Government Agencies

Ohio to Erie Trail | Photo by Eric Oberg, courtesy RTC

Ohio’s Year of the Trails: Three Major Trail Developments in the Buckeye State

Posted 11/14/18 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in America's Trails | Tagged with Repairs and Trail Safety, Demand for Trails, Equity, Funding, Government Agencies, Health and Active Living, IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Communities, TrailsTransform, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

It’s officially the Year of the Trails in Ohio, and the Buckeye State is building significant momentum on trail projects, from Cleveland to Cincinnati and beyond. These projects are showing how cities and entire regions can leverage the impact of existing trails to create trail "spines," and biking and walking networks that connect people and places—providing safe and healthy ways to get outdoors, while generating new economic opportunities that revitalize neighborhoods and communities.

2017 Opening Day for Trails celebration on the Circuit Trails | Photo by Lauren Lenko

Exit the TIGER, Enter BUILD: What Does It Mean for Trails?

Posted 04/24/18 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Facts and FIgures, Federal, Funding, Government Agencies, Partnership for Active Transportation, State and Federal Programs, TrailNation, TrailsTransform

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a new program, BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development), which replaces the wildly popular TIGER program and also seeks to pursue many of the principles in the White House infrastructure plan on a small scale. Here’s what these changes mean for trails and the future of walking and biking investment.

A Prescription for Congress: Invest in Transportation That Meets Americans' Needs

Posted 02/13/18 by Kevin Mills in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Facts and FIgures, Federal, Funding, Government Agencies, Mode Shift, Partnership for Active Transportation, Private Fundraising, State and Federal Programs, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability

President Trump released his proposal for federal policy to build—and rebuild—our nation’s infrastructure. More infrastructure investment could be great for America, but only if it is invested in a balanced transportation system that meets the evolving needs of 21st-century America. Balanced transportation means investing in maintenance for our roads and bridges. It means investing in public transit and rail systems.

Trail Geek Terminology (A Cheat-Sheet to Satisfy Your Inner Wonk)

Posted 01/29/18 by Amy Kapp in Policy, Building Trails | Tagged with Corridors and Railbanking, Design Strategies, Facts and FIgures, Federal, Government Agencies, History Happened Here, Legal Issues, Mode Shift, Recreational Trails Program, TrailsTransform, Transportation Alternatives, Walkability and Bikeability

RTC's put together this little trail-geek cheat sheet so that we can all bone up on our trail and active-transportation policy speak.

Photo by Ada Hao, Courtesy RTC

First Glimpses of Infrastructure Proposal Trickle Out: Here's What It Could Mean for America's Trails

Posted 01/25/18 by Kevin Mills in Policy, America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Cross-Sector Collaboration, Federal, Funding, Government Agencies, Partnership for Active Transportation, TrailsTransform, Walkability and Bikeability

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump promoted an idea that nearly all Americans agree on: Fund infrastructure to revitalize America’s crumbling roads, railways, water systems and more. Since then, RTC has been closely tracking the prospect of an infrastructure bill to maximize opportunities for trails, walking and biking.

1432nd Engineering Company on the Iron Range Trail in Michigan | Photo by Master Sgt. Ron Raflik, Michigan National Guard

Michigan National Guard Lends a Hand in Unique Rail-Trail Partnership

Posted 12/23/15 by Katie Harris in Building Trails | Tagged with Government Agencies, Maintenance and Volunteers, Michigan

Several years ago, the 1432nd Engineering Company of the Michigan National Guard was in a bit of a pinch. The newly trained horizontal engineering company needed a place to put their skills to practice, but the closest military facility was 300 miles away. So, they hit the trails.

Photo © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Ada Hao

Putting Safety First: U.S. DOT Takes Major Step Forward to Prioritize Safety for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Posted 09/15/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Government Agencies, Safety and Law Enforcement, State and Federal Programs

Last week, U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the department’s new plan to increase walking and biking and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. The initiative seeks to improve safety by supporting better infrastructure for walking and bicycling, and providing research and tools for local governments and advocates.

Photo © Zachary Marsh

Putting It All Together: How One Pennsylvania Agency Is Turning Community Trail Visions into Reality

Posted 09/04/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Demand for Trails, Government Agencies, Pennsylvania, State and Federal Programs

For many, government agencies represent a land of endless bureaucracy, where dreams of new trails wither, bogged down by mountains of paperwork and red tape. Not so at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which has played a key role in creating new trails for over two decades. To date, Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 miles of trails.