Policy Page 6

What’s Next for Michigan’s Trails?

Posted 05/12/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Michigan, Walkability and Bikeability

Sanford Railroad Bridge, Pere Marquette Rail-Trail in Michigan | Photo courtesy C Hanchey | CC by 2.0

On May 5, 2015, voters in Michigan made their voices clear: Although many believe that the roads and other transportation infrastructure are a mess, the complicated Proposal 1, which would have increased both the fuel tax and sales tax to fund maintenance and improvements, while maintaining funding for schools and essential municipal services, was not the answer. So what's next?

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21,000 Voices Tell Congress to Support Federal Bike/Ped Funding

Posted 04/20/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Transportation and Health

The current federal surface transportation bill will expire on May 31, 2015, and now is the ideal time for supporters of trails, walking and biking to have your say! On Thursday of last week, RTC delivered a petition to Congress urging them to support federal funding in the next bill for trails, biking and walking, with nearly 21,000 signatures from supporters all across America.

Saginaw Valley Rail Trail in Michigan | Photo courtesy Bubba Miller | CC by 2.0

How Could Michigan's Proposition 1 Impact Walking and Biking?

Posted 04/08/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy | Tagged with Funding, Michigan, Walkability and Bikeability

If you live in Michigan, chances are you’ve heard about Proposition 1, a transportation funding proposal that will be on the ballot on May 5, 2015. You may also know the reason why the investment from this proposal is necessary. The state’s roads are not just bad but outright dangerous. So what does this proposal have to do with trails, and why should you vote yes for it? Here's why.

The Burke-Gilman Trail in Washington is used by more than 2,000 people each day. | Photo courtesy University of Washington

What Does Obama’s Grow America Act Mean for Trails?

Posted 04/03/15 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Funding, State and Federal Programs

On March 30, 2015, the Obama Administration released the latest version of the GROW America Act, intended to fund surface transportation for the next six years. Here's how this act could affect trails and bike/ped projects across the country.

Poll Reveals Broad Support for Federal Investment in Biking and Walking

Posted 12/10/14 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Federal, Walkability and Bikeability

In September, RTC engaged leading Republican and Democratic pollsters to find out what likely 2016 voters for both parties really thought about the federal role in encouraging active transportation. The remarkable poll findings are an important tool for trail builders and supporters as they continue to fight back attacks against trail funding.

Photo courtesy Sarah Clark Stuart

Leveraging Federal Dollars to Create a Regional Legacy

Posted 09/29/14 by Sarah Clark Stuart in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Pennsylvania, State and Federal Programs

In early October, the Philadelphia region will celebrate the opening of the 0.75-mile-long Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. This trail, which is built along the east side of the Schuylkill River, is the final in a set of trail segments funded by federal dollars in 2010 that sparked an incredible amount of interest, enthusiasm and prioritization of other trail projects around the region.

Photo © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Ada Hao

Putting Safety First: U.S. DOT Takes Major Step Forward to Prioritize Safety for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Posted 09/15/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Government Agencies, Safety and Law Enforcement, State and Federal Programs

Last week, U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the department’s new plan to increase walking and biking and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. The initiative seeks to improve safety by supporting better infrastructure for walking and bicycling, and providing research and tools for local governments and advocates.

Photo © Zachary Marsh

Putting It All Together: How One Pennsylvania Agency Is Turning Community Trail Visions into Reality

Posted 09/04/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Government Agencies, Pennsylvania, State and Federal Programs

For many, government agencies represent a land of endless bureaucracy, where dreams of new trails wither, bogged down by mountains of paperwork and red tape. Not so at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which has played a key role in creating new trails for over two decades. To date, Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 miles of trails.