April 2026 Newsletter

RTC’s TrailNation™ Collaborative is a multidisciplinary learning community for anyone interested in working in trail and active transportation. Join the email list.

Now Open! 2026 RTC Trail Grants Applications

As a member of the TrailNation™ Collaborative, you’re the first to know Rails to Trails Conservancy has opened applications for this year’s RTC Trail Grants Program! This year, RTC will award grants between $10,000 and $25,000—totaling approximately $110,000—to support organizations working to create a more inclusive trail experience nationwide.   

RTC’s Trail Grants are building strong foundations in communities for equitable trail network development and activation—investing in transformative projects that create more access to trails for more people across the country. This year, only projects that support the planning, construction, improvement and maintenance of trails and trail networks will be considered. Eligible activities include but are not limited to: feasibility studies, mapping, design, construction, and matching funds for state or federal grants for capital investments. 

The Trail Grants program is open to nonprofit organizations, and state, regional, local or tribal government agencies supporting larger regional trail and active-transportation systems.  

To apply, please review this year’s application guidelines and review criteria before applying online. Please ensure that your project supports RTC’s commitment to equity and can be tied to an element of the TrailNation Playbook. A project map will be required. 

Examples of eligible projects can be found on our Trail Grants web page. Applications close on May 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  

Invite Your Community to Celebrate Trails to April 25!

Celebrate Trails Day invites everyone to experience the country’s trails through events and self-guided activities. In this pivotal year for trails, join RTC in growing this annual springtime celebration—generating more attention and appreciation for America’s trails and active transportation—by getting involved as a partner.  

Explore free partner resources for planning events and preparing for the celebration: RailsToTrails.org/CelebrateTrailsDay/Toolkit 

Seeking the Next TrailNation Summit Host Region!

After the success of last year’s TrailNation Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, RTC is seeking bids for locations to host the next summit in spring 2028 in a region that illustrates the innovation, partnership and advocacy needed to advance trail network development. Regions hosting the Summit will receive national recognition as a model for trail network development with our network of 8,000+ professionals in trail planning, advocacy and allied fields, as well as recognition in media surrounding the event. 

Learn more about how to bring the Summit to your region here.

2026 TrailNation Collaborative Webinar and Dialogue Events: Advancing Trail Networks for People, Communities and Change

In 2026, TrailNation™ Collaborative learning events will bring together trail champions, planners, community leaders, and advocates for timely conversations about what it takes to build and sustain trail networks amid shifting social, environmental, funding and economic conditions. 

Trails as Social Infrastructure: How to Build Connection in a Disconnected World—Practical Strategies That Work (1.0 AICP CM) | Wednesday, April 22, 2026

E-Bikes, E-Motos, and Emerging Mobility: What Belongs on Trails and Why (Online Dialogue; 1.0 AICP CM) | Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Trail Tourism Toolkit Release | May 2026

Celebrating Safety Month: Model Trail Networks for Safer Transportation Systems (1.0 AICP CM) | June 2026

Celebrating Disability Pride Month:  Beyond ADA: Accessibility, Dignity, and Choice on Multi-Use Trails (Online Dialogue; 1.0 AICP CM) | July 2026

Celebrating National Preparedness Month: Planning for the Next Disaster: Building Resilient Trail Networks Before Crisis Hits (1.0 AICP CM) | September 2026 

Trail Networks as Economic Infrastructure: Turning Trails into Local Economic Opportunities (1.0 AICP CM) | October 2026

Trails and Housing: Tools for Resilient, Inclusive Communities (1.0 AICP CM) | November 2026

Are there webinar or working group topics you’d like to see covered through the TrailNation Collaborative this year? Email us at trailnationcollaborative@railstotrails.org to share your ideas!  

Find registration links for all sessions at railstotrails.org/webinars.

Funding Opportunities

Closing Soon: Outride: Community Impact and Research Partnership Grants
Due: April 30, 2026
Outride provides research, cycling programs and funding to empower all people to experience the social, emotional and cognitive benefits of cycling. There are two grant opportunities currently open. The Community Impact Grant supports a range of cycling initiatives for local nonprofits and schools. The Research Partnership Grants provide funding to support research collaborations between cycling organizations and researchers interested in the impact of cycling on brain health. Both grant awards range between $5,000 and $15,000.

Apply now: RTC: Trail Grants
Due: May 10, 2026
In 2026, RTC will award approximately $110,000 to organizations and local agencies that are working to develop and connect equitable trail networks. This year, only projects that support the planning, construction improvement and maintenance of trails and trail networks will be considered. Eligible activities include but are not limited to: feasibility studies, mapping, design, construction, and matching funds for state or federal grants. Awards will range between $10,000 and $25,000.

Now open: USDOT: Safe Streets and Roads For All
Deadline: May 26, 2026
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program funds regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The funds support two types of grants: planning and demonstration grants to develop, complete or supplement a Safety Action Plan, and implementation grants. Nearly $1 billion in funding is available for this cycle.

Get more information about funding sources for trails and active transportation on RTC’s Federal Funding Resources page.

Resources

National Academies: Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks
This newly released research from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program summarizes methods of identifying gaps in active transportation networks and presents a methodology for estimating the economic, health and social benefits of gap closure. USDOT

Bureau of Transportation Statistics: General Active Transportation Infrastructure Specification
In partnership with a national group of expert co-chairs, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics has led a collaborative effort to create open data standards for active transportation infrastructure, including sidewalks and bike lanes. This work has resulted in the General Active Transportation Infrastructure Specification (GATIS), a new national standard designed to support more consistent, high-quality data.

Trust for Public Land: On Common Ground Case Studies
These newly released case studies demonstrate the connective power of parks and outdoor spaces through stories of communities that have embrace these vital amenities to bring together neighbors with diverse perspectives and experiences for stronger social connections. Interested in this topic? Register for RTC’s upcoming “Trails as Social Infrastructure” webinar on April 22.

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity
Celebrating the centennial of Route 66 in 2026, “The Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity” takes a storytelling approach to demonstrate the economic power of route-based tourism in rural communities.

Main Street America: Main Street and Transportation Planning
This recently published blog from Main Street America offers perspective on the vital role Main Street programs can play in informing trail and transportation plans.

RTC: Philanthropy’s Role in Powering Community Growth Through Trails
From the TrailNation Summit 2025 archives—our third plenary at the summit featured an impactful conversation with philanthropic leaders from across the county to explore how to move beyond traditional funding sources to address the challenges of working across municipal lines, sectors and timelines.

Main Street America: Thriving Communities Transportation Toolkit
Main Street America just released its new toolkit to help local governments and leaders advance transportation investments. This resource is the result of two years of collaboration with RTC and other partners in delivering the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program to rural communities nationwide.

RTC: TrailNation Summit Resources
Looking for a digital copy of the TrailNation Workbook or any of the resources mentioned at the summit this past October to assist with your work? RTC can help! Please reach out to Mary Ellen Koontz, TrailNation Collaborative lead, at maryellen@railstotrails.org.

RTC: In Case You Missed It: Webinars From the Archive
Miss a recent webinar or online dialogue? You can find free access to all our recent RTC virtual events in the webinar archive or Resource Library on our website! This includes our “Innovative State Legislative Approaches” and “State DOT Engagement” sessions with RTC’s policy team as well as recordings of the 2025 TrailNation Summit plenary sessions! 

Other Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

USGS: Collaborative Trail Planning Tools and Trail Data
Tuesday, April 14, 2026

APBP: Establishing Massachusetts Next Generation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects
Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Main Street America: More Than a Sidewalk: How Great Places Encourage Walking
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

League of American Bicyclists: Unlocking Freedom: How Biking Builds Independent Kids and Teens
Tuesday, April 21, 2026

American Trails: Trailblazers Wanted: Intensive Training for Tomorrow’s Trail Technicians
Thursday, April 23, 20263

Tools for Collaborative Members

Get access to all the resources you need to create a vibrant trail network for your community—from funding opportunities to technical assistance.

2026 Celebrate Trails Day prizes