Skip to main content
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Access Membership Info DONATE RENEW
  • About Us
    • About
    • Equity
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Press
    • Finances
    • Careers
    • Contact
  • What We Do
    • Great American Rail-Trail
    • TrailNation: Connecting America's Trails
    • Advocating for Active Transportation
    • Securing Public Funding
    • Supporting Trail Builders
    • Protecting Trails & Corridors
    • Mapping Trails, GIS & Research
    • Grants
  • Experience Trails
    • Trail Use Tips
    • Celebrate Trails Day
    • Trail Moments
    • Hall of Fame
    • Rail-Trail Champions
    • The Magazine
    • Share the Trail
    • Trail Blog
  • Find Trails
  • Resources
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Resource Library
    • Trail-Building Toolbox
    • TrailNation Playbook
    • Webinars & Training
    • Federal Funding Quiz
    • State Policy Hub
    • Transportation Alternatives Data
    • Partnership For Active Transportation
    • Trail Stats by State
  • Store
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Learn about Membership
    • Renew Membership
    • Trailblazer Society
    • More Ways to Give
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/?category=policy
  • Home
  • Trailblog
  • policy

policy

California's San Diego Creek Trail | Photo by Kevin Belanger

First Transportation Alternatives Funding Cycle Since BIL Shows Room for Improvement

Posted 09/21/23 by Kim Chesser in Policy | Tagged with Equity, Federal, Funding, Transportation Alternatives

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) celebrated a 70% increase in funding alongside policy changes that support equity, connectivity and maintenance priorities.

Hal Hiemstra | Photo courtesy Summit Strategies, graphic by RTC

Remembering Hal

Posted 08/10/23 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Champions, RTC in Action

Hal Hiemstra was a pivotal figure in the active transportation movement and served as Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s vice president of national policy in the 1990s.

Herring Run Trail in Baltimore, MD | Photo by Side A Photography

The Critical Role of Active Transportation in the Federal Carbon Reduction Program

Posted 06/27/23 by Elle Segal in Policy | Tagged with Equity, Federal, Funding, Mode Shift, Transportation Alternatives

The Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), which provides $6.4 billion in formula funds over five years, and requires 65% of funds to be suballocated based on population.

Ohio's Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail | Photo by Jason Cohn

18 Months In: What's the Impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Trails, Walking and Biking?

Posted 06/23/23 by Elle Segal in Policy | Tagged with Equity, Federal, Funding, RAISE, Recreational Trails Program, RTC in Action, Transportation Alternatives

In the time since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has passed, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and partners know more about what’s possible and what work lies ahead following initial rounds of funding for many of the programs included.

Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail | Photo courtesy City of Monterey

Massive Investments in Trails to Connect Millions in California With Safe Community Paths

Posted 12/19/22 by Laura Cohen, Heather Irish in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with BATC, California, Connected Systems, Funding, State and Federal Programs, TrailNation

California approved a record-breaking $1.02 billion for walking, biking and trail projects that will benefit millions of people across the state through the state’s Active Transportation Program (ATP). Here’s what this means for the future of California trails—and the communities and destinations that they connect.

Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia | Photo by Milo Allerton

Putting Unprecedented Federal Funding for Trails and Active Transportation to Work

Posted 12/09/22 by Brandi Horton, Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, RAISE, TrailNation, Transportation Alternatives

The team at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has studied the ins and outs of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that includes about $1.44 billion in annual funding for Transportation Alternatives, and other breakthrough programs for trails, walking and bicycling—describing the BIL as a launching point to take the trail development movement to the next level, with work yet to be done.

Along the Wendy Park Bridge and Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail in Ohio | Courtesy Cleveland Metroparks

New Federal Funding for Safe Walking and Biking Routes Could Help Meet Booming Demand

Posted 09/12/22 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, RAISE

This summer, developments in federal funding for trails, walking and biking illustrated both the urgency communities are feeling to provide 1) safe and connected active-transportation infrastructure, and 2) more tangible opportunities to invest in the infrastructure their residents are demanding.

Courtesy Getty Images

Biden Administration Reestablishes Important Tool to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Posted 07/07/22 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Policy | Tagged with Ecology and Environment, Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs

RTC is urging all our supporters to once again weigh in with FHWA to say that trails matter, and that state DOTs should set goals and show if they are making progress toward a more sustainable transportation system by funding trails, walking and bicycling.

Courtesy Getty Images

No Car, No Problem: Connecting Car-less Americans to Opportunities

Posted 06/09/22 by Kevin Mills in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Mode Shift, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Many federal transportation policies and programs could help redesign communities to work better for walking, biking and transit. One standout opportunity is to “flex” Federal highway funds—such as Surface Transportation Program Block Grants—to transit for purposes of addressing last-mile connectivity to public transportation. Such transfers are attractive because tapping into flexible highway funding can accelerate efforts to meet growing needs for safe places to walk and bike while increasing use of transit services.

Herring Run Trail | Side A Photography

New Guidance for Transportation Alternatives: Transformative Funding for Trails, Walking and Biking

Posted 04/07/22 by Mary Ellen Koontz in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Federal, Funding, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives

Last week, the federal officials released new guidance on the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside. This guidance instructs state departments of transportation (DOTs) on how to implement the TA funding in alignment with policy changes included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connecting Iowa and Nebraska | Photo by TrailLink user thejake91739

Spring News from the State Legislatures

Posted 04/06/22 by Andrew Dupuy, Brian K. Housh in Policy | Tagged with California, Colorado, Funding, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, RAISE, South Carolina, State and Federal Programs, Virginia

Depending on where you live, this time of year may mean the prolonged dregs of winter, early signs of Spring, or some variation on “mud season.” But for most of the country—regardless of climate or geography—it’s also the height of the state legislative season. Most states’ general assemblies are part-time, and generally convene in the early part of each calendar year. All but a handful of states are currently in session. So what does this mean for trails and active transportation funding in states?

Indianapolis Cultural Trail | Photo by TrailLink user lunariver

USDOT’s Current RAISE Funding Opportunity Is Best Chance Yet to Secure Big Investments in Connected, Safe Walking and Biking Routes

Posted 02/08/22 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Federal, Funding, RAISE, TrailsTransform

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has invited applications for the next round of its competitive, multimodal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program (formerly known as TIGER under the Obama Administration and BUILD under the Trump Administration). This round promises to be your best chance yet to secure $5 million to $25 million to build your trail and other active-transportation connections, or a big planning grant to get your regional system ready.

Page 1 of 15

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • Last ≫
 Subscribe via RSS

Blog Categories

  • Taking Action
  • Building Trails
  • Policy
  • Trail Use
  • Success Stories
  • America's Trails
  • Health and Wellness

Most Popular

1. Exploring America's E-Bike Evolution (05/04/23)


2. Kara Patajo's Trail Moments: Discover Nature Where You Are (09/08/23)


3. 6 Tips to Share the Trail and Recreate Responsibly (08/29/23)


4. Plan These Top 10 Summer Trail Experiences With TrailLink (8/8/23)

Support the trails you love and donate
Subscribe


Sign up for eNews to get monthly updates on trail news, events and success stories from across the country.

SIGN UP FOR ENEWS

Find Your Trail with TrailLink

Rails to Trails Magazine

Subscribe to the RTC Magazine
Subscribe Today

Shop RTC's Trail Store

RTC Trail Shop

Guidebook Series

Plan your next trail adventure right from home! Get your choice of one of our 13 guidebooks with your support for the trails you love!

ORDER GUIDEBOOK

Join the Movement

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

National Headquarters:
2445 M Street, NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202.331.9696
  • Email
  • Contact Field Offices

Get Social With Us @railstotrails

Great American Rail-Trail
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's TrailNation
TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
  • Access Membership Info
  • Log in
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Join eNEWS
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2001-2023 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). All rights reserved.