Page 28 - Rails To Trails_Winter 2015 Issue
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What We’ve Been Up To
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Since 2008, RTC’s Metropolitan
Grants Program (MGP), supported by
the Coca-Cola Foundation, has provided
much-needed funding to build and
improve trails across the country. Dozens
of local organizations have received
pass-through grants to encourage trail
use and stewardship. RTC’s 2014 MGP
awards, presented in January 2014
and recently concluded in September,
included six Earn-a-Bike grants, four
community support grants to bolster
the capacity of local trail groups and six
project support grants for trail improve-
ments. Highlights include a new youth
Earn-a-Bike program in Indianapolis,
a trail-rebuilding program in response
to damage caused by Superstorm Sandy
in New Jersey, and a beautification and
signage project in Los Angeles. Contact:
Kelly Pack,
.
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In June 2014, RTC launched a new
effort: the Bay Area Trails Collaborative,
created to leverage the collective influ-
ence of more than 20 San Francisco Bay
Area trail agencies and organizations for
the creation of a world-class regional
trails network. Led by RTC’s Western
Region Director Laura Cohen, the
Collaborative is currently working to:
increase funding and policy support—at
the regional and state levels—for trails as
transportation and recreation; highlight
and share best practices (like public-
private partnerships); and broaden
trails communitywide and regionwide
for a more healthy and sustainable
San Francisco. Contact: Laura Cohen,
.
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In the summer of 2014, through our
Midwest Regional Office, RTC received
$100,000 from The George Gund
Foundation to support our continued
work in the Cleveland area. The partner-
ship between RTC and the foundation
has spanned many years, culminating
in many successful projects that have
advanced Cleveland’s trails and active-
transportation infrastructure. Contact:
Rhonda Romano, rhonda@railstotrails.
org.
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Since its inception in 2002, RTC’s
Rail-Trail Sojourn has guided thousands
of riders from all over America along
some of the most scenic trail networks in
the northeastern U.S. The 2014 sojourn,
which took place this past June, broke
new ground, taking in three different
trails across 191 miles in three states.
And this year, for the first time, the
sojourn included a walking option for
participants who prefer to explore trails
by foot.
The ability of the sojourn to influence
trail development is due in large part
to the evidence of trail users generating
significant local spending, reminding
participants and the communities visited
along the route about the important role
trails play in economic revitalization—
locally and across America. As partici-
pant William Trainer wrote in after this
year’s event, “Here we see first hand,
mile by mile, sweat and all, the results
of our support.” If you’re interested in
joining next year’s sojourn, be sure to
check out
in early 2015
for information. Contact: Tom Sexton,
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Between July and September of 2014,
the Partnership for Active
Transportation drafted a comment letter and circulated an accompanying sign-on
letter to encourage the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to require the
inclusion of public health considerations in transportation planning and to improve
the provisions related to walking and biking.
“
Our transportation system has tremendous impacts on public health,” says Elissa
Southward, healthy communities manager for RTC.“That’s why it’s a huge missed
opportunity that the USDOT failed to include public health considerations in their
latest proposed rule for transportation planning. Including them will help ensure
that safe and convenient active-transportation networks are available for millions
of Americas, preventing chronic diseases and premature deaths associated with a
lack of physical activity and ultimately saving billions of taxpayer dollars spent on
health care.”
A total of 21 national and 116 state and local organizations signed on to the letter
(
presented to USDOT in September), demonstrating the tremendous support—
across the nation’s transportation, public health and community development
sectors—for promoting greater investment in walking and bicycling as essential
modes of transportation in America. For more information on the Partnership for
Active Transportation, go to
Contact: Elissa Southward,
.
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