RTC TrailBlog : supporters

Watch: Detroit's Public-Private Partnerships for Trails

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:21:00 GMT

As part of the Detroit 2020 Project, WXYZ-TV took a look at the RiverWalk and the Dequindre Cut Greenway, two connecting trails created through public-private partnerships between the city of Detroit and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. As Blogroll member M-Bike.org points out, the Conservancy has taken the lead in the partnership, with staff dedicated to trail planning and maintenance.

On a related note, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is also looking for volunteers to serve as RiverWalk ambassadors. Detroit trail supporters are highly encouraged to get involved!

Watch: South Bronx Embraces a Greenway Before Pavement is on the Ground

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:17:00 GMT

At the Urban Pathways to Livable Communities conference, Miquela Craytor of Sustainable South Bronx presented on her organization's efforts surrounding the South Bronx Greenway, a planned urban pathway through a neighborhood that confronts health, congestion and open space problems on a daily basis. Although pavement for the greenway has not yet been laid, Sustainable South Bronx has engaged the community through job training, trail amenity design, block parties and other events. In this video, Craytor explains the challenges her organization has faced with this project and outlines some of the greenway's initial successes.

Watch: The Story of a Local Trail Effort in New Orleans

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:48:00 GMT

As part of the Urban Pathways to Livable Communities conference in New Orleans, a walk of the Lafitte Corridor introduced attendees to the Crescent City's own urban pathway project. The first stop on the walk was hosted by Bart Everson of Friends of Lafitte Corridor and Daniel Samuels of the Lafitte Greenway Steering Advisory Committee. In this audio slideshow, they provide some background on the history of the corridor itself and the effort to convert it to a multi-use greenway.

Missouri Governor to Save Iconic Katy Trail Bridge

Todd Christopher (RTC) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:38:00 GMT

If there is one stand-out in the rail-trail world, it may be Missouri's 225-mile Katy Trail—the longest rail-trail in the country and a hugely popular destination for trail tourists around the world.

On Thursday, February 4, Katy Trail lovers had one more reason to laud their favorite trail as Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced a plan to save the iconic "Boonville Bridge," a 400-foot-long, steel lift bridge on the MKT railroad corridor in Boonville, Mo. Once retrofitted, the bridge would seamlessly—and uniquely—connect the Katy Trail on either side of the Missouri River.

The bridge, owned by Union Pacific, has been the subject of much debate and contention since the last train crossed its tracks in 1986. Union Pacific intended to dismantle the bridge and reuse its steel to create a railroad crossing on the Osage River. The Save the Katy Bridge coalition has long-fought this action, citing the significant tourism and recreation revenue the Katy Trail generates, as well as the historical importance of the Boonville structure.

Gov. Nixon's proposal would give federal Recovery Act funds to Union Pacific to help construct the Osage River bridge, while Union Pacific would transfer ownership of the historic bridge to the city of Boonville.

We at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), long-time supporters of the Katy Trail, applaud this preservation progress. In 2008, during a trip to Jefferson City, Mo., to induct the Katy Trail into RTC's Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, RTC President Keith Laughlin and staff visited Boonville to see the bridge first-hand. We were awed by its magnificence.

Congratulations to the coalition, Gov. Nixon and all the Katy Trail supporters who never gave up on preserving this piece of railroad history.

Top right: The Boonville Bridge extends across the Missouri River and would connect the Katy Trail on the north and south banks.

Bottom left: A view of the Boonville Bridge from the south side of the Missouri River. (RTC/Jennifer Kaleba)

Rail-Trail Activities Can Help You Stick to New Year’s Resolutions

Lindsay Martin (RTC) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:35:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again. With holiday indulgences behind us and the promise of a new year ahead, one of the most popular resolutions for Americans is to start – and stick to – a regular exercise routine.

Here are some ideas for using your local rail-trail to help keep your exercise resolution:

Rail-Trail Exercise Club – Join a running or walking club, like the So Yo Trail Blazers, which meets on Saturday mornings at the Heritage Rail Trail County Park in Pennsylvania.
Rail-Trail Race – Training for a running or cycling race is another good way to incorporate regular exercise into your schedule. There are a number of races on rail-trails around the country, including the Pace of Courage in Portland, Ore.; the Katy Trail 5K in Dallas, Texas; and the Cumberland Valley Rail-Trail Race, Run, Ride, and Ramble in southern Pennsylvania.
Commuting Convoy – Join other bicyclists in your area in riding to work regularly, like the Don’t Sweat It! morning rides that RTC hosted last October on the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington, D.C.

These activities also help build awareness and support for your local rail-trails. If you can’t find a group in your area, invite your friends and neighbors and start your own. You’ll be exercising regularly in no time. And when you need a little extra motivation, the other members in your group will be there to nudge you on.

Photo by Stephen Miller/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

Vigilante Trail Maintenance

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:33:00 GMT

UPDATE: A video has been posted by Omaha.net. See it embedded above.

Omaha, Neb., gets its share of snow. Unlike many other places, the city plows its trail network to ensure that cyclists and pedestrians can get where they need to go after a storm. Despite this effort, there are blockages that occur when a plow reaches a place it cannot clear, or drifting snow covers a section of the trail. Via the RTC Blogroll comes word from Omaha Bikes of the Guerrilla Trail Crew, a group of Omaha cyclists that has decided to take snow removal into its own hands. The group's members mean that literally - they bring shovels and ride the Keystone Trail, clearing blocked sections.

Although not an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the group is looking for volunteers with shovels or snowblowers to help them remove the white stuff after Mother Nature's next winter storm. One of the Guerrilla Trail Crew's participants encourages those who are interested to take the initiative themselves: "Since there is no official 'organizer' or 'person in charge,' anyone is welcome to attack an area of trail or organize their own guerilla army. If you hear of an area that needs [to be] addressed and you have time," he wrote, "have at it."

Trail Group Looks Beyond the Trail in Quest to Encourage Neighborhood Revitalization

Stephen Miller (RTC) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:12:00 GMT

While trails bring many benefits to the neighborhoods they traverse, they do not act in isolation. Neighborhood revitalization requires allied groups working on a variety of different projects. RTC partner Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) understands this connection. It recently issued two letters of support for redevelopment projects adjacent to the Lafitte Corridor, a three-mile project rail-trail through the Mid-City, Treme and Lafitte neighborhoods of New Orleans.

Local nonprofit St. Margaret's is looking to convert the former Mercy Hospital site into a senior living facility; FOLC notes in its letter of support that "the addition of senior living facilities in this site will add value to the corridor and provide opportunities to serve constituents that are sometimes left out of public open space and recreation projects." The other project receiving a letter of support from FOLC is a proposal from Broad Community Connections to redevelop an abandoned supermarket near the corridor as a grocery, urban farm and commercial food service kitchen.

The impact of a trail - and of a trail group - extends beyond the borders of the trail corridor. FOLC's letters of support set an example for trail groups across the country: when the goals of related projects align with those of a trail project, it's worthwhile to work together and support each other's efforts.

In other news, Friends of Lafitte Corridor is having a fundraiser this Sunday. If you are in New Orleans, sign up and support this great organization.