Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Historic Moment for Great Allegheny Passage as Amtrak Tests Roll-On Bike Service

Posted 10/18/13 by Jake Lynch in Trail Use | Tagged with Pennsylvania, Rail-with-Trail

Rail and trail is a match made in heaven. All over the world there are great examples of rail operators and trail users working together for mutual benefit. Sometimes that involves trails connecting with light rail stops, or it could be a train carrying riders back to the trailhead so they can enjoy a one-way ride.

The Coast with the Most - Rail-with-Trail A Huge Boost for Santa Cruz County

Posted 09/06/13 by Barry Bergman in Building Trails | Tagged with California, Rail-with-Trail

The setting is perfect - the unique coastal landscape of California, the shimmering Pacific Ocean, the calm, protected waters of Monterey Bay. When it's complete, some seven years from now, the 32-mile rail-with-trail running along the coastline a short trip south from San Jose, California, will without doubt be one of the most remarkable rail-trails in the country.

California's SMART Pathway

Posted 09/01/13 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with California, Rail-with-Trail, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Urban Pathways

When the sunset-hued Golden Gate Bridge first opened more than 75 years ago, it was the engineering marvel of its time. Just north of San Francisco's famed bridge lies an equally impressive transportation corridor for a new era. When complete, the aptly named SMART Pathway will include the most miles of bike and pedestrian trail alongside active railroad, 52, in the country.

Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail

Posted 08/01/13 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, Rail-with-Trail, Tennessee, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The emerging 19-mile Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail offers the enticing potential to spur a new rush of economic opportunity.

Trolley Trail, Iowa

Posted 06/01/13 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, Iowa, Rail-with-Trail, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

From nostalgic train buffs to cherubic Thomas the Tank Engine aficionados, the Trolley Trail in north-central Iowa has something for everyone. Although only six miles long, there are so many nearby attractions that a visitor could easily make a day trip out of it.

From City to Coast, Salmonberry Corridor has Huge Potential for Oregon

Posted 05/08/13 by Barry Bergman in Building Trails | Tagged with Oregon, Rail-with-Trail

Support is building for the development of an 84-mile section of underutilized rail-corridor between the western reaches of Portland and the Oregon coastline. Known as the Salmonberry Corridor, the line that once carried the Port of Tillamook Bay railroad now presents an opportunity for what would certainly be one of the country's most spectacular rail-trails, and a trails tourism lifeline for the region.

Rhode Island Taps RTC for Help with Rail-with-Trail Project

Posted 12/12/12 by Jake Lynch in Building Trails | Tagged with Rail-with-Trail, Rhode Island

With the people of Aquidneck Island, R.I., keen to improve their amenities for walking and biking, they've called on Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to examine the feasibility of a rail-with-trail along a line currently used for tourist service.

Photo of a local coffee shop beside the section of Frisco Trail along active rail line © City of Fayetteville

In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Business is Booming Around Urban Trails Network

Posted 11/28/12 by Jake Lynch in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Arkansas, Rail-with-Trail, Tourism and Economic Stimulus

The third largest city in a state that was this year judged the least bike-friendly state in America, Fayetteville, Arkansas has for the past decade put an urban trails system, and bike and walkability, at the heart of its development plans.

Photo of school children walking to school in Crete, Neb © Natalie Kingston

School in N.Y. Wants Rail-With-Trail for Much-Needed Route for Students

Posted 11/27/12 by Jake Lynch in Taking Action, Building Trails | Tagged with New York, Rail-with-Trail, Schools and Young People, State and Federal Programs

Many communities have developed in such an auto-centric way that their roads and streets don't have sidewalks, and walking or riding is either unsafe or, in some instances, banned.

Outside St. Louis, Rail-With-Trail Boosts Capacity of Transit System

Posted 10/17/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Trail Use, Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, Missouri, Rail-with-Trail, Urban Pathways

In St. Clair County, Ill., on the outskirts of St. Louis, Mo., the county transit district continues to extend its heralded MetroBikeLink Trail, a paved, multi-use trail that provides a fast and efficient connection from local neighborhoods to the metro stations.

Rotary Club Pursues Grand Rail-With-Trail Plan for Cleveland

Posted 09/20/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Ohio, Rail-with-Trail

In Cleveland, Ohio, a local Rotary Club is demonstrating once again the remarkable creative and physical energy of America's volunteers working to improve their local surroundings.

Just Outside Philadelphia, Energy Grows to Recycle Former Rail Line

Posted 09/19/12 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, Pennsylvania, Rail-with-Trail, State and Federal Programs

"Build Our Trail - A Rail Trails Initiative," is advocating for the now unused Fox Chase-Newtown line (right) owned by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), to be developed into a shared-use trail that would connect to the established Pennypack Trail as well as the proposed Neshaminy Creek Trail.

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