Maryland DOT Developing ‘Landmark’ State Trail Plan

The Maryland Department of Transportation is currently developing what it calls a “landmark action plan” to improve and expand trail connectivity statewide. The agency said this plan will guide future investment in shared-use paths, helping to advance efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost alternatives to driving, and prioritize the safety of all road users across the transportation network.

[Above photo by Maryland DOT]

Updated for the first time in more than a decade, the agency said its revised “Maryland State Transportation Trails Strategic Plan” should be completed by 2025. It aims to align with existing bicycle and pedestrian efforts such as the new department-wide “Complete Streets Policy” and the data-driven “Pedestrian Safety Action Plan” formulated by the Maryland State Highway Administration; a division of Maryland DOT.

The agency noted that this new trails initiative, which will “leverage both state and federal dollars,” also aims to build on the “foundation” created by Maryland DOT’s 2009 Trails Plan and the 2050 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to meet state sustainability goals and address growing demand for an integrated transportation trail system.

“Shared-use paths are a critical piece of Maryland’s transportation system and contribute to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s goals of enhancing accessibility and connectivity, growing the economy, and expanding safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists,” said Maryland DOT Secretary Paul Wiedefeld in a statement.

[Editor’s note: Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) recently announced $16 million in funding for 36 bicycle, pedestrian, and trail projects statewide. That includes $13.9 million in federal funding awarded through the state’s Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program, along with $2.1 million via Maryland DOT’s Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program.]

This fall, the Maryland DOT said it will begin taking an inventory of the existing trail infrastructure, identifying the shared-use path network, missing trail links, and unused rail corridors that can be turned into shared-used paths as part of its strategic trails plan.

Other state departments of transportation are engaged in similar trail network expansion plans.

For example, in May, the Utah Department of Transportation issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state.

The agency said that it collaborated with communities statewide regarding the allocation of that funding – approved by the Utah Transportation Commission – to select the key projects for this statewide trail network.

Of the projects selected for that inaugural round of funding, Utah DOT said 13 are considered construction ready and could get underway as soon as 2025 – depending on contractor schedules, supply availability and other factors like weather.

Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state.

TxDOT noted the SATP is being integrated with its other long-range mobility plans to help it maintain a safe, accessible, connected, and fully integrated multimodal transportation system for the future, since the population of Texas is expected to grow by 28 percent by 2050.

Utah DOT Deploys LiDAR to Boost Intersection Safety

The Utah Department of Transportation is using Light Detection and Ranging or LiDAR technology as a design tool to improve safety at intersections, specifically for pedestrians and bicyclists.

[Above image by Utah DOT]

LiDAR is a remote sensing system that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to generate precise three-dimensional or 3D information. In Utah DOT’s case, traffic engineers are using LiDAR to recreate an entire intersection – including vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist movement – in 3D; providing a complete view of an intersection, including several hundred feet in each direction.

That allows the agency’s traffic engineers to track all movements at intersections and identify areas for safety countermeasures.

Mark Taylor, Utah DOT’s traffic signal operations engineer, pointed out that the LiDAR system also captures data on red light runs, “near miss” situations, jaywalking, typical pedestrian pathway movements, and other key traffic movements. 

“We are always looking at ways to use emerging technology to increase safety on our roads,” he said in a statement. “This technology will help us pinpoint why and where safety issues are occurring.” 

[Editor’s note: The Utah DOT received an award for this intersection safety improvement effort from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January.]

For example, Taylor said LiDAR data will help Utah track “high frequencies” of near-miss crashes that, in the past, has been hard to track with real data, as well as “green light” times that are too short. “These, and countless other safety solutions, will be made possible through the patterns that LiDAR illuminates,” he explained.   

Utah DOT has installed LiDAR technology in several Salt Lake areas and is also testing LiDAR capabilities in conjunction with connected vehicle technology at two Provo locations—another area where pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable. 

“The more we can get cars talking to our roads, the safer we will all be,” noted Blaine Leonard, Utah DOT’s transport technology engineer. “We’re hoping this LiDAR data will be another key component of this new connected future.” 

Utah DOT added that it is working with Panasonic in further developing this technology package and is using part of a $20 million grant issued by the Federal Highway Administration in June to expand this concept at other locations beyond Provo. 

Other state departments of transportation are also using LiDAR in a variety of high-detail mapping exercises.

For example, in June 2023, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources called upon the Indiana Department of Transportation for help “mapping” a historic water-powered grist mill at Spring Mill state park in Mitchell, IN, prior to the structure’s renovation.

The historic grist mill is located in the state park’s Pioneer Village – founded in 1814 – which contains 20 historic buildings to explore. The centerpiece is the spring-fed, three-story limestone grist mill, built in 1817, that still grinds corn today (though only for demonstration purposes) to produce cornmeal. INDOT noted that the last renovation of this grist mill occurred in 1930.

INDOT’s Land & Aerial Survey Office collected aerial imagery, light detection and ranging or LiDAR data, and other information on the grist mill via drone to create a three dimensional or 3D rendering of the building and water flume, including a fly-through video; a scaled and georeferenced point cloud of the mill building and water flume; and a publicly sharable link to an online geographic information system that features the 3D rendering and panoramic images.

And, in January 2022, the Mississippi Department of Transportation began using LiDAR-equipped aerial drones to help improve the efficiency and safety in the construction and maintenance of road projects statewide. Those drones take measurements and map out road construction projects while minimizing the exposure of ground crews to traffic, the agency said.

Illinois DOT Helps Change Rail Line to Multiuse Path

The Illinois Department of Transportation recently outlined in a blog post how it helped transform an old railroad line and bridge in the city of Dixon, IL, into a trail for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other active transportation users.

[Above photo by the Illinois DOT]

The last train using the old Illinois Central Railroad line that once ran through the heart of Dixon rolled through the town in 1985. In 2016, the municipality began planning the conversion of that rail line into a multi-use trail with a combination of state and local funds as well as $3.4 million in federal funds disbursed by the Illinois DOT.

Photo by Illinois DOT

The initial phase of the project converted part of the line from Illinois DOT’s District 2 headquarters on Depot Avenue to Dixon’s downtown at Peoria Avenue and the Rock River. That initial $4.3 million project phase converted the rail line running over three stone arch bridges – listed on the National Register of Historic Places and rehabilitated in 1999 – to a lighted pedestrian and bicycle path that also features emergency call boxes for additional user safety. Approaching downtown, the trail leaves the rail line area via a graded wooden boardwalk designed to withstand the impact of Illinois winters.

The city also received $4 million in additional federal funding for remediation and environmental work at the old Dixon Iron and Metal Co., where the ramp from the old railroad connects with the riverfront trail at an area called Viaduct Point.

This project completes another phase of the Dixon Riverfront Masterplan, which had its conceptual beginnings more than 20 years ago, by helping complete Dixon’s Heritage Crossing Riverfront Plaza in which this path ties into.

The next phase of the project – called “Project Rock” and made possible through a $12 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or “RAISE” grant – should start this fall and will extend the trail across the Rock River into Page Park. The city’s leadership also hopes the trail could eventually extend to the south end where it can connect with future parkland and Dixon’s gateway shopping area.

Other state departments of transportation are helping with similar locally-driven active transportation projects around the country.

Image by Utah DOT

For example, in May, the Utah Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state.

The agency said that it collaborated with communities statewide regarding the allocation of that funding – approved by the Utah Transportation Commission – to select the key projects for this statewide trail network.

Of the projects selected for that inaugural round of funding, Utah DOT said 13 are considered construction ready and could get underway as soon as 2025 – depending on contractor schedules, supply availability and other factors like weather.

Additionally, in 2023, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation helped support – in concert with various federal, state, and local agencies – the new “Gotham Greens” off-road multi-use path along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway via stormwater mitigation efforts.

This new path, located behind the Gotham Greens building in Olneyville, offers new access to the Woonasquatucket River and serves as a connector between the Greenway and the Washington Secondary Bike Path – helping “knit together” a “patchwork of pathways” in the City of Providence to promote active transportation use while protecting the local environment from stormwater flooding.

New NCDOT Signal Policy Boosts Pedestrian Safety

The North Carolina Department of Transportation recently adopted a new traffic signal policy that aims to boost pedestrian safety.

[Above photo by NCDOT]

The new NCDOT policy states that, as new traffic signals are installed or existing ones are upgraded, they will be programmed with what is called a “leading pedestrian interval​” or LPI. That technology is designed to give pedestrians a “head start” of three to seven seconds in marked crosswalks before motorists on the parallel direction get a green light. This interval allows pedestrians to better establish themselves in the crosswalk to drivers who must yield to them before making a left or right turn.

“This change makes pedestrians more visible for drivers,” explained Nick Zinser, NCDOT’s Western Region signals engineer, in a statement. “It’s a safety enhancement, and it can be done at a low cost by reprogramming the existing equipment at our traffic signals.”

[Editor’s note: A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS indicates that, in areas with few streetlights, motorists are more than three times as likely to yield to pedestrians at illuminated crosswalks versus non-lighted ones.]

LPI use is already common in the downtowns of the state’s largest cities of Charlotte and Raleigh, but NCDOT is working to add this feature at all signalized pedestrian crossings statewide. The agency added that North Carolina has over 3,500 intersections that have signalized pedestrian crossings.

Since making this policy change earlier this year, the department estimates 20 percent of those intersections now have a leading pedestrian interval for improved safety.

Going forward, the department and its municipal partners will continue to increase the number of locations with leading pedestrian interval capabilities, NCDOT said.

State departments of transportation across the country have been making similar pedestrian- and bicycle-themed safety improvements with enhanced or brand new active transportation policies introduced over the last few years.

For example, the Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state.

In May, the Utah Department of Transportation issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state.

The Kansas Department of Transportation unveiled a revised active transportation plan in May 2023 to boost walking, bicycling, safe wheelchair use, skateboarding, and non-motorized vehicle mobility options across the state.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation also began working on its first-ever active transportation plan in 2023 – a policy toolkit the agency said can be used internally and by Oklahoma counties and towns as engineers and designers look to develop more people-friendly infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Transportation unveiled a formal Active Transportation Plan in December 2021 – a plan that subsequently won the 2022 America’s Transportation Awards contest’s “People’s Choice Award.”

Active Transportation Project for Popular Tennessee City

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is making travel near one of the nation’s most popular national parks a little easier for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and people with disabilities.

[Above photo by AASHTO]

Tennessee DOT and local officials recently opened the Jake Thomas Connector – a two-mile, five-lane road near the Smoky Mountain National Park – that features five-foot wide sidewalks, a 10-foot shared used path, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps.

The road also connects the park’s main highway to popular attractions such as “Dollywood” – a theme park that is jointly owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton – and The Ripken Experience; a baseball complex that draws youth teams from across the country.

Tennessee DOT funded this road and active transportation project, which was designed by the city of Pigeon Forge – a small town of about 6,000 residents that receives more than 11 million visitors a year. The Smoky Mountain National Park receives more than 13 million visitors each year; nearly triple the number of people who visit Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

“Pigeon Forge is obviously one of the busiest areas of the state, and Tennessee DOT is happy to be able to make travel less stressful and more efficient in this area,” explained agency spokesman Mark Nagi. “The Jake Thomas Connector allows local folks and tourists to travel between Veterans Boulevard and the parkway in different manners,”

The new connector road also should alleviate congestion on U.S. 321 Parkway, which leads into the Smoky Mountain National Park and clocks nearly 50,000 vehicles a day. The Jake Thomas Connector is also expected to handle about 16,000 vehicles a day, according to Tennessee DOT.

The new road’s sidewalks and shared use path also connect to existing greenways in Pigeon Forge, according to Pigeon Forge’s Manager Earlene Teaster.

“We’ve been trying to connect our parks for the last few years, just for people to bicycle and walk,” Teaster said. “It’s a beautiful drive, so we wanted to have nice sidewalks, and then we just decided to incorporate it into the greenway.”

Nagi added that the project gives users “more connections and more choices” when it comes to mobility needs. “Tennessee DOT supports the needs of all users whether they choose to walk, bike, use transit or drive,” he added. “Multimodal transportation opportunities provide more freedom in how people get around, especially for people who cannot or choose not to drive a car.”

Pigeon Forge’s Teaster pointed out that the city designed this roadway project to deliberately include wider sidewalks so people could ride bicycles safely without having to ride in car lanes or inconvenience pedestrians. The region’s mild climate and mountain setting make the park and Pigeon Forge a popular tourist destination for active transportation enthusiasts, she said.

“People come and they love walking, and there’s so much to do and see, and there’s so many clusters of tourism shops,” Teaster emphasized. “People already are really, really using it. It’s going to be a terrific asset to our community.”

TxDOT Developing Statewide Active Transportation Plan

The Texas Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Active Transportation Plan or SATP to gather recommendations for improving bicycling, walking, and rolling conditions across the Lone Star state.

[Above image by TxDOT]

The agency noted in a statement that its SATP focuses on community needs to identify mobility priority areas while making and improving connections between trails, paths, and transit services in order to offer  safe and efficient multimodal options for personal travel. 

TxDOT added the SATP is being integrated with its other long-range mobility plans to help it maintain a safe, accessible, connected, and fully integrated multimodal transportation system for the future, since the population of Texas is expected to grow by 28 percent by 2050.

[Editor’s note: The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently appointed Nancy Daubenberger – commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation – and Rob Bedenbaugh, director of the Office of Engineering Support for the South Carolina Department of Transportation, to two-year terms as chair and vice chair, respectively, for the AASHTO Council on Active Transportation. AASHTO’s Council on Active Transportation addresses issues related to using human-powered means of travel, which includes walking and bicycling, with or without the use of mobility aids; and may also include using other human-scaled or micro-mobility devices that may be electric-powered or electric-assisted, such as e-bikes and e-scooters.]

In the fall of 2023, TxDOT said it held virtual and in-person meetings statewide to gather input from more than 4,800 people, stakeholders, and other groups to help shape the SATP. Through this outreach, people were encouraged to provide input on their top priorities when it comes to active transportation. Common themes included:

  • Increased safety. Almost 75 percent of those surveyed don’t feel safe using active transportation. They want to see lower speed limits and additional lighting on sidewalks and bike lanes.
  • Better access and connections to trails and continuous bike lanes along with connections to places that are frequently visited destinations.
  • Sidewalk improvements, including curb maintenance and the removal of physical barriers.
  • Roadway crossing improvements to help Texans feel more confident crossing the street.

With one round of outreach complete, TxDOT said it is now focused on analyzing community feedback and individual input to fine-tune the SATP. This plan is evaluating best practices, specific case studies and research for improving biking, walking and rolling. Through recommended strategies and actions, the plan will work to integrate safety, accessibility, comfort, connectivity, community needs, health and economic vitality.

TxDOT noted that it is working on the SATP in conjunction with its Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan and will collect additional public input on a draft plan to be released in the fall of 2024. The agency pointed out that the public will have the opportunity to evaluate recommendations and provide input on the SATP’s draft plan before it is presented to the Texas Transportation Commission in late 2024.

In November 2023, the Texas Transportation Commission approved over $345 million for new sidewalks, bikeways, and other types of active transportation infrastructure projects statewide.

That funding supported 83 projects designed to improve bicycle and pedestrian access while providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit systems, and local destinations, the commission said. TxDOT noted that some the projects approved by the commission include sidewalks connecting to schools and transit options, shared-use paths benefiting both pedestrians and cyclists, new pedestrian bridges, and 15 planning studies.

Several state departments of transportation across the country have also introduced active transportation-specific plans in recent years.

For example, the Kansas Department of Transportation unveiled a revised active transportation plan in May 2023 to boost walking, bicycling, safe wheelchair use, skateboarding, and non-motorized vehicle mobility options across the state.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation also began working on its first-ever active transportation plan in 2023 – a policy toolkit the agency said can be used internally and by Oklahoma counties and towns as engineers and designers look to develop more people-friendly infrastructure.

The plan will address walking, biking, “wheelchairs and mobility scooters, pedal and electric scooters, electric bikes, skateboards, and other similar wheeled vehicles,” according to a website developed by the agency that details the plan’s contents.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Transportation unveiled a formal Active Transportation Plan in December 2021 – a plan that subsequently won the 2022 America’s Transportation Awards contest’s “People’s Choice Award.”

Utah DOT Issues $95M to Begin Building Utah Trail Network

The Utah Department of Transportation recently issued nearly $95 million to support 19 trail projects – including the construction of new paved trails as well as funding for planning efforts to fill in existing trail gaps – as part of creating a regional “Utah Trail Network” across the state. 

[Above photo by Utah DOT]

That agency said that it collaborated with communities statewide regarding the allocation of that funding – approved by the Utah Transportation Commission – to select the key projects for this statewide trail network. 

Of the projects selected for this inaugural round of funding, 13 are considered construction ready and could get underway as soon as 2025, the agency said – depending on contractor schedules, supply availability and other factors like weather.

“Generations from now people will look back at this moment and realize how pivotal the Utah Trail Network was in changing the way we travel,” noted Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah DOT, in a statement. “These projects will connect communities in ways that provide transportation choices for everyone to commute, recreate, and enjoy.”

Braceras noted that, in 2022, Governor Spencer Cox (R) supported the vision for a statewide trail network that would connect state residents of all ages and abilities to their destinations and communities throughout the state. Then, in 2023, the state legislature created the Active Transportation Investment Fund to help support Utah’s trail-building endeavor.

“We have heard the public asking for more trails and are inspired by the trail planning and development efforts across the state,” Braceras said. “These efforts are bringing people together, and we want to do our part by connecting communities through a state funded program that will build trails as part of the state’s transportation system.”

Other state departments of transportation are engaged in similar efforts.

For example, Governor Ned Lamont (D) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation recently hosted a grand opening event for the Putnam Bridge Trail Connection, which provides non-motorized access across the Connecticut River by linking the shared-use path on the Putnam Bridge to Great Meadow Road in Wethersfield and Naubuc Avenue in Glastonbury.

Built by the agency and funded by the state, the expanded trail connection provides a safe, convenient, and functional active transportation option for the traveling public, the governor noted in a statement.

“The Putnam Bridge Trail Connection gives bicyclists and pedestrians a new option of crossing the Connecticut River without needing a motor vehicle, linking the active communities of Wethersfield and Glastonbury,” Gov. Lamont pointed out.

“We anticipate that people will find this trail to be a convenient way of getting to work, exploring local shops and restaurants, or just enjoying a scenic recreational opportunity – all while being able to leave the car at home,” he said.

“This collaborative effort demonstrates the need to build alternative routes for all road users to decrease injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” added Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of the Connecticut DOT.

There are significant economic benefits to making such trail investments as well.

According to a recent episode of the “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast – produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation –Julie Clark, chief executive officer for the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation or TART Trails advocacy group, discussed how trail networks can enhance quality of life for residents while also providing an economic boost.

The economic value of trail networks comes from the key role they play in outdoor recreation, Clark said. For example, in 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released statistics estimating that outdoor recreation accounted for $862 billion in economic output or consumer spending), 1.9 percent or $454 billion of gross domestic product, and supported 4.5 million jobs. 

Active Mobility Key Part of Utah DOT Construction Plan

The Utah Department of Transportation unveiled its 2024 construction plan, which encompasses 209 projects with a total value of $2.74 billion. Many of those projects include critical active transportation components, the agency said.

[Above photo by Utah DOT]

Lisa Wilson, Utah DOT deputy director of engineering and operations, noted in a statement that planned improvements incorporated within the agency’s 2024 construction plan range from repaving rural highways, building freeway-style interchanges, replacing aging bridges, improving pedestrian access, and building new trails.

“These projects are part of our commitment to helping people get where they want, in the way they want, safely and efficiently,” Wilson said. “This includes building new projects to help meet growth demands, maintaining our aging roads and bridges, and building out our transportation network to accommodate drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.”

Just some of the major projects Utah DOT plans to start work on this year that incorporate active transportation elements include:

  • The Mountain View Corridor: This $466 million project will connect the Mountain View Corridor from Porter Rockwell Blvd with 2100 North in Lehi, providing another much-needed transportation option for northwest Utah County and southwest Salt Lake County drivers. It will be the first section of Mountain View Corridor constructed as a freeway with no stoplights. Additional work includes upgrading the intersection at 2100 North to an interchange, updating wildlife fencing, and creating a multi-use trail. The Mountain View Corridor will eventually be a 35-mile freeway from I-80 in Salt Lake County to SR-73 in Utah County. Construction is expected to last through early 2026.
  • 5600 South: This $361 million project incorporates building a new I-15 interchange at 5600 South in Roy that will make it easier to get to and from Hill Air Force Base. The project is also widening 5600 South from three to five lanes from I-15 to 3500 West. Utah DOT will also add new sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, and a new trail system for pedestrians and bicyclists as well. These improvements will help area residents get around more easily, whether they are walking, biking or driving. Construction started in 2023 and is expected to continue through 2026. 
  • I-15 Shepard Lane interchange: This $147.5 million project will build a new interchange on I-15 at Shepard Lane in Farmington to reduce congestion and improve safety in this area. Not only will it cross over Union Pacific Railroad and Utah Transit Authority tracks to create another connection to local roads, this project will also improve pedestrian and bike connectivity along Park Lane, along with improvements to ramps associated with I-15, US-89, and Legacy Parkway (SR-67). Construction is expected to wrap up in 2026.

Other state departments of transportation have also formally launched their 2024 construction efforts.

The Ohio Department of Transportation plans to invest $2.8 billion into 950 road and bridge improvement projects across the state during its 2024 construction season – with 39 of them classified as “major projects” with a value above $10 million.

Michigan DOT Podcast Talks Benefits of Trails

The latest “Talking Michigan Transportation” podcast – produced by the Michigan Department of Transportation – interviewed Julie Clark, chief executive officer for the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation or TART Trails advocacy group to discuss how trail networks can enhance quality of life for residents while also providing an economic boost.

[Above image via Michigan DOT]
The economic value of trail networks comes from the key role they play in outdoor recreation, Clark said. For example, in 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released statistics estimating that outdoor recreation accounted for $862 billion in economic output or consumer spending), 1.9 percent or $454 billion of gross domestic product, and supported 4.5 million jobs. 

In Michigan, outdoor recreation in 2021 contributed $10.8 billion to the state economy, according to that agency’s numbers, as well as support for 109,000 jobs and $5 billion in wages.

“Our vision is ‘every house a trailhead,’ meaning we want people to be able to leave their home and access a trail,” Clark noted. “Getting out on the trails doesn’t mean there’s a trail up to your door, but the facilities – whether you’re rural or in a town – should be nearby and you should feel very comfortable and safe using them. That is where we come in, working with [local] road commissions and state DOTs.”

She also emphasized that trails help increase property values and help reinvigorate neighborhoods –key economic development benefits for communities.

“They also provide, as COVID [the COVID-19 pandemic] pointed out, some really important opportunities for physical and mental health, and that I think has become so important to folks all around our region and, I think, around the state,” Clark noted.

To listen to the entire podcast, click here.

There has been an ongoing push over the last several years to increase trail networks across the country.

For example, in January 2023, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy or RTC recently launched a national effort aimed at creating a “new community” where public leaders, advocates, and transportation professionals can come together to advance the development of trails and other active-transportation networks across the country.

Dubbed the TrailNation Collaborative, this new “community effort” seeks to fill what RTC describes as an “unmet need” for peer learning and collective action in order to leverage funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA to create a connected systems of trails, sidewalks, and protected bike lanes in every community in America.

State departments of transportation around the country are also spearheading their own trail expansion efforts.

For example, the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Lamoille Valley Rail Trail project – the winner of the 2023 America’s Transportations Awards People’s Choice Award – is a 93-mile multi-modal recreational path in northern Vermont, connecting 18 town centers and linking to other trails in Vermont and Canada.

This project is open year-round for various activities, including walking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, preserving Vermont’s natural landscape.

In November 2023, the Texas Transportation Commission approved over $345 million for new sidewalks, bikeways, and other types of active transportation infrastructure projects statewide.

The funding will go towards 83 projects designed to improve bicycle and pedestrian access while providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit systems, and local destinations, the commission said.

The Texas Department of Transportation noted that some the projects approved by the commission include sidewalks connecting to schools and transit options, shared-use paths benefiting both pedestrians and cyclists, new pedestrian bridges, and 15 planning studies.

In July 2022, a team of Utah State University researchers recently explored how to use the state’s network of historic canal trails as an active transportation solution. That study is poised to help the Utah Department of Transportation and community leaders make decisions about building canal paths and trails.

The Utah DOT funded the university’s research project – entitled “Active Transportation Facilities in Canal Corridors” – that the American Society of Civil Engineers subsequently published in June 2022.

Minnesota Cities Getting Active Transportation Grants

Eight cities across Minnesota are set to receive grants from the Active Transportation Planning Assistance program, which is managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

[Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]

That program aims to help cities statewide increase the number of people walking and biking to destinations in their communities, noted Will Wlizlo, active transportation coordinator for the Minnesota DOT.

“Whether a community wants to reduce pollution, curb traffic, revitalize its Main Street, or increase residents’ health and safety, [our] Active Transportation Planning Assistance program brings together neighbors to dream big and develop a work plan for building their own network for walking and bicycling,” he said in a statement.

The agency noted that the Minnesota legislature provides funds for those grants, which cover the estimated $100,000 cost of technical assistance from a consultant, such as developing an action plan and demonstration project.

The Minnesota DOT added that each community receiving an award is ultimately responsible for implementation and construction costs of their active transportation action plan.

The agency noted that the eight cities receiving grants are:

  • Minneapolis, for a multi-corridor study for seven neighborhood greenways;
  • Rochester, for an active transportation connection plan along 2nd Street through the downtown area;
  • St. Paul, for a neighborhood active transportation study for the West Side neighborhood;
  • Coon Rapids, for a community-wide active transportation plan;
  • Roseville, to develop a bicycle master plan;
  • Alexandria, for a community-wide active transportation plan;
  • St. Peter, for a community-wide active transportation plan; and,
  • Cannon Falls, for a community-wide active transportation plan.

State departments of transportation are currently involved in a variety of efforts to increase active transportation across the country.

For example, in November 2023, the Texas Transportation Commission approved over $345 million for new sidewalks, bikeways, and other types of active transportation infrastructure projects statewide.

That funding will go towards 83 projects designed to improve bicycle and pedestrian access while providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit systems, and local destinations, the commission said.

The Texas Department of Transportation noted that funding includes support for 15 active transportation planning studies.

And in Maryland, Governor Wes Moore (D) highlighted the award of $25.5 million in grants to 40 bicycle, pedestrian and trail projects statewide in September 2023.

Those fiscal year 2024 grants include $20.8 million in federal funding for 22 projects through the national Transportation Alternatives Program and the Recreational Trails Program, with $4.7 million in state funding headed to 18 projects via the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program overseen by the Maryland Department of Transportation.