Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

John Wayne Pioneer Trail | Photo courtesy TrailLink.com/Washington State DNR - Southeast Region

Update from the West: The John Wayne Trail Is Safe—for Now

Posted 01/22/16 by Laura Cohen in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Local Organizing, Overcoming Opposition, RTC in Action, Success Stories, Washington

You may be aware that longest rail-trail in the U.S. has been under fire lately, but we’ve got good news—at least for now—for John Wayne Pioneer Trail supporters. RTC learned that Rep. Schmick has decided to stop his effort to close the John Wayne.

Midway across the span of the Chartiers Creek Bridge | Photo courtesy Kordite | CC by 2.0

Pennsylvania's Montour Trail

Posted 03/16/15 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Pennsylvania, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

In terms of rail-trail mileage, Pennsylvania dominates, but in a crowded field, the Montour Trail—which forms a 55-mile arc around western Pittsburgh—is a standout with plenty of “wow” moments.

Good Things Happening in the Hoosier State!

Posted 11/03/14 by Rhonda Romano in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Indiana, Local Organizing

With an eye on people, projects and policies, we are focusing on how the Hoosier State is moving toward a vision of a more walkable, bikeable and upwardly mobile state for its 6.6 million citizens and millions of visitors each year.

Missouri Rail-Trail Just Got One Giant Step Closer

Posted 10/01/14 by Keith Laughlin in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Local Organizing, Missouri, Rock Island, RTC in Action

The Missouri Central Railroad Company yesterday announced its intention to undertake the necessary steps to have the corridor “railbanked,” and to work with the State of Missouri to have it preserved for trail development.

Photo © Redbank Valley Trail Association

Pennsylvanians Pitch In: Maintenance on PA Trails Is a Community Priority

Posted 09/08/14 by Katie Harris in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Pennsylvania

Maintenance. It’s the least flashy part of the trail world, but it is one of the most important aspects of the work being done by trail organizations, municipalities and agencies across the country.

Here Comes the Tweetsie Trail! Local Tenacity Built Tennessee’s Newest Rail-Trail

Posted 08/14/14 by Kristen Martin in Building Trails | Tagged with Corridors and Railbanking, Local Organizing, Tennessee

The 10-mile stretch of corridor between Johnson City and Elizabethton—located on the historic East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET & WNC) line—had not had any rail traffic since 2003. The line was no longer profitable, and its owner, Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., began to weigh its options.

Miami the Latest to Say: All Aboard Florida Must Include Trail

Posted 07/23/14 by Ken Bryan in Building Trails, Taking Action | Tagged with Florida, Local Organizing, Rail-with-Trail, Statements of Support

Miami now joins a groundswell of communities standing up and saying loudly that the rail project has the potential to transform Florida's transportation system for the better—but only if it includes a parallel rail-with-trail pathway for biking and walking.

Making the Most of the Met (Metropolitan Branch Trail, That Is!)

Posted 06/26/14 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Capital Trails Coalition, District Of Columbia, Local Organizing, RTC in Action, Urban Pathways

On June 25, Kathy Blaha, board member extraordinaire for both RTC and City Parks Alliance, posted this great blog on the programs helping to make the Metropolitan Branch Trail a true neighborhood gem. Programming is a valuable strategy for increasing trail use among individuals and families in local communities across the U.S., as RTC's trail development director, Kelly Pack, discusses in the blog.

Bike Advocacy: Why Teton County Commissioner Melissa Turley Is Truly Inspired

Posted 06/04/14 by Katie Harris in Taking Action | Tagged with Champions, Local Organizing, Wyoming

The trail world is filled with inspiring people. Some are folks that use and celebrate the pathways in their community on a daily basis. Others are champions, enacting change and making decisions that help the trails movement. And some, like Teton County, Wyo.’s Commissioner Melissa Turley, are both.

First Georgia Trail Summit in 15 Years Strong on Vision and Can-Do

Posted 05/19/14 by Herb Hiller in Building Trails, Taking Action | Tagged with Georgia, Local Organizing, Private Fundraising, Urban Pathways

In mid-April in Athens, Ga., 150 people took part in the first Georgia Trail Summit in 15 years.

Small Ticket Grants to Make Big Impact on Trails in Six Communities

Posted 03/30/14 by Pat Tomes in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Pennsylvania, Private Fundraising

Now in its seventh year, the Trail Assistance Mini-Grant Program managed by RTC was begun as a way to assist trail organizations or municipalities who need to make small repairs and improvements to their trail outside of the regular Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant schedule and well below the higher dollar amounts usually requested on major trail development grants.

Inspiring Ideas: Meet the Woman Who Kick-Started the Georgia Trail Summit

Posted 03/20/14 by Tracie Sanchez in Building Trails | Tagged with Georgia, Local Organizing, Young Champions

On April 11-12, 2014, Georgia’s first trail summit in 15 years will convene in Athens. Trail groups from throughout the state will gather to share knowledge and further projects, with a goal of establishing a first-class trail network in Georgia. In this guest blog, Tracie Sanchez, organizer of the Georgia Trail Summit, talks about her inspiration for the event and how she turned the idea into a reality.

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