The Inside Track
Exclusive News in Trails and Active Transportation
By Isabelle Lord, with contributions from Patrick Wojahn, Drew Dupuy and Kevin Mills
Updates From Capitol Hill and the Federal Government
Thriving Communities Program Launch
Oct. 6, 2022, marked the launch of the Thriving Communities Program (TCP), which is a $30 million grant program designed to provide underserved communities with the resources they need to compete for landmark federal infrastructure funding. The program, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), emphasizes the overlap between transportation infrastructure improvements and affordable housing investments.
The application process includes applications for both Letters of Interest (LOI) and Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Community leaders who wish to receive technical assistance through the program should submit an LOI by Dec. 6. RTC encourages local partners representing low-income and BIPOC populations to consider applying for assistance. Capacity builders interested in aiding underserved communities through the program should apply for funding under the NOFO by Nov. 22. Capacity builders are invited to apply individually or as part of a team, but note that only three to six grantees will be chosen from across the nation. The launch of the TCP includes a new DOT Navigator tool designed to help communities navigate technical assistance resources.
Learn more about the program, including how to apply, by visiting the USDOT's TCP page.
The Continued Fight for Appropriations for Connectivity Grants
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) continues to advocate for funding for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP), which would provide direct federal grants to plan and construct safe and connected trail and active transportation networks. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), passed in 2021, authorized the program but did not appropriate funding for it.
This summer, the U.S. House of Representatives passed several appropriations bills in an omnibus that included $100 million for the ATIIP. Although the Senate has not debated on or passed any appropriations bills, the Senate Democrats released a transportation funding bill that, unfortunately, only included $25 million for the program. Both numbers fall far short of the $500 million per year included in the Connecting America's Active Transportation System Act—an amount that would go much further in addressing the significant nationwide demand for this investment—or the $200 million per year authorization level. Since the minimum total size for eligible projects (including not just the amount from ATIIP, but all other project revenue) is $15 million, RTC is concerned that the amount passed might only result in funding for the construction of very few projects.
At the end of September, Congress passed a temporary spending bill to keep the government running until mid-December—buying more time to pass a full-year spending bill. In the weeks to come, RTC will be working with our champions in both the House and the Senate to advocate with appropriations committee leadership for funding in the amount of at least the $100 million House of Representatives omnibus figure. If the appropriation is closer to the Senate figure, we will recommend a focus on planning grants in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to ensure broad participation.
The lead negotiators for funding levels for transportation, including ATIIP, are: Sen. Susan Collins from Maine, Sen. Brian Schatz from Hawaii, Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart from Florida and Rep. David Price from North Carolina. If you are a constituent of any of these members, please let them know that ATIIP funding is important to you.
Advocacy for a Rule to Bring Transparency and Accountability in Addressing Climate Emissions
In July, the Federal Highway Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for a rule that would require state departments of transportation (DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to establish targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from projects within the National Highway System and to track progress toward those targets. Requiring this could help facilitate additional investment in connected trails and active transportation, which have proven to be effective tactics to reduce climate emissions in the transportation sector.
In addition to submitting comments on our own behalf, RTC coordinated coalition activity that resulted in over 100,000 total comments in support of the rule, including more than 14,850 comments from RTC members. These comments support the proposed rule and urge passage as soon as possible, so that state DOTs and MPOs will actively integrate climate-emission reduction strategies when making decisions on how to invest the billions of dollars available through the infrastructure bill.
Read RTC's recent blog post about the proposed rule change to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The Inflation Reduction Act Includes Active Transportation Connectivity!
In addition to the tens of billions of dollars of potential active transportation investments put forth in last year's infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act that passed Congress this summer includes a $3 billion investment in the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant program, which could fund connected networks of trails, cycle tracks and sidewalks. The bill includes specific language included in the Connecting America's Active Transportation System Act to fund the planning and construction of trail and active transportation networks intended to reconnect communities torn apart by highways and other infrastructure. Historically, many low-income communities and Communities of Color have been disrupted, destroyed and displaced due to the construction of highways, and trails are now being used as effective tools to help reconnect and revitalize them. The Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant program also includes planning grants that can help communities improve community engagement, including helping to ensure that impacted communities have a seat at the table in determining transportation priorities—long a priority of RTC!
Reconnecting Communities NOFO Application Closed for FY 2022
On June 30, the USDOT released their Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities Program, which will provide $1 billion over the next five years to communities that have been separated from economic opportunities due to transportation infrastructure. The pilot program is the first federal program to have funding dedicated to reconnecting communities affected by divisive infrastructure.
The application period closed on Oct. 13, and awards are expected to be announced in early 2023. Please let us know if you applied to this program to help us track progress. The Reconnecting Communities Program was established under the BIL as a five-year discretionary grant program; therefore, it is important to plan ahead to take advantage of an expected FY 2023 NOFO. When FY 2022 awards are made, RTC will provide an analysis of USDOT priorities to help in this process.
Read more about the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program on the USDOT's website.
RAISE Grants Supporting Active Transportation Investments
In August, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that more than $2.2 billion from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program would be used to fund 166 projects across the nation. The year 2022 saw a substantial percentage of RAISE program grants going toward trail development and active transportation projects. Seventy percent of the funding is for projects that include at least one element of walking and biking. More than 10% of the total funding will go to projects that consist solely of walking and biking, and trails constitute well over half (63%) of this portion.
Examples of funded projects include:
- An initiative by the Washington State Department of Transportation that aims to connect residents in the City of Yakima without access to a personal vehicle to services and jobs by plotting on- and off-street (trail) routes between communities and key destinations
- A bridge connectivity project plan on the North Dakota-Minnesota border that aims to raise the crossing up and out of the floodplain in the area and connect it to regional trail systems in Fargo and Moorhead
The 2022 grant distribution demonstrates that the USDOT recognizes the importance of providing people with safe and connected places to walk, roll and move through their communities.
Want more guidance and ideas on funding? Be sure to look at RTC's Public Funding Page for Trails and Active Transportation, which features information on dedicated and eligible funding sources.
News From the State Capitols
While most states' legislatures adjourn by the Memorial Day time period, we still saw some exciting victories for trails and active transportation over the summer:
- California: The state made a staggering $1 billion additional investment in its Active Transportation Program from surplus funds, marking the biggest state-level commitment of resources for trails, walking and biking in American history. California also committed $35 million in new funding for recreational trails.
- Virginia: The politically divided Virginia General Assembly passed a bipartisan funding proposal for $93 million for trails ($79 million in state funds; $14 million from federal American Rescue Plan, or ARP, monies).
- New Jersey: Last year, New Jersey significantly increased its state contribution to trails from $1 million per year to about $16 million. For the new fiscal year, the legislature renewed those funds and added more for a total of more than $24 million.
- Iowa: The Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Iowa received $3.5 million in ARPA funding (put into a new program they are calling Destination Iowa) to pave the remaining 16 miles of the trail that are unpaved.
- Kansas: The state's parks department received nearly $25 million in federal RAISE grants for the Flint Hills Trail. RTC supported state-based partners a few years ago on a successful bill to put this trail under the auspices of the state parks department (for better access to funding and maintenance).
- Pennsylvania: PA appropriated $100 million for an Outdoor Recreation Initiative of which trails may be eligible for some portion.
Resources and Must-Read News:
Recent Webinar: Making the Most of Transportation Funds in Your State
This webinar covered the 2021 Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE) report and important new federal funding sources implemented through state departments of transportation, with a focus on the new Carbon Reduction Program, as well as important new guidelines, funding and eligibility in the Transportation Alternatives program.
From the Trail Blog:
In September, RTC staff embarked on an eight-week "Swap-a-Trip" challenge to encourage active transportation in the name of our planet and our well-being. Check out some tips on how to effectively and safely walk, bike and roll instead of taking the wheel for your daily commute or errands.
Ian Mackay broke world records in June when he successfully traveled the longest distance in 24 hours using a mouth-controlled power wheelchair. On Sept. 21, Mackay embarked on a 12-day ride along the 475-mile easternmost portion of the Great American Rail-Trail, from D.C. to Columbus, Ohio. His many adventures supports Ian's Ride, founded by Ian in 2017 to promote outdoor accessibility.
RTC's Trail Moments Initiative seeks to elevate trail voices around the country to better understand how trails impact the lives of Americans. Ivory Levert and Angela Mitchell, co-founders of Black Women In Nature, are on a mission to create a safe space for Black women in the outdoors and are sharing their #TrailMoments in the process.
From the Webinar Archives:
The Great American Rail-Trail, the nation's first cross-country multiuse trail, will have a significant economic impact for the communities it serves, according to a new analysis implemented by Headwaters Economics in partnership with RTC. Webinar attendees learned why and how the study was done, what the results are, and how best to communicate these findings with the right audiences to maximize impact. The webinar also featured an example of how to maximize economic benefits from the trail through lessons learned from the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa, located along the Great American Rail-Trail.
Tips, comments, suggestions? Send them to policy@railstotrails.org.
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