Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Montour Trail in Pennsylvania | Photo courtesy Jim Brown

30 Years: Birth and Evolution of the American Rail-Trail Movement

Posted 03/10/16 by Amy Kapp in Success Stories | Tagged with Celebrating 30 Years, Demand for Trails, Federal, Funding, History Happened Here, Recreational Trails Program

The U.S. rail-trail movement began not with a bang—but as an intriguing idea that quietly took hold in the Midwest in the 1960s and eventually spread across the country. Here's a brief history of the rail-trail movement and a glimpse of RTC's future focus on regional trail networks.

Napa Valley Vine Trail | Photo courtesy Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition

The Verdict Is In: California Approves $133 Million for Trails

Posted 02/26/16 by Laura Cohen in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with BATC, California, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

It was another great year for trails in California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP), the largest funding source for biking, walking and trails in the state. RTC recently learned that the California Transportation Commission has approved $133 million for 59 trail projects and separated bikeways in Cycle 2 of ATP.

Capital Crescent Trail | Photo by Barbara Richey

Potential New Funding for Trails in 2016 Budget Bill

Posted 12/23/15 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Federal, Funding, State and Federal Programs, Walkability and Bikeability

Last Friday, President Obama signed the omnibus budget bill into law, which lays out funding for the remainder of the 2016 fiscal year. The bill funds two programs that offer potential resources for trails: the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

New Bill Maintains Federal Funding; Creates New Opportunities to Connect Trails

Posted 12/02/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Funding, Recreational Trails Program, State and Federal Programs, Transportation Alternatives, Transportation and Health

On Dec. 1, Congress released the text of what is expected to be the final version of a five-year transportation bill, the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act. The verdict is in: Trails, walking and biking are here to stay as part of America’s transportation system.

House Passes Transportation Bill, Trails Well Positioned for Next Steps

Posted 11/05/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Federal, Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Alternatives, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

In a show of bipartisan cooperation among Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a long-term surface transportation bill that maintains funding for trails, walking and biking at current levels. The bill also includes policy changes championed by RTC to make innovative financing accessible to build trail and active-transportation networks.

House Committee Passes Multiyear Transportation Bill

Posted 11/03/15 by Kevin Mills in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Funding, State and Federal Programs

On Oct. 22, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives approved a new transportation funding bill, H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRRA). UPDATE (11/3/15): Unfortunately, as anticipated, amendments have been filed in advance of this week’s floor debate in an attempt to eliminate a critical trails program and limit funding for safe places to walk and bike.

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.

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

Posted 08/04/15 by Patrick Wojahn 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.

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

Posted 06/08/15 by Patrick Wojahn 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.

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.

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