Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Photo of Iowa Heritage trail flood damage © Dubuque County Conservation Board

Bouncing Back: After Big Storms, Trail Groups Respond

Posted 08/27/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers

It's been a wild 18 months, weather-wise, on America's rail-trails. From snowstorms in Vermont to flooding in Iowa (right) and tornados in Alabama, severe weather events across the country wrought havoc on trails, bridges, woodlands and watersheds, and stretched to the limit the resources and resilience of the people who manage and maintain them.

Community Mapping Helps Detroit Take Back the Neighborhoods

Posted 08/23/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Champions, Mapping and Technology, Michigan, Urban Pathways

In addition to his work running an Earn-a-Bike program in the Osborn neighborhood (funded by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Metropolitan Grants Program - a partnership with The Coca Cola Foundation), Scott has been busy using Google's open source platform to make a comprehensive map of bike friendly routes across Detroit.

Good News Mixed With the Not-So-Good in Massachusetts

Posted 08/22/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Massachusetts, State and Federal Programs

Inspired by the great success of its more famous rail-trails, such as the Minuteman and Shining Sea bikeways, and Cape Cod, Manhan, Nashua River and Norwottuck rail-trails, the state of Massachusetts is looking to further extend its network of non-motorized pathways.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Worth $646 Billion a Year

Posted 08/21/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use | Tagged with Case Studies, Facts and FIgures, Tourism and Economic Stimulus

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) this month released an economic study that found that outdoor recreation is one of America's fastest growing industries and a major job generator in both the manufacture and sale of equipment, but also in the American communities served by recreation amenities.

Maryland Taps Transportation Enhancements for Easton Rail Trail

Posted 08/16/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Maryland, State and Federal Programs

The Star Democrat wrote this week that Gov. Martin O'Malley had approved funding for the Easton Rail Spur Line project that will connect to the existing Easton Rail-Trail and extend the network another 2.3 miles.

Photo © Friends of the Weiser River Trail

With Little Backing From Municipalities, Volunteers Build Stunning Rail-Trail in Idaho

Posted 08/15/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Corridors and Railbanking, Idaho, Local Organizing, State and Federal Programs

In rural Idaho, Friends of the Weiser River Trail (FWRT) has been able to build and maintain an 85-mile rail-trail with no significant municipal or county backing. FWRT did all of the hard work themselves, encountering opposition from both county governments and private property owners along the way, several of whom filed lawsuits against the friends group.

Massachusetts Cheers as Work Begins on Northern Strand Community Trail

Posted 08/13/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Corridors and Railbanking, Massachusetts, State and Federal Programs, Statements of Support

The residents and businesspeople of Saugus, close to the Massachusetts coastline, are celebrating today with the long-awaited beginning of work on their section of the Northern Strand Community Trail.

A Simple Machine Opens Big Door for Kids in U.S. Cities

Posted 08/10/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use | Tagged with RTC in Action, Schools and Young People, Urban Pathways

Detroit knows what time it is. We love this great story at Mode Shift (right) about the Earn-a-Bike program Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is funding in Detroit's Osborn community.

Photo © San Antonio Express-News/Lisa Krantz

All Across Texas, Cities Boost Bike-ability

Posted 08/09/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use, Success Stories | Tagged with State and Federal Programs, Texas, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability

The times are a'changing in Texas. In centers like Denton, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Fort Worth, planners are recognizing the importance of bike (and pedestrian) infrastructure, and as a result, ridership and bike-inspired initiatives are on the up.

New TrailLink.com - Moving Fast With the High Tech World of Trail Mapping

Posted 08/08/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use | Tagged with Mapping and Technology, RTC in Action

When Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) launched our trail-finder website, TrailLink.com, way back in 2000, its uniqueness was based on a simple premise: Combine our own extensive trail experience with the input, reviews and photos of thousands of trail users around the country-and with all external submissions vetted by RTC's own expert staff. The result was a free trail-finder service unmatched in terms of coverage but also accuracy.

Rail-With-Trail Project Moves Ahead in Tennessee

Posted 08/07/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Rail-with-Trail, State and Federal Programs, Statements of Support, Tennessee

Great news from the city of Cookeville in central Tennessee with an exciting rail-with-trail project there moving through the stages of approval.

More Rail-Trail Miles a Key to Growth in Terre Haute, Ind.

Posted 08/06/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Health and Active Living, Indiana, Walkability and Bikeability

This weekend, the local newspaper for Terre Haute, Indiana, ran a terrific article examining the popularity of existing rail-trails and the potential to develop more underused rail corridors into public walking and biking pathways to solve a number of pressing transportation and connectivity issues.

TrailBlog Page 94