Skip to main content
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Access Membership Info DONATE RENEW
  • Meet RTC
    • About
    • Equity
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Press
    • Finances
    • Careers
    • Contact
  • Our Work
    • Great American Rail-Trail®
    • TrailNationTM Projects
    • Funding for Trails
    • Trail Development
    • Advocating For Trails
    • Applied Research
    • Protect Trails
    • Grants
  • Experience Trails
    • Trail Blog
    • Trail Moments
    • Celebrate Trails Day
    • Hall of Fame Trails
    • Rail-Trail Champions
    • Rails to Trails Magazine
    • Share the Trail
    • Trail Use Tips
    • Find Trails with TrailLink
  • Find Trails
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • Trail-Building Toolbox
    • Webinars
    • State Policy Hub
    • TrADE (Transportation Alternatives) Data
    • Partnership For Active Transportation
    • Trail Stats by State
  • Store
  • Ways To Give
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Trailblazer Society
    • More Ways to Give
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/?tag=Threats+to+Trail+Building
  • Home
  • Trailblog
  • Threats to Trail Building

Threats to Trail Building

Lift bridge, Hennepin Canal, night view | Courtesy of Hennepin Hundred

Illinois’ Hennepin Canal Parkway

Posted 03/11/19 by Cindy Barks in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Great American Rail-Trail, Illinois, Local Organizing, Maintenance and Volunteers, Threats to Trail Building, Tourism , Tourism and Economic Development, Tourism and Economic Stimulus, Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Walkability and Bikeability

Now, with its 112-year history, the Hennepin Canal Parkway seems a natural for its latest chapter—as a “gateway trail” in the nearly 4,000-mile Great American Rail-Trail, a cross-country route planned by Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) to stretch across the United States, from Washington, D.C., to Washington State.

East Lake Sammamish Trail in King County, Washington | Photo by Barbara Richey, courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Rails-to-Trails Legal Team Protects Two Trail Corridors in Washington State

Posted 08/21/18 by Eli Griffen in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Legal Issues, RTC in Action, Threats to Trail Building, Washington

Last year, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC’s) legal team became actively involved in two cases—Hornish Joint Living Trust, et al. v. King County, and Kaseburg et al. v. King County, et al., involving attacks on railbanked rail-trails in King County. On Aug. 3, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of King County in both of these cases, rejecting attempts by adjacent landowners to limit the rights of trail managers to use the full width of the right of way. The Ninth Circuit ruling was a decisive victory that sets an important precedent for trail groups in the United States.

Commuter in the D.C. Metro Area | Photo courtesy Washington Area Bicyclist Association | CC by 2.0

Why “People Before Cars” Can Help Curb Traffic Congestion

Posted 08/26/16 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with District Of Columbia, Maryland, Overcoming Opposition, Products of Good Policy, RTC in Action, Threats to Trail Building, Transportation and Health, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

“The congestion in our region is real. Very real. Every-single-day real,” writes RTC Director of Government Relations and Mayor of College Park, Maryland, Patrick Wojahn, in an Aug. 26 Washington Post Op-Ed about traffic in the District and how people-powered mobility can do much to help alleviate it.

John Wayne Pioneer Trail Tekoa Trestle | Photo courtesy AlbertaScrambler | CC by 2.0

Proposed Closure to John Wayne Pioneer Trail Stalled—For Now

Posted 10/09/15 by Laura Cohen in Taking Action, Policy | Tagged with Threats to Trail Building, Washington

Several weeks ago, Washington state representatives of District 9—Rep. Mary Dye and Rep. Joe Schmick—announced their intent to introduce legislation in January that would not only close a section of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, but give away the state-owned trail corridor to adjacent landowners. The section in question lies in eastern Washington, extending approximately 130 miles from Malden to the Columbia River. Here's the latest on this issue.

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 © Cleo Fogal

What Happens When a Member of Congress Attacks Trail Funding?

Posted 07/14/14 by Patrick Wojahn in Policy, Taking Action | Tagged with Federal, Pennsylvania, RTC in Action, Threats to Trail Building

Though it may not have made news headlines in your community, last Friday a significant battle was won in our never-ending defense of America's trails.

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 © Mark Fischer

What the Marvin M. Brandt Case Means for America’s Rail-Trails

Posted 03/17/14 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Legal Issues, Threats to Trail Building, Wyoming

On March 10, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in the case of Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust et al. v. United States. The issue in this case was whether the federal government retains an interest in railroad rights-of-way that were created by the federal General Railroad Right-of-Way Act of 1875, after the cessation of railroad activity on the corridor.

Photo © Mark Rischer

The Supreme Court Decision: How Does It Affect Rail-Trails?

Posted 03/11/14 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Legal Issues, Threats to Trail Building, Wyoming

On March 10, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in the case involving a rail corridor formerly on federal land that is now privately owned (Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust et al. v. United States).

Photo © RTC/Ryan Cree

Supreme Court Hands Down Disappointing Decision for Trails in U.S.

Posted 03/10/14 by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Legal Issues, Threats to Trail Building, Wyoming

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Official Statement on March 2014 Supreme Court Ruling: Today’s Supreme Court ruling is disappointing news for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, rail-trail advocates and trail users around the country.

Supreme Court: How Will Justices Rule on Rail-Trails?

Posted 01/22/14 by Kevin Mills in Policy | Tagged with Federal, Legal Issues, Threats to Trail Building, Wyoming

The case of Marvin M. Brandt Revocable Trust et al., v. United States is likely to have lasting implications for the development of rail-trails on federally-granted rights-of-way, but as we await a decision from the highest court in the land, a prediction about the court's direction is as hard to offer now as before.

Page 1 of 2

  • 1
  • 2
  • Last ≫
 Subscribe via RSS

Blog Categories

  • Taking Action
  • Building Trails
  • Policy
  • Trail Use
  • Success Stories
  • America's Trails
  • Health and Wellness

Most Popular

1. Seven Sensational New Rail-Trails to Celebrate in 2022 (12/21/22)


2. Reflecting on 2022: Capturing Once-in-a-Generation Opportunities for Trails, Walking and Biking (12/08/22)


3. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Awards $300,000+ to Support Inclusive Trail Projects Across the Nation (11/14/22)


4. Trail Moments | Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream on the Great American Rail-Trail (11/03/22)

Support the trails you love and donate
Subscribe


Sign up for eNews to get monthly updates on trail news, events and success stories from across the country.

SIGN UP FOR ENEWS

Rails to Trails Magazine

Subscribe to the RTC Magazine
Subscribe Today

Shop RTC's Trail Store

RTC Trail Shop

Explore Hall of Fame trails!

Rail-Trail Hall of Fame

Guidebook Series

Plan your next trail adventure right from home! Get your choice of one of our 13 guidebooks with your support for the trails you love!

ORDER GUIDEBOOK

Find Trails Using TrailLink

Join the Movement

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

National Headquarters:
2121 Ward Court, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202.331.9696

  • Email
  • Contact Field Offices

Get Social With Us

Great American Rail-Trail
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's TrailNation
TrailLink by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
  • Access Membership Info
  • Log in
  • Press
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Join eNEWS
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2001-2020 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). All rights reserved.