In the 2005 federal budget process, $25 million was provided to four communities throughout the United States as part of the Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP). The funding provided to these communities encourages them to incorporate a variety of strategies in an effort to increase transportation by walking or biking. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a national nonprofit that works with communities across the United States to transform unused railroad corridors into public trails. They played a key role in advocating for the creation of the NTPP pilot program, which has the potential to develop and improve bicycle/pedestrian facilities for years to come.

Looking towards the re-authorization of the transportation bill in 2009 or 2010, RTC is launching an aggressive, grassroots campaign to seek input and support for increased funding of what they like to call, “active transportation� programs (ie. non-motorized). Wow. Can you imagine asking yourself, “What could I do with $25 million to improve cycling in my town? With $50 million?� That’s exactly where RTC is headed, anticipating a six-year transportation program that could include as much as $8 or $9 million per year for each of 40 or more communities nationwide.

In preparation for this campaign, RTC is hosting its annual conference, Traillink, in Portland this year from August 8 - 10. The conference is an ambitious first step towards bringing cyclists, advocates, policy makers, business owners and residents together to create a campaign that will seek to double federal trail, bicycle and pedestrian funding by 2010. For more information about RTC, visit their website web links

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