RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY

Trail policy: as the nation's foremost advocacy organization for trails and active transportation, the conservancy seeks to grow and safeguard public funding for trails, walking and bicycling at every level - federal, state and local - ensuring the investments needed to create a transformative 21st century active transportation system in america and promoting policies that make trail building possible.at the federal level, the conservancy leads efforts to grow and protect the legacy transportation alternatives program (which includes the recreational trails program) - the largest source of funding for trail development and maintenance - and advocates for innovations in public funding including championing the active transportation infrastructure investment program, which establishes competitive grants that will strategically invest in projects that connect trails and active transportation infrastructure.as the country's only national organization solely committed to defending the preservation of former railroad corridors for continued public use, the conservancy has helped shape the legal framework around railtrails and continues to defend the federal railbanking statute in congress and the courts as an essential tool to preserve unused rail corridors. The conservancy also monitors litigation on cases involving enforcement of federal laws related to railbanking.

Member programs: in addition to the programs provided through public information and education, the conservancy also digitizes member and constituent information in alignment with the organization's comprehensive gis database of more than 45,000 miles of trails, creating a centralized resource that assists the organization in identifying opportunities for linking trail systems, and mobilizing grassroots support of trail projects. Other activities include delivery of member benefit and service programs.

Research: the conservancy's research program focuses on creating innovative tools that empower communities to advance trail systems in their cities, towns and regions, while also monitoring the benefits trails bring to communities, the impact trails have on people and places, and the implementation of state and federal programs that provide the funding and resources to build and maintain trails.