Policy Page 5

Oh, How Far We’ve Come: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Celebrates 30 Years

Posted 01/12/16 by Keith Laughlin in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Connected Systems, RTC in Action

Heritage Rail-Trail County Park in York, Pennsylvania, inducted into RTC's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2015 | Photo by Carl Knoch

When Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) opened its doors in 1986, we were aware of 250 miles of open rail-trail in America. Today, there are more than 21,000 miles enjoyed by tens of millions of Americans every year. As RTC celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2016, President Keith Laughlin takes time to ponder the success of the rail-trail movement by providing us with a quick glimpse back and future-forward look at its evolution.

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Capital Crescent Trail | Photo by Barbara Richey

Potential New Funding for Trails in 2016 Budget Bill

Posted 12/23/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

Last Friday, President Obama signed the omnibus budget bill into law, which lays out funding for the remainder of the 2016 fiscal year. The bill funds two programs that offer potential resources for trails: the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

Photo by Adam Coppola Photography

New Bill Maintains Federal Funding; Creates New Opportunities to Connect Trails

Posted 12/02/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Funding, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health

On Dec. 1, Congress released the text of what is expected to be the final version of a five-year transportation bill, the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act. The verdict is in: Trails, walking and biking are here to stay as part of America’s transportation system.

Oslo, Norway | Photo by Moyan Brenn | CC by 2.0

7 Cities Worldwide That Are Starting to Go Car Free

Posted 11/19/15 by Momentum Mag in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Best Of, Walkability and Bikeability

Inspired by Bogotá’s Ciclovia, an extremely popular weekly car-free event, a growing number of cities and towns around the world have been implementing their own car-free events. Some are even taking it step further, and moving toward a near future when private automobile traffic is significantly reduced in a permanent way. Here are seven cities around the world making great strides to reduce the number of cars on their roads.

Photo courtesy ehpien | CC by 2.0

House Passes Transportation Bill, Trails Well Positioned for Next Steps

Posted 11/05/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Federal, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

In a show of bipartisan cooperation among Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a long-term surface transportation bill that maintains funding for trails, walking and biking at current levels. The bill also includes policy changes championed by RTC to make innovative financing accessible to build trail and active-transportation networks.

Photo by Katie Harris/RTC

House Committee Passes Multiyear Transportation Bill

Posted 11/03/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Funding, State and Federal Programs

On Oct. 22, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives approved a new transportation funding bill, H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRRA). UPDATE (11/3/15): Unfortunately, as anticipated, amendments have been filed in advance of this week’s floor debate in an attempt to eliminate a critical trails program and limit funding for safe places to walk and bike.

New York City DOT Safety City (traffic and pedestrian safety) class | Photo courtesy NYCDOT | CC by 2.0

A Good Place for Everyone to Walk

Posted 10/29/15 by Jay Walljasper in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Disparities and Underserved Communities, Health and Active Living, Walkability and Bikeability

Walking is a powerful tool to change the world as well as a fundamental human right. To be restrained from free movement is a denial of our liberties and a betrayal of American ideals. Yet many disadvantaged people now think twice before traveling on foot due to dangerous traffic, street crime or a lack of stores and public places within walking distance, which heightens serious problems of poor health, limited transportation options and overall disillusionment in their communities.

John Wayne Pioneer Trail Tekoa Trestle | Photo courtesy AlbertaScrambler | CC by 2.0

Proposed Closure to John Wayne Pioneer Trail Stalled—For Now

Posted 10/09/15 by Laura Cohen in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Threats to Trail Building, Washington

Several weeks ago, Washington state representatives of District 9—Rep. Mary Dye and Rep. Joe Schmick—announced their intent to introduce legislation in January that would not only close a section of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, but give away the state-owned trail corridor to adjacent landowners. The section in question lies in eastern Washington, extending approximately 130 miles from Malden to the Columbia River. Here's the latest on this issue.

Tidelands Park along the Bayshore Bikeway in San Diego, Calif. | Photo courtesy SANDAG

Round 2 of Calif. Statewide Active Trans. Program Yields $60 Million for Trails

Posted 09/21/15 by Laura Cohen in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with BATC, California, Funding, State and Federal Programs

Twenty-nine trail projects in California have been recommended for funding in the second round of California’s 2015 Active Transportation Program (ATP), the largest single funding source for biking, walking and trails in the state.

Photo courtesy Dianne Yee | CC by 2.0

Congress on Trails: Next Steps for Transportation Legislation

Posted 09/17/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Funding, RTC in Action, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

Congress is back in session, having returned from a month-long August recess, and the future of funding for trails, walking and biking hangs in the balance. Read how you can get involved in the fight to ensure strong federal support for bike/ped programs.

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.