Capital Trails Coalition

Atlantic Greenway South Beach Trail, part of the Miami LOOP | Photo by Lee Smith

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Awards $300,000+ to Support Inclusive Trail Projects Across the Nation

Posted 11/14/22 by Mary Ellen Koontz in Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Capital Trails Coalition, Circuit Trails, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Miami LOOP, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action

RTC has awarded a combined $300,000+ in grants to 25 organizations working in rural, suburban and urban communities across the country as part of the 2022 Trail Grants program.

Washington, D.C.'s Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge | Photo by James Heilig

Trail Moments | A Journey Along the Anacostia River Trail

Posted 09/29/22 by James Heilig in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Biking, Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, ebike, Trail Destinations, Trail Moments, Trail Use Tips, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

As a longtime resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, I watched as the Anacostia River Trail (ART) was expanded and finally completed. It meanders along the Anacostia River from Bladensburg, Maryland, to D.C.’s Wharf area, about 12 miles one way. This is my favorite local trail—and it’s only 2 miles from my house!

Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Branch Trail | Photo by India Kea

Top 10 Trails in Washington, DC

Posted 12/02/21 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Great American Rail-Trail, Top10, Trail Destinations, TrailNation

It’s to be expected that our nation’s capital would contain some of the most renowned landmarks and green spaces in America—connecting us to our history and heritage, and celebrating the many people and diverse cultures that make up America. But D.C. has a lot treasures to discover—not least of which are its rail-trails and multiuse pathways, which provide linkages, large and small, to many of the communities, rich recreational opportunities and iconic places and spaces D.C. is known for. What’s more: D.C.’s trails are playing a key role in the Capital Trails Coalition, which is in the process of connecting the entire metropolitan region with an equitably distributed 800-mile trail network!

Washington's Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail in part of the Great American Rail-Trail | Photo by TrailLink user scfroehlich

2021 RTC Fall Trail Grants Supporting Equitable Trail Access Around the Nation

Posted 11/17/21 by Mary Ellen Koontz in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, Connected Systems, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Miami LOOP, Route of the Badger, TrailNation

On Nov. 17, RTC announced the recipients of over $300,000 in grants as part of the 2021 Trail Grants Program. These grants were given to 45 organizations around the country to advance trail projects in their communities as part of TrailNation™ networks and along the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail™.

Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Photo by Jake Lynch

New USDOT Report Provides 25 Years of Lessons Learned for Rails-with-Trails

Posted 06/25/21 by Kelly Pack in America's Trails | Tagged with Capital Trails Coalition, Circuit Trails, Federal, Rail-with-Trail, Success Stories, TrailNation, Walkability and Bikeability

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released Rails-with-Trails: Best Practices and Lessons Learned—a long-awaited update to its first release, published in 2002. Offering in-depth insights on the design, development, operations and benefits of rails-with-trails in America, the report has served as an authoritative resource for trail builders for nearly two decades.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton delivering her keynote remarks at the May 8, 2019, launch of the Great American Rail-Trail in Washington, D.C. | Courtesy RTC

Rail-Trail Champion Eleanor Holmes Norton on Linking the Nation by Trail

Posted 01/28/21 by Brandi Horton, Cory Matteson in Success Stories, Policy | Tagged with Capital Trails Coalition, Champions, Rail-Trail Champion

For her long-standing efforts to support trail networks in her native Washington, D.C., and across the United States, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has named Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) America’s 2020 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion.

Photo by India Kea

Looking Back, With Gratitude, on a Year of Challenges and Triumphs for Trails

Posted 12/23/20 by Amy Kapp, Paola Tejada Lalinde in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, COVID-19, Federal, Funding, Great American Rail-Trail, IHTC, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, Trail Moments, TrailNation, Why Use Trails?

As 2020 draws to a close—a year of extreme changes and challenges—it is with incredible appreciation that we reflect on the collective impact of our movement across the country.

Anacostia River views from the trail | Photo by Joe Flood

Washington, D.C., and Maryland’s Anacostia River Trail

Posted 08/13/20 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Heritage and Restoration, History Happened Here, Maryland, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, TrailNation

Just beyond the iconic monuments and museums that make up the central core of Washington, D.C., lies one of the area’s best kept secrets: the Anacostia River Trail, a 20-mile route along the city’s eastern waterway that offers an extraordinary tapestry of experiences on its journey to Bladensburg, Maryland.

Baltimore, MD | Photo by Side A Photography

What We Mean When We Say We Are “Standing Against Racism”

Posted 06/10/20 by Ryan Chao in Taking Action | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, Circuit Trails, COVID-19, Equity, Route of the Badger, TrailNation

When we spoke out in response to the troubling and damaging displays of racism and violence against Black people these past few weeks, we heard from many of you standing in solidarity. But we also got many questions—about the prevalence of experiences of inequity and injustice in the outdoors as well as what we’re doing about it.

Connectivity Evolution: Examining a Decade of Rails-to-Trails’ Impact, 2010–2020

Posted 12/31/19 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Great American Rail-Trail, History Happened Here, IHTC, Miami LOOP, Recreational Trails Program, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Transportation Alternatives, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Here’s a look at RTC and a decade of rail-trails—their power and their impact. As the 2010s built momentum, opportunities to maximize the power of these essential community assets became clear, and a new focus took hold at RTC and across the movement: that of regional connectivity and, ultimately, connecting the country by trail like never before. Check out RTC's connectivity evolution over the past decade.

Historic Battlefield Trail | Photo by Mark Lehmann

Find Out Why These Eight Urban Trails Are Perfect for On-Foot Exploration

Posted 04/22/19 by Suzanne Matyas, Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Best Of, California, Capital Trails Coalition, Caracara, Circuit Trails, Connected Systems, District Of Columbia, Florida, IHTC, Maryland, Miami LOOP, Pennsylvania, Route of the Badger, Texas, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, TrailNation, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability, Wisconsin

Whether you’re venturing to a new city or finally getting around to playing the tourist in your own backyard, walking can connect you in a unique and unequalled way. As a pedestrian, you’re able to access areas motorized vehicles cannot, meet the people that make up a community, experience nature and really immerse yourself in your surroundings.