March 2025 Policy Newsletter
Inside Track: Stand Up for Walking, Biking and Trails
Federal Funding News and Resources
This Moment in Washington
Right now, news out of Washington, D.C., is complex. There is much uncertainty about the future of funding and policies surrounding myriad issues—including trails, walking and biking. In some situations, funding that supports trails, walking and biking has been caught up in funding freezes and the pausing of federal programs.
Since January, the team at Rails to Trails Conservancy has been working closely with our partners across the country and Congressional champions to make the case that investments in trails are investments in America’s economic well-being, safety and quality of life.
Read RTC’s recently released blog, “Standing Up for Trails,” to find out more about recent developments.
How You Can Defend Biking, Walking and Trails
While RTC is focused on ensuring that trails, walking and biking are protected and prioritized, there are things you can do to reinforce the transformative impact that trail and active transportation networks deliver for the entire country.
- Tell your elected officials that safe places to walk and bike are essential to you and your community.
Your local, state and federal elected officials all have a voice in what projects and programs are prioritized and receive funding—including those that trails rely upon. But they need to hear from you about why these investments matter. Take a few minutes to share your story with your elected officials. Get specific about why trails, walking and biking matter to you, the impact they’ve had on your community, and how federal funding for trail and active transportation networks is critical to the future of your region.
Keep in mind the messages that appeal to the new leadership: safety, especially for families and children, enhancing access to economic opportunity, and improving quality of life. Members of Congress and state and local elected officials are among the most effective messengers to engage the administration and make clear that these investments and this infrastructure are essential to your community and contribute to administration priorities.
2. Take part in Celebrate Trails Day, the annual observance that showcases the impact of trails nationwide.
On April 26, thousands of people will come together across the country to celebrate the joy and impact that trails deliver. This is the perfect opportunity to show off the powerful role that trails play across your region. Consider joining an event, hosting your own event, or simply getting out on the trail and inviting your elected official along. RTC’s partner toolkit includes “Tips to Engage Elected Officials for Celebrate Trails Day.”
Click here to learn more and get involved, and check out the partner toolkit, which includes advocacy resources, here.
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued new guidance on March 12, increasing the scrutiny of unobligated and partially obligated federal grants that they deem to be inconsistent with their policy priorities.
The memo adds bicycle infrastructure in general, and recreational trails and shared-use paths in particular, to prior targets of their reviews including investments in reducing climate emissions, and diversity, equity and inclusion activities. This heightens the urgency for us all to raise the USDOT’s awareness of how trails, walking and biking support their express goals, including safety and economic development.
In a Jan. 29 memo, the USDOT described its goals of improving economic opportunity, mobility, health, safety and quality of life across the nation. We have drafted a sign-on letter for local elected officials and local chambers of commerce that describes how investments in walking and biking directly support these goals and urges the secretary to support these projects, which have been transformative for thousands of communities.
Click here to find your elected officials.
Federal Funding Updates
As there continues to be uncertainty about the future of several federal funding programs that include active transportation eligibility, we will continue to update you as we receive information. Over the past few weeks, this is what we’ve learned.
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program is expected to be released before the end of this month. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.
RAISE Becomes BUILD, again
Under the new administration, the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program has been renamed to the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program. While there is no change in the eight statutorily required criteria, these criteria have been reinterpreted to fit the new administration’s priorities.
Applications were due on Jan. 30, and project selections are expected to be announced in late June. You can find the marked-up and new versions of the NOFO (no longer active) in PDF format here.
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation Program (PROTECT)
We have received notice that the PROTECT grant is currently under review from FHWA and has been removed from Grants.gov. We will continue to update you with new information and recommend you review their website for more. Please see Grants.gov for the official message.
State Funding Wins
Despite uncertainty at the federal level, local and state funding wins are still delivering for walking, biking and trail infrastructure. Here are a few recent examples:
- Kentucky Gov. Beshear awarded 19 trail towns more than $540,000 in grant funding to support tourism and recreation. This follows last year’s legislation allocating $720,000 in funding to support a new Kentucky Trail Town grant program. You can read more about it here.
- The Oklahoma City council approved a $22 million plan for bike-ped infrastructure, which includes 7.2 miles of new bike lanes identified in the BikeWalkOKC plan. The plan, which will be funded through a local penny tax, includes trails and protected bike lanes as Tier 1 priorities. You can learn more about it here.
Opportunities for Engagement
Registration Now Open: Join Us at the TrailNation Summit in October 2025
RTC’s TrailNation™ Summit is where the vision of trail networks at the center of healthy, thriving communities becomes a reality.
Register now to join us Oct. 27–29, 2025, when RTC will gather 500 trail network visionaries, innovators and practitioners from across the country for two days of dynamic mobile workshops, immersive learning opportunities, strategic conversations and relationship building to unlock the power of trail networks for America’s communities.
Together, we’ll dive into tangible steps and real-world examples for planning, building and expanding trail and active transportation networks that are transforming America’s towns, cities and regions.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to come together to build the infrastructure of tomorrow—today.
Learn more and register today to secure early bird pricing.
Celebrate Trails Day – Save the Date: April 26, 2025
Celebrate Trails Day is an annual spring celebration of America’s trails. Started by RTC in 2013, the celebration encourages people across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems. Celebrate Trails Day is more than a day outside. It’s an opportunity to experience and share the joy and impact of trails. The 41,000+ miles of multiuse trails on the ground across the country lay the foundation for 150+ trail networks in development—giving us plenty of places to get outside! Learn more about Celebrate Trails Day here.
Celebrate Trails Day can be an excellent opportunity to engage your mayor, local commissioners, state representative, governor, member of Congress or other elected officials depending on the type of support you need. It’s easy—just let them know about any community events you’re planning for the celebration and invite them to take part!
The Celebrate Trails Day Partner Toolkit includes tips to help make it easy to engage your decision-makers on Celebrate Trails Day plans. You can also access promotional and planning resources, including social media and email templates. Click here to check it out.
Resources and Must-Read News
Upcoming Webinar: When Disaster Strikes: The Role of Trails in Regional Recovery
Date: Thursday, Apr. 3, 2025
With natural disasters such as floods and wildfires on the rise, understanding how trails are positioned and used in response and recovery, from an alternative evacuation route to critical drivers for the recovery of local economies, is more important than ever. Join the TrailNation Collaborative, powered by RTC, to learn how different communities across the United States have approached their challenges through the lens of trails.
Recent Webinar: Building Collaborative Relationships: Bridging the Gap Between Planning and Advocacy
Watch this webinar recording to learn more about successful collaborations between agencies and organizations to secure funding for trails and active transportation. This session highlighted the importance of collaborative relationships to accelerate trail network development and give you the tools to build successful partnerships in your community.
RTC: Webinars From the Archive
Miss a recent webinar or online dialogue? You can find free access to all our recent RTC virtual events in the webinar archive or Resource Library on our website!