State and Federal Programs Page 5

Photo CC rp_photo via Flickr

Congress Passes Short-Term Fix for Transportation Funding; So What Will Happen to Trails, Walking and Biking?

Posted 08/04/14 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Threats to Trail Building

On July 31, 2014 the Senate agreed to pass H.R. 5021. This bill, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives the week before, will temporarily shore up the Highway Trust Fund and extend the current MAP-21 transportation funding bill, originally to fund transportation through Sept. 30, 2014, until May 2015.

Photo CC Five Rivers MetroParks via Flickr

Don't Take the Road Toward Health This Summer. Take the Trail!

Posted 07/23/14 by Elissa Southward in Health and Wellness | Tagged with Champions, Encouraging Trail Use, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

Walking is a great (and free!) way to get outdoors and get some exercise! Walking is associated with reductions in risk of dementia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer (breast and colon in particular) and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, being outdoors and around greenery can help with concentration and stress recovery, and sunlight on the skin leads to vitamin D production, which helps fight off cancer, osteoporosis and heart attacks.

Photo CC Radloff via Flickr

Fighting for TIGER: Thousands of Trail Supporters Speak Out

Posted 06/13/14 by Leeann Sinpatanasakul in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Threats to Trail Building

On Monday, we asked trail users like you to support TIGER, a critical federal program that supports investments in trails, walking and biking. In just a few hours, thousands of you wrote to your representatives, and thanks to your swift action, support for TIGER has only grown.

Photo © Patrick Gage

Senate’s Turn Part I: Senate Committee Takes On the Transportation Reauthorization Bill

Posted 05/21/14 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Threats to Trail Building

Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a bill (S. 2322) to reauthorize MAP-21, the federal transportation legislation passed in 2012, which will expire at the end of September. The new bill seeks to fund transportation projects at status quo levels plus inflation through fiscal year 2020. The underlying premise of the bill is that transportation policies should not change substantially but should only be marginally refined, that long-term funding is critical for large infrastructure projects and that the current funding levels are acceptable.

Photo CC Adam Fagen via Flickr

Obama Bill Offers Way Forward on Active Transportation

Posted 05/02/14 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs

This week, the White House and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx put forward the GROW AMERICA Act, a bill which would increase funding for transportation infrastructure in the United States. GROW AMERICA includes provisions that could support the development of active transportation networks; that is, infrastructure for human-powered modes of transportation such as walking and biking.

Photo © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

A Bike Ride with Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis

Posted 01/30/14 by Barry Bergman in Building Trails | Tagged with Champions, State and Federal Programs, Texas

Last month, I had the pleasure of joining trail advocate and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis for a Saturday bike ride along San Francisco’s historic Embarcadero port area. As we road along the waterfront, Sen. Ellis and I shared ideas as well as success stories from our respective regions in hopes that we might help each other to spur innovations in active transportation, health and community revitalization.

Photo © Natalie Bartley

Recreational Trails Program - A Primer

Posted 09/13/13 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Building Trails, Policy | Tagged with Federal, Products of Good Policy, State and Federal Programs

Since its creation in 1992, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) has been the cornerstone of America's trails movement. Funded primarily by gas taxes paid by users of off-road vehicles, over the past 20 years the RTP has enjoyed remarkable bipartisan support and has funded nonmotorized and motorized trails in every state. It remains one of the few federal sources dedicated to the construction and maintenance of trails.

Photo © Friends of Beaman Park

Gov. Haslam Unlocks $1.6 Million for Tennessee Trails

Posted 08/19/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Products of Good Policy, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

The people of Tennessee are today expressing their gratitude to Governor Bill Haslam for ensuring their state, famous for its rural and wilderness areas and open spaces, continues to take part in the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Trails projects across Tennessee last week received more than $1.6 million in RTP investment, unlocking much more in private matching funds and volunteer contributions.

Photo © www.harahanbridgeproject.com

Bridging Two Cities Across the Mississippi, New Trail Project a Grand Moment for Tennessee

Posted 08/09/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Building Trails | Tagged with Connected Systems, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

In the second decade of the 20th century, the world was engulfed in war. The city of Memphis was an important center of military and industrial activity, yet there were few ways for goods and people to cross the mighty barrier that was the Mississippi River.