24/17 by Kevin Mills, Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Partnership for Active Transportation, State and Federal Programs

Yesterday, the president released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. While White House budget proposals are little more than agenda-setting exercises—and many in Congress have said that this one is dead on arrival—the agenda it aims to set would not be good for trails, walking and biking.

Photo courtesy Tim Tai | CC BY-NC 2.0

Secretary Foxx’s Parting Gift for Trails and Active Transportation Could Impact America

Posted 03/02/17 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

In the waning hours of his time as secretary of transportation, Anthony Foxx issued a regulation that could, if implemented, be a true gift to cyclists and pedestrians around the country. The regulation—which was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—integrates multiple recommendations from the trail community to ensure biking and walking are considered when measuring the effectiveness of our transportation system. Here’s a quick recap!

Photo courtesy Gage Skidmore | CC BY-SA 2.0

Trump’s Speech to Congress: More Talk on Infrastructure

Posted 03/01/17 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

With the promise of a “new program on national rebuilding,” President Trump reinforced his intention to push for a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure in his Feb. 28 speech to Congress. He pointed to crumbling infrastructure as his motivator alongside worries he’s previously expressed about potholes and tiles falling from the ceilings of tunnels.

Photo courtesy Mac H (media601) | CC BY-SA 2.0

Rail-Trail Community Fixes an Eye on Statewide Trail Programs

Posted 02/15/17 by Andrew Dupuy in Policy | Tagged with California, Florida, Funding, Minnesota, RTC in Action, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

While much attention has been focused on Washington, D.C. in the past month, our nation’s state capitals have been busy, as well. Forty-eight state legislatures are already in session, and all but one will be in session in the coming weeks. States are important sources of funding for trails, walking and biking—as well as occasional threats.

Seattle's first downtown protected bike lane, opened in September 2014 | Photo courtesy Seattle Department of Transportation | CC by 2.0

Op-Ed: How Secretary Chao Can Save Lives in Active Communities

Posted 02/13/17 by Amy Kapp in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Safety and Law Enforcement, Transportation and Health

Last week, in an opinion piece in The Hill, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Senior Vice President of Policy, Kevin Mills, weighed in on the confirmation of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao with a specific call to action: Focus on pedestrians and bicyclists in efforts to create a safer transportation system.

Photo Courtesy Adam Coppola Photography

New Congress, New President: What’s Ahead for Trails?

Posted 01/24/17 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

This is a significant time for America. The 115th Congress is underway, and a new administration is taking its place in Washington, D.C. On the heels of what has arguably been the most divisive presidential election in modern history, there is much uncertainty about what’s to come, including for active transportation—trails, walking and biking.