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rail-trail report
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Transportation Alternatives (TA) program
(
formerly called
Transportation Enhancements) is the one of the primary funding sources for trails and
other active transportation projects. As RTC’s network of local advocates and supporters
can attest to, projects funded by TA often have a transformative impact on communities
large and small.
Now, there is an opportunity for your community’s TA project to be recognized for its
promotion of healthy, sustainable and efficient active transportation options.The new
TA Certificate of Excellence (TACE)
recognizes successful TA projects that have enhanced
the surface transportation systemand provided benefits to communities.The TACE
elevates local success stories to the national level, shares best practices, and highlights
federal, state, and local partnerships.
To submit your nomination, or to learnmore about TA projects across America:
The Circuit
The Northeast Regional Office of Rails
to Trails Conservancy (RTC) continues
to be one of the driving forces behind
efforts to build The Circuit
,
a network
of walking and biking pathways in the
greater Philadelphia area. Regional direc-
tor Tom Sexton chaired the first meeting
of The Circuit’s Health Committee, a
group of health professionals conscious
of the impact that better active transpor-
tation options would have on mobility,
the accessibility of stores and commer-
cial centers, and regular physical activity.
Eventually, The Circuit will encompass
750
miles of trail in the Delaware Valley
from southern New Jersey to central
Pennsylvania. Contact: Tom Sexton,
RTC Highlights
n
RTC’s Northeast Regional Office
released its
User Survey and Economic
Impact Analysis on the D & L Trail
in eastern Pennsylvania. Led by program
manager Pat Tomes, the analysis found
that the 165-mile D & L Trail generates
an annual economic impact of more
than $19 million in the communities
d the survey at
Contact: Pat
Tomes,
.
n
In New Hampshire, RTC manager of
trail development in the Northeast, Carl
Knoch, is working with Rockingham
County, the City of Portsmouth, and
local trail advocates on development
of the
10-
mile Hampton Branch Rail
corridor
.
After the owners of the Boston
&
Maine Eastern Line railroad right-of-
way filed for abandonment in March,
New Hampshire Governor Maggie
Hassan authorized use of $3.5 million
to purchase the corridor. Contact: Carl
Knoch,
n
RTC gave a number of presentations
at the
American Trails International
Trails Symposium
outside Scottsdale,
Ariz., in April. Staff members Marianne
Fowler, Ken Bryan, Eric Oberg, Pat
Tomes and Eli Griffen hosted discus-
sions on subjects ranging from RTC’s
groundbreaking study of rail-with-trails
to the role of urban pathway develop-
ment in addressing America’s public
health challenges. Contact: Eli Griffen,
.
n
Tomes and Oberg also helped
coordinate the
Forks of Ohio Trails
Symposium
in March, an ambitious
initiative to connect trail-building efforts
in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio,
northern West Virginia and western
Maryland. Contact: Eric Oberg, eric@
railstotrails.org.
commitment are credited with turn-
ing what many considered an unlikely
dream into one of the most spectacular
and successful rail-trails in America
—
the Walkway Over the Hudson in
ion:
n
RTC’s Midwest Regional Office is
playing a key role in fostering biking
and walking opportunities in America’s
rebounding Rust Belt cities. In June,
Midwest region director Rhonda
Romano and manager of trail develop-
ment Eric Oberg hosted the first leg of
a
“
city-exchange” between transporta-
tion professionals in Cleveland and
Detroit
.
The Cleveland event allowed
bike/ped planners and advocates to share
success stories and challenges.
The second leg of the exchange will be
held in Detroit this September. Contact:
Rhonda Romano:
n
As part of his ongoing work to make
it safer for children to get to school, Eric
Oberg secured a $340,000 Safe Routes to
School infrastructure grant for the village
of Bremen, Ohio. The village will be able
to provide safe sidewalks and road crossings
for students walking to school. Contact:
Eric Oberg,
n
Our Western Region Office continues
to foster a
community of volunteers and
trails advocates in South Los Angeles.
This spring, Barry Bergman, RTC’s
manager of trail development in the west,
helped organize a number of events around
the Compton Creek Trail, including a
Creek 101 ride, the Big Sunday cleanup,
and the Compton Creek Art Competition
and trail cleanup on National Trails Day.
Contact: Barry Bergman, barry@railsto
trails.org.
Coming Up
n
RTC’s Midwest office is getting set to
present at the
Mid-America Trails and
Greenways Conference
,
to be held in
Matteson, Ill., on October 27. The three-
day event brings together trail planners
and advocates from across the region and
is a unique opportunity for networking
