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Photo by Ada Hao, courtesy RTC

A Message to President Trump and Congress: Trails Transform Our Nation

Posted 01/17/18 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Bike Commuting, Biking, California, Connected Systems, Federal, Florida, Funding, Kentucky, Miami LOOP, Pennsylvania, TrailsTransform, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability, West Virginia

President Donald J. Trump is on the verge of releasing his principles for a bill to fund infrastructure over the next 10 years. He and his top officials have already given some clues about what the bill will include, but one thing we have yet to see is the role that trails will play.

Great Shasta Rail Trail | Photo by Christina Schmidlin with Hellikon, courtesy Great Shasta Rail Trail Association

A View From … The National Trails System

Posted 01/03/18 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, California, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Ecology and Environment, Encouraging Trail Use, Federal, History Happened Here, Legal Issues, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Success Stories, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trails of the World, Virginia, Walkability and Bikeability, Washington, Wild and Wonderful, Wisconsin

In 2018, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act, which provided an incredible legacy for all Americans. Five of these iconic American experiences are listed below along with rail-trails that weave in and around them.

Brent Hugh, executive director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, speaks at the rally. | Photo by Brandi Horton

Six Ways RTC Made a Difference for Trails This Year

Posted 11/30/17 by Brandi Horton in America's Trails, Building Trails, Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Baltimore Greenway Trails Coalition, BATC, Best Of, California, Circuit Trails, Encouraging Trail Use, Equity, Facts and FIgures, Florida, Funding, Local Organizing, Mapping and Technology, Maryland, Miami LOOP, Missouri, Route of the Badger, RTC in Action, State and Federal Programs, Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, Walkability and Bikeability

As 2017 draws to a close, here’s a look back at six ways RTC made a difference for trails. Through our work, we witness trails strengthening economies, putting people first when it comes to mobility, promoting health and protecting our environment.

Cleveland's Hope Memorial Bridge on the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail | Photo by Paul F. Neumann

It’s Ohio’s “Year of the Trails”—and Big Things Are Happening. (Here Are Six.)

Posted 11/06/17 by Brian K. Housh in America's Trails, Building Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Connected Systems, Demand for Trails, Equity, Federal, Funding, Health and Active Living, IHTC, Ohio, State and Federal Programs, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Walkability and Bikeability

Here’s a brief overview of just six trail projects that are moving the dial in the Buckeye State. This fall kicked off Ohio’s Year of the Trails, and with so many trail networks under development, there is definitely cause for both celebration and promotion of these vital assets.

Photo by Amy Kapp, courtesy RTC

Ohio Legislative Trails Caucus Helps Kick Off Ohio’s “Year of the Trails”

Posted 11/06/17 by Brian K. Housh in America's Trails, Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Community Events, Demand for Trails, Funding, IHTC, Local Organizing, Ohio, State and Federal Programs, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, TrailNation, TrailsTransform, Why Use Trails?

This fall 2017 kicks off Ohio’s Year of the Trails, so named by the state legislature, and with multiple trail networks under development—at the local, cross-state and even interstate levels—there is definite cause for celebration.

Tampa Riverwalk, funded by a TIGER grant | Photo courtesy Matthew Paulson | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

How Funding for Trails Moves America: 5 Trails Funded by TIGER

Posted 08/22/17 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in America's Trails, Success Stories, Policy | Tagged with Arkansas, Case Studies, District Of Columbia, Federal, Funding, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Private Fundraising, State and Federal Programs, Success Stories, Trail Destinations, Transportation Alternatives

The federal TIGER program has funded more than $340 million in projects for trails, walking and biking to date—making it a powerful resource for those who want to create multimodal transportation choices in their communities for those who cannot or choose not to drive. Through the leveraging of additional federal, state, local and even private philanthropic sources, the highly competitive program (which also funds highway, freight rail, transit and maritime projects) promotes interplay between all levels of government and the private sector and strikes a good deal for federal transportation investments.

Mount Vernon Trail in Northern Virginia | Photo by Milo Bateman

Trail Policy 2017: The Latest Reports from Washington

Posted 08/17/17 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs

When Congress returns after Labor Day with 12 legislative days left in the fiscal year, there will be a lot on the agenda! In this video, Leeann Sinpatanasakul and Patrick Wojahn—Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s advocacy manager and director of government relations, respectively—break down what’s in store for trails.

Napa Valley Vine Trail in California | Photo courtesy TrailLink.com/tommyonbike

California Ups the Ante With Billion-Dollar Active Transportation Plan

Posted 06/05/17 by Laura Cohen, Andrew Dupuy in Policy | Tagged with California, Cross-Sector Collaboration, Funding, State and Federal Programs

On the tail of a historic three-year funding ride for biking and walking projects, California upped the ante this spring by announcing a $1 billion increase to its innovative Active Transportation Program (ATP) over the next decade.

Photo courtesy Gareth Milner | CC BY 2.0

White House Budget Sets Troublesome Tone for Trails

Posted 05/24/17 by Kevin Mills, Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Funding, Partnership for Active Transportation, RAISE, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs

Yesterday, the president released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. While White House budget proposals are little more than agenda-setting exercises—and many in Congress have said that this one is dead on arrival—the agenda it aims to set would not be good for trails, walking and biking.

Photo courtesy Tim Tai | CC BY-NC 2.0

Secretary Foxx’s Parting Gift for Trails and Active Transportation Could Impact America

Posted 03/02/17 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

In the waning hours of his time as secretary of transportation, Anthony Foxx issued a regulation that could, if implemented, be a true gift to cyclists and pedestrians around the country. The regulation—which was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—integrates multiple recommendations from the trail community to ensure biking and walking are considered when measuring the effectiveness of our transportation system. Here’s a quick recap!