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24 4 26 Rail-Trail Report 27 Destination: America’s Next Top Rail-Trail Get to know what makes RTC’s five 2016 Rail-Trail Hall of Fame nominees inspiring projects in the rail-trail movement and great places to visit and experience. BY LAURA STARK2
Point of View3
Members Network 4 Tracks ’n’ Ties n Eye On: Baltimore’s Greenway Trails n Trail Tales: Family legacy includes 50 years on trail widely regarded as America’s oldest 24 RTC Policy 101: Show Me the (Trail) $$ n Federal trail funding and the Transportation Alternatives Program n Building active-transportation networks through TIFIA n RTC’s state and local initiative 12 Sparking a New Era: the Circuit Trails In Greater Philadelphia, a burgeoning 750-mile trail system is ushering in a new era of economic development, prosperity and community pride for the region. BY HEATHER MISTRETTAOn the cover: A runner on the Manayunk
Canal Towpath in Philadelphia, part of the
developing 750–mile Circuit Trails network
Photo by Laura Pedrick/AP Images
t o rails trails Inspiring Movement spring/summer.16THOM CARROLL
CHUCK SCH
MIDT
JEFF LANOUE
BICYCLECOALITION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
6 Evolution of a Movement: RTC Celebrates 30 Years This year marks RTC’s 30th anniversary. Read about our past and our future focus on regional trail networks—and check out a timeline noting some exciting and important moments in rail- trail history. BY AMY KAPP 18 Creation of a Southern Legend RTC’s 2014 Rail-Trail Champion Marianne Wesley Fowler discusses the early days of the Southern rail-trail movement and the creation of the famous Silver Comet-Chief Ladiga Trail. BY AMY KAPP 20 A View From … The Rail-Trail Hall of Fame Check out these images capturing the beauty and majesty of some of the exemplary rail-trails in RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. BY LAURA STARK 20