RTC TrailBlog : transportation enhancements

Chomping at the Bit, Tennessee Community Finds Ways to Make Rail-Trail Happen Faster

Jake Lynch — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:12:00 GMT

The people of Putnam County in central Tennessee are getting impatient. The money is lined up and the plans have been drawn--like a child on Christmas morning, they can see the gift under the tree but have to wait a few more excruciating moments to unwrap it.

That gift is the Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail, and palatable local energy has the project moving ahead with speed. On November 16, an initial half-mile section of the trail will open to the public. But this is just the first phase of what will be a 19-mile trail along an active rail line between the county seat of Cookeville and downtown Monterey.

Aware that the rail-trail will immediately bring a myriad of benefits to local residents and businesses, Ken Hall, Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail board chairman, has his eyes well beyond phase 1 and is pushing for construction of subsequent sections. Thanks in large part to a $600,000 federal government Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant, the funding is already in place. Hall is now working on an expedited completion proposal--his plan for how the communities in the county can get the rail-trail built faster.

"I'm an impatient guy," Hall told Cookeville's Herald-Citizen. "I wanted this done last year. This trail would bring in additional tourism bucks. It will be a big draw."

His proposal involves each municipal body involved in the project--Algood, Monterey, Cookeville and the county--donating equipment and one employee each, to work three days per week. The municipal employees would supervise eligible construction-qualified inmates from the local jail. Volunteers will also be recruited to be involved with construction.

Way to get it done, Putnam County! We look forward to a future of many more ribbon-cuttings for the Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail.

Photos courtesy TCHRT's facebook page

With Strong Local Support, Rail-Trail Projects Move Forward in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania

Jake Lynch — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Excellent rail-trail news out of the Northeast this week, with communities in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania taking important steps toward opening new segments in their area.

In Salem, N.H., the Eagle Tribune reported that town selectmen voted unanimously to allow work to begin on converting a 2.6-mile section of the former Boston and Maine Railroad corridor into a multi-use trail (right).

The project, being referred to as the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor, has received strong local support since it was first suggested in the 1990s. The Granite State Wheelmen bicycling club, Rockingham Christian Church, the Salem Kiwanis Club, Eastern Mountain Sports and three anonymous donors have raised $25,000 to contribute to construction. And volunteer workers are waiting in the wings. The Iron Horse Preservation Society has been contracted to remove the old rail tracks and ties, work they do free of charge to the local municipalities, recouping their expenses by selling the salvaged steel.

This section in Salem will one day be part of a 120-mile trail between Lebanon, to the northwest, and Lawrence, just across the border in Massachusetts. This grand vision is being supported by federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) grants of more than $1.3 million.

In Manor Township, Pa., local officials have set 2013 as the completion date for 1.5 miles of trail along the former Enola Low Grade rail line from Turkey Hill to Safe Harbor Dam.

The public works crew has begun clearing brush and debris to prepare for laying the trail. Manor Township Public Works Director Mark Harris told Penn Manor News the municipality was exploring ways to reduce the financial impact of initial work.

"We want to do what we can in-house but maintain our level of service," he said. "We can build a mile and a half. We'll start at the dam and go north. It's conceivable that by mid-November we'll be laying trail."

Image courtesy of Friends of the Salem Bike-Ped Corridor

Delaware Affirms Commitment to Active Transportation

Jake Lynch — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:10:00 GMT

The vision and leadership of Delaware Governor Jack Markell and the state's senior transportation officials continues to pay off for the citizens of their state.

In a speech to mark National Bike to Work Day last year, acting secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), Cleon Cauley, Sr., went on record as saying biking and walking were a growing part of the state's transportation needs, and "to ignore this trend is to do a great disservice to the people of Delaware."

A little more than a year later, Delaware's transportation advocates are celebrating the opening of the long-anticipated Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail in the city of Newark. The two-mile walking and biking trail, which was funded in part by the federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) program and partly through a federal earmark, passes through downtown Newark, connecting transit hubs, a university campus and shopping areas with parks and recreation spots.

Gov. Markell, U.S. Senator Tom Carper and Newark Mayor Vance A. Funk III are all planning to attend Monday's grand-opening celebration of a transportation and recreation facility that was the city's most-demanded project.

"The goal is to encourage people to get out of their automobiles and either walk or ride their bikes to destinations where they might normally drive," Newark Parks and Recreation Director Charles Emerson told the Newark Post.

With Little Backing From Municipalities, Volunteers Build Stunning Rail-Trail in Idaho

Jake Lynch — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's new report, Community Built: Stories of Volunteers Creating and Caring for Their Trails, contains inspiring examples of everyday Americans across the country using their community strength to create incredible trails.

With resources for trail development and maintenance often limited or nonexistent, it can be disheartening for volunteers and advocates who face seemingly insurmountable planning challenges and multi-million dollar estimates.

But Community Built gives trail champions a reason to take heart, because across the country, stories abound of trails getting developed, extended and cared for with minimal resources.

In rural Idaho, Friends of the Weiser River Trail (FWRT) has been able to build and maintain an 85-mile rail-trail with no significant municipal or county backing. FWRT did all of the hard work themselves, encountering opposition from both county governments and private property owners along the way, several of whom filed lawsuits against the friends group.

FWRT also had no meaningful way of enforcing trail regulations since they were not backed by ordinances. Despite the adversity, they wisely leveraged equipment and volunteer operators to help create and maintain a trail so beautiful that it was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2010. Much of the credit goes to the hard-working FWRT board of directors, which represented many different user groups and helped involve those groups in the trail-building process. Strong membership, support from multiple growing events, and an endowment will keep FWRT strong in its pursuit of improvements on the Weiser River Trail.

This organization took title to the railbanked corridor in August 1997 through a donation by Union Pacific Railroad with an appraised value of $12 million. The corridor contains 60 trestle bridges, crossing the river, roads and highways numerous times.

FWRT earns about $7,500 a year sponsoring a number of yearly events, including an annual relay run at the end of April between Council and Midvale. Events are used as an opportunity to recruit new members and introduce the trail to a wider audience.

Each of the three local chambers of commerce supports the trail due to its economic benefit, and the few sponsored events during the year do bring in significant local investment. The trail development and maintenance budget is approximately $125,000 a year, most of which is spent on local vendors, businesses and contractors.

Ridley grocery stores' Home Town Advantage program donates $6,000 a year to the trail, and all trestle repairs and most trail development have been funded by grants from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Other than grants, membership fees are the largest consistent sources of revenue. The trail has been paved through the towns of Weiser, Cambridge and Council, using Transportation Enhancement (TE) grants.

To learn more about how FWRT, and trails groups elsewhere, have been able to do incredible things with limited resources, read or download Community Built at www.railstotrails.org.

Photos courtesy of Friends of the Weiser River Trail

All Across Texas, Cities Boost Bike-ability

Jake Lynch — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Ah, so now I understand why all my exes live in Texas...

Historically, the Lone Star State has not always been the most bike-friendliest of places, with car-centric development and a lack of a robust biking and walking culture defining many of its cities and larger towns.

The times are a'changing, however. In centers like Denton, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Fort Worth, planners are recognizing the importance of bike (and pedestrian) infrastructure, and as a result, ridership and bike-inspired initiatives are on the up.

The latest developments:

The city of San Antonio is expanding its bike-share program, which when launched in 2011 was the first fully developed bike-share program in the state. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is partnering with the city, and San Antonio Bike Share, to expand the B-Cycle bike share system south of downtown to connect to the park.

Already the second-busiest B-Cycle system in America, with an average of more than 6,700 riders per day logging a total of more than 106,000 miles, San Antonio officials have set themselves the goal of further expanding the bike-share program beyond the existing 23 stations in downtown San Antonio to connect other key points of interest in surrounding areas.

In Austin, the local energy for better bike infrastructure is so great that local businesses have kicked in $500,000 to help pay for, and manage, a bike-share system. Supported by a federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant, the managers of Lance Armstrong's Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop in downtown Austin and a number of other Austin businesspeople are setting up a nonprofit organization to run the bike-share program, which will feature 30 to 50 stations covering downtown and central east Austin.

Securing TE money for the bike-share system is part of a broader initiative by the city of Austin to improve their local traffic capacity and performance, and livability rating, by adding more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly bridges and protected bike lanes. The bike-share system is expected to launch in 2013.

Elsewhere in the state, earlier this year the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $3 million in Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants for 26 trail projects across Texas. The funded projects include sections of the North East Texas Trail, an ambitious rail-trail plan to develop a connected corridor from New Boston, just west of Texarkana, to Farmersville, just north of Dallas.

A large and dedicated group has committed themselves to this 132-mile trail along former rail lines, which run through beautiful Texas backwoods and unspoiled blackland prairie. When completed, it will be the longest trail system in the state, and an incredible trail tourism asset for the region.

Nice work, Texas. You're on a roll.

Both photos courtesy Lisa Krantz/San Antonio Express-News

Rail-With-Trail Project Moves Ahead in Tennessee

Jake Lynch — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:00 GMT

Great news from the city of Cookeville in central Tennessee with an exciting rail-with-trail project there moving through the stages of approval.

It is hoped the Cookeville City Council will this week give approval to phase two of the Cookeville Trail, a 3.7-mile section along an active railroad track from the Algood ball fields to Parragon Road.

The Cookeville Trail will eventually run 19 miles from Cookeville east to Monterey. Also referred to as the Tennessee Central Heritage Trail, the project has been funded by a $600,000 Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant to the city of Cookeville. In announcing the grant last year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said the rail-with-trail would “provide its residents and visitors with a livable, walkable community.”

“The Tennessee Central Heritage Trail project gives a unique opportunity to showcase the area’s history and character,” Haslam said. “I’m pleased we could make this investment in Putnam County as we work to make Tennessee an even better place to live, work and play.”

Map courtesy of Crouch Engineering.

Trails Are Not Important For America?

Jake Lynch — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:30:00 GMT

America - are you ready for more traffic congestion, sprawl, obesity, fumes and oil dependence?

Right now, U.S. Congress is preparing to release a reauthorization of the Federal Transportation Bill that looks set to decimate funding for walking and biking infrastructure in favor of more spending on highways.

Information on the particulars of the bill is scarce, because the small group of senators and representatives involved are holding their negotiations behind closed doors.

But we understand that the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, which for the last 20 years has been the largest, and only dedicated federal, source of funding for trails, walking and biking infrastructure, will be scrapped. There are also reports that Safe Routes to Schools has been eliminated, and the information about the Recreational Trails program, another major source of funding for America's trails, is ominous.

Supporters of this disastrous transportation legislation that would undo more than 20 years of innovation and efficiency gains are framing it as a "jobs bill." The reality is that with roughly equivalent funding levels and little long-term security, the promise of significant job gains is dubious, and will certainly be outweighed by a rollback of decades of progress in promoting balanced transportation choices.

Make no mistake, if this bill emerges it represents Congress telling you that "Trails Are Not Important For America."

RTC will continue to monitor developments and notify you of significant decisions.

Be ready to oppose this bill, and do your part in the fight for trails, biking and walking!

Your Voices Help Sway Senate on Transportation Bill!

Jake Lynch — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:16:00 GMT

Remember all those email actions you took, urging your senators and congressional representatives to retain funding for biking and walking in the transportation bill? Remember all the social media campaigns, phone-ins, letter-writing and calls-to-action many of you participated in to defend Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School?

We sure do! You rose to the occasion when we asked you to speak up for efforts in the U.S. Senate that would restore integral functions of trails, walking and bicycling programs that would have been lost under the bill.

And now, congratulations are in order! We are thrilled to report that the concept behind a bipartisan amendment, introduced by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), to improve local access to TE and SRTS--better assuring that the most beneficial projects will get a fair shot at approval--has now been integrated into the transportation bill (S. 1813) that went to the Senate floor on Thursday, March 8. This is a huge step forward for trails and active transportation.

In the House of Representatives, deeply flawed legislation (H.R. 7) imploded due to a lack of support, forcing leaders to rethink their approach. We do not yet know whether the House will improve its bill in an effort to win broader support, or whether they will succeed in approving a bill at all.

Things certainly look a lot better than they did a few months ago, and this is in large part because of the willingness of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's friends and supporters to speak up for the transportation future they believe in. Thank you.

Stay tuned--we will keep you apprised of developments in the passage of this crucial legislation, and of continuing opportunities to help. We have seen how powerful your voices can be, and we are likely to need your support again soon before the current transportation bill expires on March 31!

Photo of the Minuteman Bikeway in Massachusetts, which was made possible by a Transportation Enhancements grant, courtesy of www.enhancements.org.

Breaking News: Reid's Draft of Transportation Bill a Better Picture for Bike/Ped

Jake Lynch — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:21:00 GMT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (right) yesterday filed a new version of the federal transportation reauthorization bill that is expected to secure enough votes to proceed to a floor debate.

This new Senate bill includes a number of changes that are significant to supporters of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and our many partner organizations working to secure continued funding for walking and biking infrastructure.

Most notably, the Reid draft includes the addition of a modified version of the bipartisan amendment cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), to provide greater local access to Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School funds.

This marks an interim victory for proponents of trails, bicycling and walking, as one of two amendments we have been seeking is now largely reflected in the bill advanced by Senate leaders of both parties.

The amendment would make the following changes to Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School:

Decisions about how to allocate funds would be made by competitive grants focused on applications from local governments and other local entities responsible for eligible projects;
Metropolitan areas with more than 200,000 residents would select their own projects;
Transfer of funds out of the pot that supports these programs would be limited to about 10 percent of those funds. The committee bill passed in November would have allowed the entire pot to be transferred to other uses; and
Increase likelihood that dollars will be spent on eligible activities.

"We are pleased that Senate leaders have decided to improve the process for awarding Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School funds," says Kevin Mills, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's vice president of policy and trail development. "By giving locals more control over funds and limiting transfers of dollars out of the 'additional activities' pot, there will be more opportunities to continue to build trail systems and other facilities that are needed to make it safe and convenient to walk and bicycle."

"We have made remarkable progress in digging out of a deep hole. This development, along with the implosion of the deeply flawed House bill a week ago, puts us in a much better position going forward."

RTC continues to work in the Senate for the Klobuchar/Burr/Shaheen/Risch amendment to reinstate the Recreational Trails Program.

Leaders in the House of Representatives conceded late last week that there was not sufficient support to advance their version of the transportation bill. Since then, they have been considering other options to gain majority support. "It appears House leaders could secure additional support by reinstating dedicated funding for transit and Transportation Enhancements, but it is not clear that leadership is willing to make those concessions," Mills says.

Michigan Announces Funding for Two New Rail-Trail Projects

Jake Lynch — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:20:00 GMT

The farsighted vision of Fred Meijer continues to reap dividends for the people of Michigan.

When in 1994 Fred Meijer donated $265,000 to help purchase an out-of-service rail line in Greenville for what would one day become the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, few would have imagined the broad network of trails it would inspire.

Since then, the Fred Meijer Trails Network has branched out from Michigan's lower peninsula to cover hundreds of miles and dozens of communities across the state. Their popularity as tourist attractions, recreational amenities and vital urban and rural connectors has been the catalyst for strong support for trails investment in the state, with residents, businesspeople and elected officials seeing firsthand the myriad benefits they bring.

That network looks set to expand further, with the great news earlier this month that the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund had awarded $300,000 to develop eight miles of paved rail-trail through the communities of Ovid, St. Johns, Fowler, Pewamo and Muir.

These eight miles are the first stage in what will eventually be the 41.3-mile Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail (CIS). Such is the enthusiasm for trails in Michigan, plans are already afoot to link the CIS trail with the Fred Meijer Grand River Valley Trail, Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Trail and the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail to create a "super trail," allowing visitors to travel along three different rivers, through two state game areas, and through 16 towns and villages.

There was more great news for the people of Michigan with the announcement that a seven-mile rail-trail project connecting Bear Creek Township to Alanson in northern Michigan is likely to begin construction in 2012, thanks to a $942,000 federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

When complete, the 10-foot-wide asphalt trail will provide a crucial connection to the popular Little Traverse Wheelway, which runs between Harbor Springs and Charlevoix.

One of the reasons Michigan has been able to build such a model trail network is MDOT's understanding of how TE represents terrific fiscal value for the state.

"This federal funding helps pay for improvements that make a real difference in economic development and quality of life," MDOT's state transportation director, Kirk T. Steudle, told the Petoskey News.

"Transportation enhancements like these make Michigan communities even more attractive to residents, visitors and business investors."

Photo of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail courtesy of John Pearce/TrailLink.com.

Determined Mississippi Communities Get Their Groundbreaking Moment

Jake Lynch — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:20:00 GMT

The moment when a rail-trail vision moves from blueprint to actual construction is a celebration of the ability of America's citizens, communities and businesses to act on the hopes and desires for their community, and make them real.

Last week it happened yet again, this time in northern Mississippi, where a sustained grassroots effort supported by a coalition of local municipalities won funding support for a 44-mile pathway for hikers, bikers and riders of all kinds along an former railway corridor.

Thanks to a $9.6 million Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, construction began recently on the first stage of what will be known as the Tanglefoot Trail.

The 10-foot-wide paved path for walkers, bicyclists and horseback riders will pass through three counties in rural northeastern Mississippi, and connect a number of towns between New Albany and Houston. The trail, through scenic woodlands and fields, and featuring access to historical sites, is scheduled for completion in early 2013.

The Tanglefoot Trail will run along the former Mississippi-Tennessee Railroad, built by William Faulkner's great-grandfather, Colonel William C. Faulkner, in 1872. The name Tanglefoot comes from the narrow gauge engine of the same name used during construction of the railroad.

The first section will be built in the city of New Albany and will progress southward to completion in Houston. Trail advocates and planners in Mississippi are eager to replicate the success of the Longleaf Trace to the south, which, since it opened in 2000, has become a hugely popular regional asset.

The second phase of the project will consist of the design, development and construction of gateway buildings in New Albany, Pontotoc and Houston. These facilities will serve as trail welcome centers. 'Whistle Stops,' or rest area facilities, will be located in the Ingomar, Ecru, Algoma and New Houlka communities. Already, local entrepreneurs are being asked to consider ways to capitalize on trail traffic through restaurants, cafes, bike shops, bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds and retail opportunities close to the trail.

Aware of the need to coordinate their individual energy for the project, in 2006 the various municipalities along the trail's route--Chickasaw County, Pontotoc County, Union County, town of Algoma, town of Ecru, city of Houston, city of New Albany, town of New Houlka and the city of Pontotoc--came together to form a Rails to Trails Recreational District. The result was an impressive study in cooperation that ultimately impressed transportation officials of the broad regional demand for the trail.

According to Kelly Pack, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's director of trail development, the announcement of funding for the Tanglefoot Trail is particularly timely, as the U.S. Congress considers a transportation reauthorization bill that could potentially eliminate or severely hobble TE and RTP.

"As we see here, these grant programs enable local entities to build the assets they know their communities need," she says. "They are powerful programs. They are an incredibly efficient use of transportation spending, but it's more than that. They reward this grassroots cooperation--and allow cities and municipalities and residents and local businesses to make good on their visions for where they live."

Photo of the Tanglefoot Corridor courtesy of Michael Jones.

Senate Amendment For Trails Attracts Republican Cosponsor

Jake Lynch — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's (RTC) policy staff have been working hard on Capitol Hill these past few weeks to ensure the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate pass transportation bills that protect dedicated funding for trails, walking and biking. It's been a wild few days.

As the respective bills take shape, here's the latest, as of Thursday morning:

In the Senate, RTC has taken a leadership position among a broad coalition of groups promoting two bipartisan amendments to the current Senate bill (officially titled S. 1813, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century" or MAP-21) that would restore dedicated funding for trails and active transportation through Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program.

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) have introduced an amendment (#1549) that would ensure local communities have a fair shot at dedicating funds for trails, walking and bicycling.

RTC received word late yesterday that Senator Amy Klobuchar's (D-Minn.) amendment to restore the Recreational Trails Program has attracted a Republican cosponsor, meaning the amendment will have bipartisan support. RTC hopes to be able to announce that cosponsor later today or tomorrow.

Please support these amendments by filling out this quick and simple email form.

A vote on the House transportation bill (H.R. 7) has been delayed until after next week's Presidents Day recess, a sign that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) feels he does not have the necessary votes to pass the bill, which has been widely criticized for its drastic reduction or elimination of funding for trails, biking, walking and transit. The White House issued a statement yesterday saying that President Obama would veto this legislation in the unlikely event that it passes a House vote.

House Republican leaders have indicated they will seek to dismantle H.R. 7 and submit its individual elements to the floor for separate discussion.

Stay tuned to RTC's TrailBlog for the latest news from Capitol Hill on the passage of this critical legislation.

Volusia County's Bright Trails Future Hinges on Survival of Transportation Enhancements

Jake Lynch — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Volusia County on central Florida's eastern coast continues to distinguish itself as one of the most proactive and energetic trails communities in the nation. And it is reaping the rewards, too, with a robust and dynamic commercial center, a growing population and a burgeoning reputation as a tourist destination.

Not resting on laurels earned by the unveiling of the Spring-to-Spring Trail and an enviable network of bike and pedestrian facilities, Volusia County is now undertaking work on what will soon be one of the longest rail-trail conversions in Florida.

The East Central Regional Rail Trail (ECRRT), which uses an abandoned section of the Florida East Coast Railway purchased by the state of Florida and leased to Volusia and Brevard counties, is being developed as a multi-use trail for walkers, runners, inline skaters, bicyclists and people with disabilities. When complete, it will travel more than 50 miles from Enterprise, east to Edgewater, and south to Titusville.

The best-laid plans don't linger too long on the drawing board in Volusia County, and work on the ECRRT has already begun. Officials plan to cut the ribbon on phase one of the trail, from Providence Boulevard near Green Springs Park in Enterprise to the intersection with State Route 415 in Osteen, in late January 2012.

"The neighbors are already using those sections that are completed, and it is a hit!" says Pat Northey, vice chair of the Volusia County Council and a respected supporter of trails projects in the region.

That Volusia has had success moving such projects from vision to completion is no accident. Thanks in part to the leadership of Northey and County Chair Frank Bruno, Volusia now sets aside a minimum of $1 million a year for trail development, which enables them to secure matching state and federal funds, providing tremendous economic value for taxpayers.

However, further construction of the ECRRT relies heavily on the continuation of the Federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) program--the only dedicated federal funding source for construction of walking and biking infrastructure. Volusia and Brevard counties are banking on more than $6.6 million of TE money programmed by the Florida Department of Transportation for the financial years 2014 to 2016. Given the current political attacks on funding for non-motorized transportation, this important funding is far from guaranteed. The future of a trail project that local officials believe will be an economic and social boon for the area is tied inextricably the future of TE; should the U.S. Congress opt to compromise or reduce TE, the ECRRT may be the first of many casualties.

"Volusia County recognizes the value of trails," Northey says. "We know that in addition to providing recreational opportunities for our residents, we are developing a nature based economic engine for the county. It isn't just about quality of life, but also building those small, niche business that support trails activities."

The region is one of many across the country in which trails are an integral component of the local economic program. A key part of the county's application for grant funding to support the construction of the ECRRT is its importance to the commercial redevelopment of downtown Titusville.

"Trails are popular amenities that draw millions of users a year, they have aided in the revitalization of downtown areas and are becoming a key amenity in new developments," reads the county's recent application for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. "The development of the East Central Regional Rail corridor into a multi-use trail promulgates the vision of the Downtown Titusville Community Redevelopment Area Plan, and it has the potential to be a catalyst in the redevelopment process... The plan notes that creating a safe and welcoming environment for pedestrians is a priority. The rail-trail will be instrumental in providing pedestrian access to the downtown area."

Florida has witnessed the energizing potential of trails before. Before the construction of the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden, the downtown area was blighted with empty storefronts. Since the trail opened the downtown area has been revitalized, with nearly 100 percent of the storefronts now occupied. In Dunedin, the arrival of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail increased occupancy rates from about 35 percent to near capacity. In Pennsylvania, businesses along the Great Allegheny Passage attribute 25 percent of their revenue to proximity to the trail.

With the timeline for completion uncertain, county planners made the conscious decision to complete the trail from the outside in. With the middle section of the trail largely rural and open space, the belief is that getting the trail ready in the populated areas first will build a solid user base, and increase demand for further connections.

"Our rail trail stretches the length of the county, and as you travel from the west to the east you travel through planted pine and hardwood hammocks and the beautiful and historic Turnbull swamp," Northey says. "The ecology along the trail is varied and beautiful, changing with the season. It will be a great ride whatever the time of year."

Photo of the Spring-to-Spring Trail, and map of the ECRRT and Spring to Spring Trail, courtesy of County of Volusia Parks, Recreation and Culture Division.

Money Talks. Now It Walks and Rides, Too.

Jake Lynch — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:15:00 GMT

Those of us who use trails regularly are aware of their value. It might mean a shorter commute to work, a convenient way to get exercise, or something less definable, the feeling of renewal you get after a long walk or ride.

But these days, when money is tight and investment in trails and other infrastructure is under threat, all too often our elected officials and administrators want to know how to define the value of trails economically. How do miles of bike paths and walkways equal returns that can be measured in dollars and sense? "Give us some hard numbers," they say.

Luckily, those numbers are proving fairly easy to find. New research released last month by the University of Cincinnati proves that homebuyers will pay more for houses that are close to trails, increasing property values and in turn boosting the amount of property tax revenue for local governments.

The research, by planning professor Rainer vom Hofe and economics professor Olivier Parent, studied houses along Ohio's Little Miami Scenic Trail, a78-mile rail-trail that cuts across the northeastern portion of Cincinnati. Parent and vom Hofe found that homebuyers were willing to pay a premium of $9,000 to be within 1,000 feet of access to the trail.

"A bike trail like this has many types of returns," vom Hofe said in an interview at www.theatlanticcities.com. "Residents can use it as a way to commute, and most people use it for recreation. For local governments, you can make a strong argument that they get back some of the money invested in these public amenities in the form of higher property taxes. We see positive spillover in more densely populated urban areas as well as less densely populated, suburban areas."

The research used street network distances between residential properties and the closest trail entrance, in addition to standard parameter estimation. The average home studied was about 40 years old and had an average 2,203 square feet of living space. The average price was $263,517.

"This study estimates some compelling figures that should make any local government dependent on property tax revenue take a second look," says RTC's Research Manager Tracy Hadden Loh. "However, the return on investment the government receives for investing in green, active infrastructure goes far beyond just property values - we need more research measuring the health and mobility benefits of trails in order to completely quantify the total return on federal investment."

As a planner, vom Hofe says that even amid tough economic times and tough budget decisions by local governments, the research emphasizes that investment in infrastructure and public amenities is a solid investment that will result in a positive return for communities.

It is not the first time that independent research has quantified the positive impact that trails have on economic activity. A 2008 study by the National Association of Homebuilders found that trails were the number one amenity desired by potential new homebuyers. And trails are one local improvement project that voters consistently support. A recent survey found that 66 percent of voters would support the imposition of additional sales tax if it was used to pay for trails and greenways.

The need to quantify the benefit of trails is a task the trails community is actively pursuing. American Trails recently hosted a webinar on "Making the Case for Trails in Tight Economic Times," during which the testimony of real estate agents, tourism promoters, planners and small businesspeople all captured the huge role trails play as drivers of economic activity. The evidence is compelling and continues to grow, highlighting the inaccuracy of political claims that trails investment represents "frivolous spending."

The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), which cost a total of $70 million to construct, generates more than $40 million in direct spending in towns along the trail each year.
The business occupancy rate in downtown Dunedin, Fla., increased from 30 percent to 95 percent following the establishment of the nearby Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail. The trail is described as an "economic engine" by the city's economic development director.
Builder magazine listed trails as one of the "lifestyle anchors" common to the 10 best-selling master planned communities in the nation.
A study by the Political Economy Research Institute found that bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure projects (11.4 and 10 jobs per $1 million, respectively) create more local jobs than roads projects (7.8 jobs).
The repeated annual economic impact of cyclists was estimated by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to be nine times the one-time cost to build bicycle facilities.
Business owners along the GAP attribute 25 percent of revenues to their proximity to the trail.
Homes in close proximity to the Minuteman Bikeway and Nashua River Rail Trail in Massachusetts sold closer to the list price than homes not close to either trail, and sold in an average of 29.3 days as compared to 50.4 days.
43 percent of visitors to the Northern Outer Banks in North Carolina report bicycling as an important factor in selecting the area for vacation, and 53 percent of visitors report bicycling as a strong influence in their decision to return for a subsequent visit.
67 percent of visitors to Florida include nature-based activities in their trips, many of which involve trails.
From an original investment of just $1.9 million, the South Platte River Greenway in Denver has been the impetus of an estimated $1 billion in residential and commercial investment in a once stagnant area close to the city.

Though the importance of trails to tourism is not a new concept, what is remarkable is the growing relationship of these pathways to real estate and small business development. The Pedal to Properties real estate franchise, which has grown from a handful of clients to 22 agencies in Colorado and California in just a few years, is built around a national trend that shows buyers are placing more importance on shorter commute times and finding a home near urban centers and public transportation. The buying experience even starts with a tour by bicycle.

On the GAP, the Trail Town Program is helping communities and businesses maximize the economic potential of the trail through grant and loan assistance, business training and technical support. As a result, since 2007 there's been an overall increase of 54 new and expanded trail-serving businesses, creating 83 new jobs in eight communities.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been at the forefront of this effort. Our groundbreaking surveys of the economic activity of trail users in the Northeast and Midwest paved the way for communities all over America to state the case for trails using data, and dollars.

It is evidence that may be worth its weight in gold during the coming months, as legislators opposing trails and active transportation use erroneous economic arguments against what has proven to make a lot of economic sense.

Top and bottom photos by Carl Knoch/RTC.
Center photo courtesy of Pulte Homes, Issaquah, Wash.

Restoring Historical Rail Stations, Restoring Lost Service

Jake Lynch — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:30:00 GMT

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has been very active of late, defending a number of legislative efforts to reduce or eliminate the federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, the largest dedicated source of funding for trails, biking and walking infrastructure.

One of these efforts, which RTC and our partners were successful in preventing, sought to prohibit investment in, among other things, the rehabilitation of historical transportation buildings. U.S. Senator John McCain's (Ariz.) proposed amendment to House appropriations bill 2112 sought to prohibit any spending of federal money on transportation projects considered by him to be a "low priority."

Among the categories Sen. McCain and other TE opponents have mislabeled as frivolous is the restoration of historic transportation buildings. Critics inaccurately say such spending on "museums" has nothing to do with transportation, but a proper examination of these projects reveals these funds have reconnected cities all across America to passenger and freight rail service, and reenergized once contracting community centers.

In convincing senators that McCain's amendment would have wide-reaching negative impacts, RTC staff pointed out a list of more than 100 projects in 36 states where TE funds have been used to rebuild dilapidated and abandoned railway stations, in both large cities and small townships. The stories of these restoration projects capture the transformative--and by no means frivolous--potential of TE investment.

Built in 1912, Union Station in Tampa, Fla., was closed to the public in 1984, as federal investment in highways and air travel reduced support for rail facilities during the preceding decades. Boarded up and uninhabited, water leaked from the roof and plaster fell from the ceiling inside this once iconic building. Nearby businesses had suffered or moved away, with the loss of Amtrak service decimating what was once a busy center of community.

Thanks to a $2.5 million TE grant, the heritage-listed Union Station was restored in 1998, not only renovating an important part of Florida's architectural history but, significantly, reconnecting Amtrak service and then adding bus, taxi and trolley service. The station now serves more than 100,000 Amtrak passengers each year, and the TE-funded restoration has spurred redevelopment in surrounding areas--and contributed richly to the transportation landscape of the region.

In Williamsburg, Va., a TE grant of $550,000 spurred matching investment of more than $760,000 to renovate the railway station once owned by Colonial Williamsburg, transforming it into a dynamic, bustling hub of transportation and tourism.

The Williamsburg Transportation Center is the only full-service transportation center in the state of Virginia, servicing Amtrak, Greyhound and Trailways Bus Lines, Williamsburg Area Transport, Colonial Rent-a-Car, Yellow Cab of Williamsburg, Colonial Cabs of Williamsburg and Williamsburg Taxi Service.

In the city of Wharton, Texas, a TE grant of just over $1 million has transformed an old depot-which had been closed to passenger service since 1948-into a transit authority administrative center. The success of the project has sparked a local effort to re-activate the passenger and freight line, saving railroad operators a several hundred-mile detour on journeys to Houston and Galveston.

"For only $125 million over 20 years, literally hundreds of working rail stations have been rehabilitated and kept operational," wrote RTC President Keith Laughlin in a letter to senators. "Communities nationwide have relied on less than 10 percent of TE funds to recycle valuable yet unused transportation infrastructure to serve functional public transportation needs, thereby boosting local economic development and mobility."

Want to help RTC and our partners across the country maintain funding for walking, biking and active transportation? It's easy to get involved! Just visit our Action Alert page to find out how you can support a sustainable transportation future in your community.

Photos of Tampa Union Station before and after its TE-funded restoration, courtesy of Friends of Tampa Union Station.