Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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.

Congress on Trails: Next Steps for Transportation Legislation

Posted 09/17/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Funding, Recreational Trails Program, RTC in Action, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives, 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.

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.

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

Posted 08/04/15 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Funding, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives, 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, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives, 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.

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

Posted 06/23/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Funding, Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Alternatives, 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!

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

Posted 06/08/15 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 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.

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

What’s Next for Michigan’s Trails?

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

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?

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 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Policy | Tagged with Funding, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives

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.

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