Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

A New Day in California - Reason for Optimism, Work Still to Do

Posted 10/01/13 by Laura Cohen in Policy | Tagged with California, Private Fundraising, Products of Good Policy

After months of uncertainty over the future of transportation funding in California, Governor Jerry Brown last week signed into law an unprecedented integrated funding program that we feel, at this early stage, is a step in right direction.

New Mayor, New Energy for Building a Healthier Compton

Posted 09/27/13 by Rayna Gordon-Hellman in Policy | Tagged with California, Champions, Funding, Schools and Young People, Urban Pathways

Nowhere is the relevance and importance of this urban work better illustrated than in Compton, the city in south Los Angeles that has received far more attention for the bad rather than the good in recent years. But we see great things happening in south L.A., and continue to work with our local partners there so trails, biking and walking can contribute to the city's effort to rebound.

Photo © San Diego Association of Governments

One of California's Finest - San Diego Supervisor Greg Cox

Posted 09/23/13 by Laura Cohen in Policy | Tagged with California, Champions

No summary of the great trails, biking and walking activity in California would be complete without recognizing the remarkable contribution of San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox.

Recreational Trails Program - A Primer

Posted 09/13/13 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Federal, Products of Good Policy, State and Federal Programs

Since its creation in 1992, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) has been the cornerstone of America's trails movement. Funded primarily by gas taxes paid by users of off-road vehicles, over the past 20 years the RTP has enjoyed remarkable bipartisan support and has funded nonmotorized and motorized trails in every state. It remains one of the few federal sources dedicated to the construction and maintenance of trails.

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.

Sharing a Moment with the Transportation Secretary

Posted 07/29/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Products of Good Policy

There have been a lot of ups and downs in my 25 years of trails and transportation policy negotiations on The Hill. Although the rail-trail and active transportation movement has come a long way in that time, I must admit that these last few years have been particularly trying.

New Books Dig Into America's Most Pressing Questions

Posted 07/22/13 by Jake Lynch in Policy | Tagged with Case Studies, Facts and FIgures

The convergence of a number of modern crises - the unsustainability of current oil consumption levels, the poor health of the American population, the impacts of pollution and the decimation of local main streets - has sparked great interest of late in designing transportation and living systems that might work better than those America is currently laboring under.

Transportation Project Financing: Get Creative with Loans and Revenue Generation

Posted 07/10/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is leading the effort to provide education and resources related to MAP-21. In this blog series, we demonstrate how communities can leverage the programs funded by MAP-21. In our fourth post of this series, we examine innovative financing programs.

Foxx Appointment a Key Moment for Trails Advocates

Posted 07/02/13 by Keith Laughlin in Policy | Tagged with Federal

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is watching closely to see what the appointment of Anthony Foxx to the position of U.S. Secretary of Transportation will mean for our efforts to promote a transportation system that includes better options for biking and walking.

Virginia Uses Transportation Alternatives to Make the Most of Railroad Riches

Posted 06/27/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy, Success Stories | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, State and Federal Programs, Virginia

Geography and history gave the state of Virginia an abundance of railroad lines, many of which have fallen into disuse as the patterns of industry through the Appalachian Mountain region changed so much in the last century.

Tapping Into TIGER Funds for Trail Projects

Posted 06/24/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

In 2012, the U.S. Congress adopted a new bill to govern surface transportation programs through September 2014. That bill, referred to now as MAP-21, provides opportunities for creative communities to develop good networks of trails and active transportation facilities. In our third post of this series, we examine the TIGER Program.

Photo © www.pedbikeimages.org/Dan Burden

The Prevention Fund: Smart Money For Local Programs. So Why is Congress Trying to Kill It?

Posted 06/14/13 by Kevin Mills in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Cross-Sector Collaboration, State and Federal Programs

Created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the Prevention Fund is the nation's first large dedicated source of funds for preventing health problems. As we see in the above examples, making it easier for people to regularly walk or bike is a simple but powerful preventative medicine. Thanks to the Prevention Fund, relatively small investments in promoting walking and biking are saving the nation many billions of dollars in future healthcare costs.

Policy Page 12