Supporting Trails

 

This page provides the facts on current issues and debates and the ongoing efforts of American Trails to continue its 20 years of support for positive policies and funding for trails and greenways. Please join our efforts to document the value of trails and bicycle/pedestrian facilities as transportation infrastructure, and be an active and positive voice in the reauthorization process as well as economic stimulus proposals.

 

trail noteSupport the Recreational Trails Program! Join our efforts with the Coalition for Recreational Trails to get RTP funding included in the next transportation bill and sign on to the letter supporting RTP. Will your state's trails program survive? See Concerns about the future of the Recreational Trails Program.

TOP NEWS

arrow March 15, 2010: "This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized," said US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to a League of American Bicyclists conference. "We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects." Sec. LaHood also announced key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:

  • Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
  • Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
  • Go beyond minimum design standards.
  • Collect data on walking and biking trips.
  • Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
  • Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
  • Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

arrow March 13, 2010: The web team at our Federal Highway Administration has created an interactive map of the U.S. that shows every single one of the 12,000+ Recovery Act road projects.

arrow March 8: National Recreation & Park Association provides analysis of proposed 2011 federal budget which would increase funding for key programs and a number of new initiatives that positively impact parks and recreation. This means that the advocacy efforts of NRPA are working and the Obama Administration is realizing the need to invest in c1ose-tohome access to outdoor recreation, public lands, and programs promoting livable communities and youth development While the President's budget numbers signal a renewed interest in parks and recreation, funding for park and recreation programs has steadily declined over the past decade, and as a result, the National Park Service reports more than $12 billion in unmet needs relative to outdoor recreation resources. Now more than ever, advocates must convince Congress that an even greater investment in parks and recreation is needed in order to build healthy, sustainable communities.

arrow March: US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced awards to states, tribal governments, cities, counties and transit agencies for 51 transportation projects through the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants. Projects funded with the $1.5 billion allocated in the Recovery Act include improvements to freight rail, bus and rail transit, passenger facilities, freeways and parkways, and piers and unloading facilities. Along with some intermodal facilities and bridges accomodating bikes and pedestrians, two non-motorized transportation projects were funded. The Indianapolis Bicycle & Pedestrian Network (IN) received $20,500,000 to "complete the eight-mile urban bicycle and pedestrian network in the heart of downtown Indianapolis," and the Philadelphia Area Pedestrian & Bicycle Network (PA, NJ) received $23,000,000 to "repair, reconstruct and improve 16.3 miles of pedestrian and bicycle facilities."

arrow March 5: US Department of Health and Human Services announces the availability of new $10 million Recovery Act Funds for Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. National public or private non-profit organizations can compete for up to $1.5 million in cooperative agreement support to: * Share expertise with select CPPW communities across the nation; * Foster a national prevention movement by spearheading new changes through their affiliate networks; and * Enhance consumer education and awareness prevention by expanding the CPPW media campaign.

arrow March 3: SAFETEA-LU expired on September 30, 2009. Extension #4 is extended through March 28, 2010. Surface Transportation Authorization discussions continue.

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS.

(a) In General- Except as provided in subsection (b), for purposes of the continued extension of surface transportation programs and related authority to make expenditures from the Highway Trust Fund and other trust funds under sections 157 through 162 of the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2010 (Public Law 111-68; 123 Stat. 2050), the date specified in section 106(3) of that resolution (Public Law 111-68; 123 Stat. 2045) shall be deemed to be March 28, 2010.

(b) Exception- Subsection (a) shall not apply if an extension of the programs and authorities described in that subsection for a longer term than the extension contained in the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2010 (Public Law 111-68; 123 Stat. 2050), is enacted before the date of enactment of this Act.

arrow March 3: U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (Ore.) introduced H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation Act of 2010 in the House. The bill calls for the creation of an active transportation fund, authorized at $2 billion over five
years, to fund community investment in walking and bicycling networks to shift short driving trips to active transportation.The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy wants you to encourage your U.S. representative to co-sponsor the legislation now! March 11 is Virtual Lobby Day for the Act

arrowFebruary 26: The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is pleased to announce its 2010 achievement awards to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program

arrow Feb. 20: Senate Jobs Bill includes 3% set-aside for Transportation Enhancements, and 100% federal match for funding, according to smartgrowthamerica.org. In December, the House approved a $154 billion jobs package, which included tax breaks, infrastructure spending and unemployment benefits. The Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010 was approved in the House by a close vote of 217-212, but the White House has not given its support and the Senate has chosen not to take up that bill. The House bill would provide $37.3 billion for transportation programs, including $27.5 billion for highways.

arrow Feb. 10: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that the proposed $79 billion fiscal year 2011 budget for the Department of Transportation includes continued investments in transportation infrastructure and livable communities, among other agency priorities.

January 13: Secretary of Transportation: "people want the opportunity to leave their cars behind" In a dramatic change from existing policy, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed that new funding guidelines for major transit projects be based on livability issues such as economic development opportunities and environmental benefits

arrowDec. 19, 2009: The House and Senate have both passed extensions of SAFETEA-LU transportation funding. The Senate gave existing highway funding programs a two-month reprieve today when it approved a Defense Department appropriations bill 88-12. Included in the defense bill is a continuing resolution that allows the government to disburse money under the terms of the 2005 surface transportation act known as SAFETEA-LU. The Senate extended the law until Feb. 28, 2010. The extension gives the Senate time to consider a jobs bill that also cleared the House on December 16. The bill directs $75 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), with two-thirds of the total going to the Department of Transportation for infrastructure programs.

arrow December 17, 2009: The House jobs bill (H.R. 2847) includes $27.5 billion going to highways proposes a 3 percent set-aside for transportation enhancements (TE), totaling $800 million.

arrow November 24: A bill introduced (S. 2747) would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million a year.

arrow Nov. 7: 2010 Interior Environment and related agencies appropriations bill (HR 2996) provides increased funding for conservation programs, from Trust for Public Land

arrow Nov. 6: Funding increase for Federal recreation programs including trails passed by Congress. For the Forest Service, trail maintenance is up by $14,746,000 over the 2009 budget. Trail construction, however, is down $10,380,000 due to the large increase in 2009 for Forest Service ARRA economic stimulus projects. BLM recreation and construction budgets are up significatly.

arrow Oct.12: CDC releases application for $ millions in prevention funding federal health grants can fund bike/ped programs; ARRA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants total $500 million

arrowThe "committee print" of the new Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 is available in pdf format (1.3 mb)

 

Funding for trails in an era of economic challenge: opinions and proposals

What's next for transportation and parks funding? Will Congress see trails as investments in health and transportation? Pam Gluck, Executive Director of American Trails, notes that "These are exciting times— but they are full of challenge for trails."

Bills in Congress affecting trails and greenways

Fiscal stimulus: "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act"

Federal Highway Administration links to economic stimulus issues:

Forest Service Economic Recovery pages:

News and opinions on the ARRA "economic recovery" funding:

Land & Water Conservation Fund

Budget bills and funding for public lands and trails

Getting trails and greenways in the sights of the Obama Administration

Supporters of trails and bike/ped facilities are watching the new Administration roll out programs and promises. At the same time we see new lows in the stock market, fuel tax receipts, employment figures, and state income. How will funding for trails fare in this challenging environment? People are talking about possibilities:

RESOURCES from agencies and organizations

Recovery.gov is being updated regularly:

FHWA

USDA Forest Service

Department of Interior

Access Board - http://www.access-board.gov/recovery/

America Bikes Coalition - http://www.americabikes.org/

American Horse Council - http://www.horsecouncil.org/

Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals - http://www.apbp.org/

Coalition for Recreational Trails - http://www.funoutdoors.com/coalitions/crt

National and Community Service / Americorps Funding

National Center for Bicycling & Walking - http://www.bikewalk.org/

National Parks Conservation Association: take action

National Recreation and Park Association

League of American Bicyclists - http://www.bikeleague.org/

National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse

Rails to Trails Conservancy - http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html

Safe Routes to School

StreetsBlog

Your comments and suggestions

arrow Also see Planning for reauthorization of federal transportation funding

ARCHIVE SECTION: BILLS AND FUNDING ISSUES NO LONGER CURRENT

Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008 (S.22)

Rail banking and rails to trails legislation

Funding for NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

 

 

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