Trail Blog by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

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.

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.

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.

Tennessee's Mountain Goat - the Little Trail Project that Could

Posted 08/07/13 by Jake Lynch in Building Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, Overcoming Opposition, State and Federal Programs, Tennessee

Ever since trains on the Mountain Goat Railroad stopped running in 1981, the people of the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee have wondered whether there was a way to turn this disused corridor into the asset and vibrant avenue it once was.

Transportation Project Financing: Get Creative with Loans and Revenue Generation

Posted 07/10/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is leading the effort to provide education and resources related to MAP-21. In this blog series, we demonstrate how communities can leverage the programs funded by MAP-21. In our fourth post of this series, we examine innovative financing programs.

Virginia Uses Transportation Alternatives to Make the Most of Railroad Riches

Posted 06/27/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy, Success Stories | Tagged with Heritage and Restoration, State and Federal Programs, Virginia

Geography and history gave the state of Virginia an abundance of railroad lines, many of which have fallen into disuse as the patterns of industry through the Appalachian Mountain region changed so much in the last century.

Tapping Into TIGER Funds for Trail Projects

Posted 06/24/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

In 2012, the U.S. Congress adopted a new bill to govern surface transportation programs through September 2014. That bill, referred to now as MAP-21, provides opportunities for creative communities to develop good networks of trails and active transportation facilities. In our third post of this series, we examine the TIGER Program.

Photo © www.pedbikeimages.org/Dan Burden

The Prevention Fund: Smart Money For Local Programs. So Why is Congress Trying to Kill It?

Posted 06/14/13 by Kevin Mills in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Cross-Sector Collaboration, State and Federal Programs

Created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the Prevention Fund is the nation's first large dedicated source of funds for preventing health problems. As we see in the above examples, making it easier for people to regularly walk or bike is a simple but powerful preventative medicine. Thanks to the Prevention Fund, relatively small investments in promoting walking and biking are saving the nation many billions of dollars in future healthcare costs.

Diving Into MAP-21: Using CMAQ to Fund Bike/Ped Projects

Posted 06/05/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is leading the effort to provide education and resources related to MAP-21. In this blog series, we demonstrate how communities can leverage the programs funded by MAP-21.

Photo © Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee

Beyond the Ribbon-Cutting, What You Sometimes Don't Hear About How Trails Get Built

Posted 06/04/13 by Jake Lynch in Building Trails | Tagged with Local Organizing, State and Federal Programs

The determined grassroots effort in Danvers, Mass., to build their local rail-trail was typical of the kind of "can-do" attitude we often see behind successful rail-trail projects.

Diving Into MAP-21: An Education Resource for Planners and Advocates

Posted 05/29/13 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with State and Federal Programs

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is leading the effort to provide education and resources related to MAP-21. In this blog series, we demonstrate how communities can leverage the programs funded by MAP-21. In this first piece, we examine the Surface Transportation Program, or STP.

Today's House of Reps Hearing on Transportation Funding

Posted 04/24/13 by Marianne Wesley Fowler in Policy | Tagged with Federal, State and Federal Programs, Statements of Support

Earlier today the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted a hearing on the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. As generally acknowledged, current funding sources for the Trust Fund (notably gasoline and diesel taxes) are not sufficient to maintain a reliable transportation system. You can read all the testimony from the hearing at the House website here.

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