RTC TrailBlog : financing funding

Help Win Funding for Florida's Rail-Trails with a Click on Facebook!

Ken Bryan (RTC) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:06:00 GMT

This April, one of our long-standing partners, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL), has launched a community engagement campaign called The Pursuit. This month-long voting competition invites BCBSFL's Facebook fans to vote for their favorite nonprofit, and we're excited that Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is one of three organizations on the ballot!

If we get the most votes by the end of the month, we could win up to $3,000 for our trail-building work in Florida -- not to mention great promotion of rail-trails across the state. So how can you take part and vote?

Visit the BCBSFL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BCBSFL, and then click to "like" them as an organization.
After that, you can find "The Pursuit" page through a link on the lefthand sidebar.
Next, select the "click here to vote" button. You'll be asked to accept the voting "app," but rest assured our agreement with BCBSFL prohibits them from accessing, utilizing, storing or sharing any personal information other than using a voter's login ID to ensure individuals vote only once per day.
On the next page, you can vote for RTC out of the three choices.
If you're still not clear on the process, BCBSFL has posted a quick how-to video on YouTube.

Even a single vote from you will be a huge help. But in this competition, you can vote every day until the end of April. So if your clicking fingers are up to the challenge, we'd love for you to vote as often as you're able or willing to do so! Also, to spread our reach as far as possible, you can forward this e-mail to friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to support RTC as well.

Thank you for your great support. Let's win The Pursuit!

Webinar: Promoting Equity in the Next Federal Transportation Bill

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:48:00 GMT

As the White House and Congress jumpstart a dialogue about the next federal surface transportation bill, the Equity Caucus at Transportation for America invites you to join them on Friday, March 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. EST for a webinar focused on how we can expand mobility and opportunity for all Americans, including low-income populations and communities of color, through smart and equitable transportation investments.

The Bus to the Capitol: Promoting Equity in the Next Federal Transportation Bill will feature:

Roy Kienitz, Undersecretary of Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation
Wade Henderson, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
James Corless, Director, Transportation for America
Radhika Fox, Federal Policy Director, PolicyLink (Moderator)

Join the webinar to:

Hear about the Obama Administration’s blueprint for the transportation bill
Get an update on Congressional activity on transportation
Learn how to get engaged in advocacy for a transportation bill that creates strong, healthy communities of opportunity

We hope you’ll join us. Register today!

Also, please stay tuned for future webinars hosted by the Equity Caucus at Transportation for America.

The Equity Caucus at Transportation for America--formed by the nation’s leading civil rights, community development, racial justice, economic justice, faith-based, health, housing, labor, environmental justice, tribal, public interest, women’s and transportation organizations--drives transportation policies that advance economic and social equity in America. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a member of the Equity Caucus.

What Do Americans Think About Transportation Funding?

Steve Schweigerdt (RTC) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:34:00 GMT

Bringing up tax hikes or new taxes in the current political climate is a scary prospect. Nevertheless, a panel of transportation experts brought together by the Commonwealth Club did just that as they investigated what's possible in the current anti-tax climate. Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal of Mineta Transportation Institute presented the results of the institute's latest nationwide opinion survey, which analyzed public support for options to increase the gas tax or institute a mileage tax to fill the gap in transportation funding. The panel also included William Millar of American Public Transportation Association, John Horsley of AASHTO and California state Sen. Alan Lowenthal.

A couple key points from the survey were that:

Linking transportation tax to environmental benefits will increase support, specifically if the tax helps address global warming.
Support for gas taxes can be significantly increased with good program design.

According to the panelists, the most successful measures have been local voter initiatives where the benefits of the funding are easily understood. Seventy-three percent of these local measures, including transit measures, have passed since 2000, and 67 percent of the survey respondents said that maintaining current infrastructure is a priority.

The panelists portrayed the gas tax increase as a needed short-term fix, but a restructuring of transportation financing is necessary for long-term investment in the system. William Millar reminded the audience that we shouldn't assume that the way things are can never change. We spent the last 60 years building the system we have, he said, and we can spend the next 60 building a better system.

It's useful information to keep in mind as we continue to build support for RTC's Campaign for Active Transportation and refocus priorities for the precious funding available.

California Planning Grants Available

Karl Wirsing (RTC) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:55:00 GMT

Funding for trails and other strategies to create bikeable, walkable communities is available through two California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) grant programs. Caltrans is now accepting applications, and the deadline to apply is April 1, 2010. The two grant categories are:

Environmental Justice grants: Promote community involvement in planning to improve mobility, access and safety while promoting economic opportunity, equity, environmental protection and affordable housing for low-income, minority and Native American communities.
Community-Based Transportation Planning Grants: Coordinated transportation and land use planning that promotes public engagement, livable communities, and a sustainable transportation system which includes mobility, access, and safety.

Each program has $3 million total available for grants for the FY2010-11 year; individual grant requests are capped at $300,000. Check with Caltrans to access the Grant Guidelines, application, a toolbox and other helpful information. Applications are due by April 1, 2010, to the local Caltrans District office. For more information on Environmental Justice grants, contact Marlon Flournoy, 916.651.6889 for Community-Based Transportation Planning grants, contact Russ Walker, 916.651.6886.

To learn more about other trail projects in California, visit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Western Regional Office.

San Jose's Annual Trail Count Sees Usage Increase 10 percent

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:27:00 GMT

For the past three years, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services of the city of San Jose, Calif., has conducted an extensive user count and survey of its major trails and greenways. This year's count, which was conducted on September 23, has resulted in some encouraging statistics:

Usage is up: The overall number of trail users was 9.6 percent higher than a year ago
Most use the trails for transportation: 53 percent of trail users reported their primary use of the trail was to commute or run errands
They're using the trails more often: 68 percent reported that their usage of the trail system has increased "significantly" or "a little" in the past two years
Trail users feel safe: 99.4 percent reported feeling "very safe" or "somewhat safe" on the city's trail system

There are even more numbers that quantify the good things happening on San Jose's trails–you can read all the details in the city's press release, fact sheet, summary report and survey questions and findings. You can also review survey results from 2007 and 2008 on the department's trail count website, as well. The city notes on its trail survey page that reliable statistics about trail usage have helped the city secure more than $1 million in trail funding.

Photo of Guadalupe River Trail by Yves Zsutty, City of San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services.

Post edited from original version to include new photo and fixed links.

Top 10 Facts About Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:04:00 GMT

RTC partner America Bikes recently came out with a list of the top ten facts about bicycling and walking in the United States. These intriguing facts may get the gears turning - on your bike and in your head. Some of these facts come from Active Transportation for America, a report released by RTC in October 2008. The full fact sheet, which includes citations, is listed in our Library.

Bicycling and walking make up 10% of all trips made in the United States, but receive less than two percent of federal transportation funding.
Bicyclists and pedestrians account for 13% of traffic fatalities, but receive less than one percent of federal safety funding.
40% of all trips in America are two miles or less, 74% of which are traveled by car.
Americans spend, on average, 18% of their annual income for transportation. The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is 3.75% ($308) of an average car ($8,220).
A small reduction in driving causes a large drop in traffic. In 2008, the number of vehicle miles travelled dropped 3%, translating to a nearly 30% reduction in peak hour congestion.
Transportation sources account for 70% of our nation's oil consumption and for 30% of total U.S. GHG emissions.
Simply increasing bicycling and walking from 10% of trips to 13% could lead to fuel savings of around 3.8 billion gallons a year. This is equivalent to having 19 million more hybrid cars on the road.
89% of Americans believe that transportation investments should support the goals of reducing energy use.
71% of Americans report that they would like to bicycle more. 53% favor increasing federal spending on bicycle lanes and paths.
For the price of one mile of four‐lane urban highway, around $50 million, hundreds of miles of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure can be built, an investment that could complete an entire network of active transportation facilities for a mid-sized city.

Photo by richardmasoner on Flickr.

Active Transportation Programs Eligible for $650 million Available Through New Public Health Grants

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Via Safe Routes to School National Partnership:

On September 17, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new program: Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Thirty to forty communities will receive a total of $373 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars through this competitive grant program to support interventions that reduce obesity (through improved physical activity and nutrition) and/or reduce tobacco use. Communities can apply for either focus area or both. This landmark opportunity is aimed at mobilizing community resources toward broad-based policy, systems, organizational and environmental changes. The application places an emphasis on communities demonstrating effective coalitions, and notes that special consideration should be given to the inclusion of populations disproportionately affected by chronic diseases.

On September 29, 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of $120 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for prevention and wellness programs for U.S. states and territories, building on the recent announcement of the $373 million funding opportunity for communities and tribes around the country. In all, the comprehensive Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative will make $650 million available for public health efforts to address obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking.

Lead Applicants: Local and State Health Departments

Deadlines:

Letter of Intent Deadline: October 30, 2009
Application Deadline: December 1, 2009

The Opportunity for Bike/Ped and Health Officials: Communities Putting Prevention to Work provides an important opportunity for bicycle and pedestrian professionals, enthusiasts, and advocates, as well as health officials, to act quickly to get your city or state to:

Apply for the funding;
Educate the health department about the range of bike/ped interventions that can be included in their application and action plan; and
Include your organization as a partner in the effort.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has worked with our partners at America Bikes and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to prepare a list of sample bike/ped activities that fit within the five categories of evidence-based interventions that are required as part of this CDC application. We encourage you to review these sample activities and assess which would work well in your community. Funds are available to make these projects a reality—so it is in your interest to work with your health department to develop the bike/ped aspects of the CDC application for obesity prevention, and to demonstrate how your organization can be a resource to them.

Act Now to Contact Your Health Department and City Officials: Now is the time to contact your health department and city officials to encourage them to apply, and to share your ideas on bike/ped interventions. Don’t wait – health departments are making decisions now about whether to apply, and what to propose in their grant applications.

Populations greater than 500,000: If you live in a city or county with a population of 500,000 people or more, your local city or county health department will be the lead applicant on the grant. You should find and contact the health department staff person who is the lead on physical activity or obesity. In addition, you should contact your Mayor and City Council members to urge them to ask the health department to apply for this grant with a focus on bike/ped to increase physical activity.
Populations less than 500,000: If you live in a city, county, or community with a population of less than 500,000 people, then your State Department of Health will be the lead applicant. States can only choose two communities throughout the whole state to sponsor, so it will be important to reach out soon. Work with your local health department, Mayor or members of the Board of Supervisors to encourage them to reach out to the state department of health to include your community in the state’s application.
Tribal Applicants: If you live in a tribal area, you should work with the health department lead staff on physical activity or obesity to prepare the application. Tribes are permitted to apply directly.

Application Focus: The CDC Request for Proposals notes that the “key to the success of this initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, will be to implement community-wide policies, systems, and environmental changes that reach across all levels of the socio-ecological model and include the full engagement of the leadership in city government, boards of health, schools, businesses, community and faith-based organizations, community developers, transportation and land use planners, parks and recreation officials, health care purchasers, health plans, health care providers, academic institutions, foundations, other Recovery Act-funded community activities, and many other community sectors working together to promote health and prevent chronic diseases. Funded programs need to build on, but not duplicate current Federal programs as well as state, local, or community programs and coordinate fully with existing programs and resources in the community.”

Please note that construction and research are not eligible activities.

Resource Links:

Grant Information details available at Grants.gov
CDC’s Community Health Resources
Sample Bike/Ped Interventions for Communities Putting Prevention to Work
Potential Partners: Bicycle and Pedestrian Organizations Operating at Local and State Levels
Health Officials Action Alert