August 2025 Newsletter

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

Register For the Summit Today to Apply for Get Grant Ready

Rails to Trails Conservancy is partnering with Outdoor Community Partners and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative to help under-resourced communities “Get Grant Ready.” This interactive, online workshop is designed to help transform bold, locally driven trail ideas into fundable projects. Participants will strengthen their fundraising skills and build long-term capacity to pursue state, federal and private grants that support their community’s vision. 

Three workshop participants will be selected by RTC staff to present their project pitch at the TrailNation™ Pitch Fest during the Summit and have a chance to secure a $10,000 RTC grant for their project. 

This is an exclusive opportunity for TrailNation Summit registrants. Register today, and apply for the workshop!

Federal Policy Update

Navigating This Moment in Washington

The final weeks before Congress left for their annual summer recess was a bit bumpy as RTC and our partners continue to try and navigate mixed messages about active transportation coming out of the administration and Congress. Congress’ vote to strip away hugely significant investments in connectivity funding was quickly followed by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) announcement about its BUILD grants that included marginal investments in active transportation infrastructure. Meanwhile, Secretary Sean Duffy’s remarks during a hearing in front of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee indicated that decisions on frozen federal grants are expected by the fall.

If grants in your region are being impacted by actions in Washington, please reach out to Isabelle Lord at isabelle@railstotrails.org to share your insights.

RTC’s Senior Director of Government Relations, Scott Goldstein, recently published an op-ed in Streetsblog USA titled, “Pragmatic Optimism in the Face of Active Transportation Clawbacks.” Read it here.

Apply Today

Trails Across America Historical Marker Program

Apply for round two by Sept. 30! Don’t miss the opportunity to apply for the first round of RTC’s Trails Across America historical marker program! In collaboration with one of the nation’s leading funders of historic markers, we will make available premium cast-aluminum historical markers featuring unique places, people and history along greenways, canal towpaths and rail-trails—linking and inspiring communities by honoring their pasts. RTC will work in collaboration with community partners to select, develop and install the markers, which are fully funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

Ideas will be accepted in multiple rolling rounds through our quick pre-application process (the form takes about 15 minutes), with submissions for our first round due by July 21, 2025. Learn more about the grant program and how to apply on RTC’s Trails Across America web page. Got questions? Email Amy Kapp at amy@railstotrails.org.

Apply Today

Looking for inspiration? Check out how RTC and the Pomeroy Foundation commemorated these 12 rich histories along the route of the Great American Rail-Trail™.

Upcoming TrailNation Collaborative Events

Our learning events, webinars and interactive online dialogues provide opportunities to connect with other trail experts and advocates, all while giving you the tools and resources you need to advance your trail network. Mark your calendars for the events coming up this year!

Historical Preservation and Trail Engagement: Trails Across America Historical Marker Grant Program
Wednesday, Sept. 10 | Submit Your Marker Idea | Registration coming soon!

AMPO Annual Conference
Monday, Sept. 15–Thursday, Sept. 19
Join us on Wednesday for our session: Transforming Iowa’s Regional Economic Potential and Quality of Life Through Active Transportation.

TrailNation Summit: Get Grant Ready Workshop
Wednesday, Sept. 17 | Register Here
*Open to TrailNation Summit registrants only. Register today for your chance to apply!

TrADE Talk: TA Trends in 2025
Wednesday, Sept. 24 | Registration coming soon!

TrailNation Summit (Cleveland, Ohio)
Monday, Oct. 27—Wednesday, Oct. 29 | Register Here
AICP CM credits available

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

Funding Opportunities

NOW OPEN: T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program
Deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 30
For communities with populations of 50,000 or less, the program provides grants of up to $50,000 to help build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. Nonprofits and municipalities are encouraged to apply.

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

Resources

PeopleforBikes: 2025 City Ratings
The latest city rankings are now available from PeopleforBikes, which evaluates the bikeablity of cities worldwide. This year, 234 cities in the United States received a score of 50 out of 100 or higher, a significant increase from years prior.

Transportation Safety for Tribes: Pedestrian Safety in Tribal Areas
This study report discusses available resources and provides new tools for Tribal agencies and others who may be involved with pedestrian safety to help determine high-risk areas within Tribal communities, identify potential safety improvements and prioritize potential improvements or locations.

RTC: Webinars From the Archive
Miss a recent webinar or online dialogue? You can find free access to all of our recent RTC virtual events in the webinar archive or Resource Library on our website. This includes the newest addition to our TrailNation Playbook in Action series, Building Investment Strategies That Unlock Funding, which was designed to spark your imagination for vibrant and inclusive trail programming!

Other Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

Main Street America: Tools for Transportation Projects
Tuesday, Aug. 12

American Trails: Bridging Science, Recreation, and Accessibility: Designing Trail Maps for Everyone
Thursday, Aug. 21

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities Webinar Series

Part 3: Additional Advances in Bicycling Design | Thursday, September 11

Registration links to these events and more can be found on the TrailNation Collaborative web page.

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.