December 2024 Newsletter

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

Featured Resources: Working with Railroads Series

In nearly four decades of RTC’s work, we’ve witnessed incredible growth in the rail-trail movement. Today, nearly 26,000 miles of rail-trails connect urban, suburban, and rural communities across America. Despite these successes, working with railroads on rail-trail conversions can feel daunting—marked by challenges like disputes over valuation, legal and regulatory complexity, long timelines, and resource constraints. RTC’s Working with Railroads series aims to bridge the gap between trail sponsors and railroads, offering resources to set your rail-trail project up for success. 

Emerging from the webinars were some key themes.  Engaging with a railroad company must include understanding railroad priorities, including that they are a private business with corporate structures and expectations. Building a strong, diverse local team that has done its research and properly prepared for the initial outreach to the railroad company was advised. Railbanking was highlighted as a powerful tool for preserving corridors, benefiting both railroads and trail sponsors. Damien D’Anna of CSX shared their collaborative approach, highlighting creative deal structures they’ve used in rail-trail transactions to align railroad and trail sponsor goals.  Speakers emphasized that success comes from being organized and adaptable—building strong partnerships, clearly communicating the trail’s value proposition, and preparing for plans to evolve over time as many negotiations can take considerable amounts of time. Most of all, the process requires persistence and patience, paired with fairness and determination, to keep things moving forward.  

Catch up on the webinars: 

• Working with Railroads Part 1: Productive Partnerships for Successful Projects (Includes a summary of the Q&A!) 

• Damien D’Anna, director of real estate sales and leasing at CSX 

• Tim Bartlett, executive director of Urbana Parks District 

• Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC 

• Working with Railroads Part 2: RTC Expert Q&A, featuring RTC’s general counsel, Andrea Ferster 

Visit our newly launched Working with the Railroads toolbox page for even more practical tips and guidance. 

Upcoming TrailNation Collaborative Events

In response to your feedback, many of this year’s TrailNation Collaborative events will be focused on helping you access BIL funding. Our webinars and interactive online dialogues will provide opportunities to connect with other trail experts and advocates, all while giving you the tools and resources you need to take advantage of this critical moment. Mark your calendars for the virtual events coming up this year!

5 Years of Progress on the Great American Rail-Trail: Connecting the Nation By Trail 

Tuesday, Dec. 17 | Watch on Facebook 

Get Ready for Celebrate Trails Day! 

Thursday, Jan. 16 | Register here 

Funding Opportunities

OPENING SOON: Community Change Grants 

Applications open: Monday, Dec. 16 

The Community Change Grants program from America Walks supports the growing network of community champions, organizations, and agencies working to advance walkability. Grants are awarded to innovative and engaging programs and projects that create change and opportunity for walking and movement at the community level. 

NOW OPEN: Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grants 

Deadline: Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 

This competitive grant program is designed to make transportation more resilient to rising sea levels, increased flooding, natural disasters and climate change.  

JUST ANNOUNCED: 2025 RAISE Grants

Deadline: Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 

Applications for the FY 2025 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program is now open with two rounds of funding. If you are eligible for Round 1, RTC encourages you to apply for an easy opportunity to advance active transportation in your community. Round 2 will be decided by a new administration according to criteria and priorities yet to be determined.   

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

Resources

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account 

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released statistics today measuring the outdoor recreation economy across the country, indicating the outdoor recreation economy accounts for an impressive 2.3% of the national gross domestic product (GDP). This new report provides data that makes it easy to demonstrate the impact of investment in outdoor recreation at a state and regional level.  

Rails to Trails Conservancy: Working with Railroads

Our recent webinar series and companion toolbox page provide practical strategies for building productive partnerships and navigating the challenges of rail-trail acquisitions, such as managing appraisals, complex negotiations and railbanking. Watch the two-part series here: Part 1 and Part 2, and visit the Working with the Railroads page for even more tips and guidance. 

Smart Growth America: 2025 Champions Institute 

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative, Smart Growth America’s Champions Institute provides mayors, city councilors, tribal chairpeople and councilors, and other local elected officials with knowledge and resources to support plans, policies, and funding that promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations. The deadline for next year’s Champions Institute is Friday, Jan. 17. 

FHWA: Separated Bike Lanes on Higher Speed Roadways Toolkit 

This new toolkit from the Federal Highway Administration includes policies, practices and procedures to help agencies implement safe, separated bicycle facilities on higher speed roads.  

Rails to Trails Conservancy 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 the newest addition to our TrailNation Playbook in Action series, Building Investment Strategies That Unlock Funding, which is designed to spark your imagination for vibrant and inclusive trail programming!

Other Events You Won’t Want to Miss!

City Parks Alliance: Green Stormwater in Parks: A Win-win for Urban Resilience | Monday, Dec. 16 

American Trails: Navigating NEPA in Trail Development | Thursday, Jan. 9 

American Trails: Trailblazing Accessibility: Ensuring Equitable Access to Natural Spaces for Those with Disabilities | Thursday, Jan. 16 

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.