Policy Page 5

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

Photo courtesy ehpien | CC by 2.0

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.

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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.

Photo courtesy RTC

Senate Passes “So-So” Federal Transportation Bill. What’s Next for Trails?

Posted 08/04/15 by Patrick Wojahn in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

After a lot of debate, the Senate recently passed two highly important transportation bills. One bill, already passed by the House of Representatives, is a short-term extension of current transportation law to prevent the Highway Trust Fund from running out of money. The other bill is a long-term reauthorization of the surface transportation funding bill (H.R. 22, or the DRIVE [Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy] Act) that would fund the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure for the next six years. So how do they affect trails?

Manhan Rail Trail in Massachusetts | Photo by Lynne Graves, courtesy Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism | CC by 2.0

Keeping an Eye on Federal Bike/Ped Spending: RTC Releases TrADE Report

Posted 07/30/15 by Tracy Hadden Loh in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Funding, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health

Every year, the Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TrADE @ RTC) compiles a spending report that provides transparency and valuable comparisons for people interested in transportation policy. This report breaks down the funds apportioned by state, as well as the funds states spent on projects that qualify for reimbursement (obligations) through TAP. The 2014 report was recently released; here are a few highlights.

Photo courtesy Wally Gobetz | CC by 2.0

Senate Bill Inadequately Funds Walking, Biking, but Provides Innovative Financing Options

Posted 06/23/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Funding, Walkability and Bikeability

On June 24, 2015, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will consider a bill that would freeze funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)—the biggest source of funding for walking and biking—for the next six years at a level wholly inadequate to meet burgeoning demand. The bill also would make low-interest loans available for smaller active-transportation projects. Learn how you can help, now!

Photo by Jon Lowenstein

Congress Extends Transportation Legislation Again; Attacks on Walking and Biking on the Rise

Posted 06/08/15 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Transportation and Health

At the end of May, the president signed an extension of MAP-21, the nation’s surface transportation law to fund roads, bridges, public transportation, and walking and biking projects, just as the current law was set to expire. The extension runs until July 31, 2015, when the Highway Trust Fund is expected to be depleted. Here's a closer look at what this could mean for trails, and biking and walking infrastructure.