RTP News - May 2005

April 15

1. RAILS-WITH-TRAILS REPORT MAILED TODAY/MONDAY
   The Federal Railroad Administration, FHWA's Recreational Trails Program, FHWA's Highway Safety Research and Development Program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration produced a new report: Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned. This report describes safety, design, and operational issues relating to Rails-with-Trails: shared use paths or other trails located along or near active railroad and transit corridors. The USDOT does not endorse, support, or recommend rails-with-trails. This report is intended to provide information so that RWT decisions are made with safety and security as top priorities: both for railroad and transit operations, and for trail users.

   We sent 2 copies to each FHWA division office (went out today), and will send a copy to each State RTP administrator, State TE manager, and State bicycle and pedestrian coordinator (we missed today's mail, but out on Monday).

   This report is available online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rwt. A PDF version is available at www.altaplanning.com/focus/rails_lessons.html. Additional printed copies are available through the FHWA Report Center. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/trailpub.htm for the order form, or send a fax to 301-577-1421 and request publication FTA-MA-26-0052-041.

2. OTHER TRAIL PUBLICATIONS
   The US Forest Service CD entitled "Forest Service Trails Reports 2004" is available on the Trails Reports order form at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/trailpub.htm.

3. NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM MAP
   We are sending some National Trails System maps to each State Transportation Enhancement Manager and State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator in the RWT mailing. Please use these when meeting with MPOs or project sponsors (we should have sent enough to cover all the MPOs in your State). (We already sent several hundred (or more) to each State Trail Administrator.)

   Also note: This map shows and describes each trail designated as of August 2004. The Congress also designated El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail in October 2004, which consists of several routes from Eagle Pass and Laredo, Texas, to Natchitoches, LA, so it isn't on the map.

4. MOU on PUBLIC HEALTH AND RECREATION
   On March 29, 2005, the USDOT signed on to the Federal Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Public Health and Recreation. The MOU is available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/mou_pubhealth.htm, or in PDF at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/mou_pubhealth.pdf. More info on the MOU is at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/partnership.htm.

5. STATE TRAIL ADMINISTRATORS MEETING: September 20-22, 2005, Newark DE
   The State Trail Administrators will hold a 3 day meeting hosted by Delaware State Parks, which will provide a unique opportunity for training in trail construction and maintenance techniques. The main program will take place on September 20-21, with additional training in the Universal Trail Assessment Process on September 22. We posted new information at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stam2005/index.htm, with some meeting logistics. We are open to suggestions for agenda topics.

   See more trail conference information at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rtevents.htm (this webpage is updated frequently). For details on regional and State conferences, see www.americantrails.org/Calendar.html.

6. TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM MANAGERS MEETING: July 26-27, Minneapolis, MN
   The 2-day meeting of the FHWA division office and State TE program managers immediately precedes the TrailLink 2005 conference hosted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy and partially sponsored by FHWA. The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC) is helping us organize the meeting. NTEC has been in contact with TE managers asking for agenda topics and volunteers to lead breakout sessions and to facilitate small group discussions. Additional information is available at www.enhancements.org.

   Note: the MidAmerica Trails and Greenways Conference also takes place on July 26-27 at the same place. See www.railtrails.org/traillink2005/program/matgc.asp.

April 8, 2005

1. RAILS-WITH-TRAILS REPORT IS AVAILABLE
   The Federal Railroad Administration, FHWA's Recreational Trails Program, FHWA's Highway Safety Research and Development Program, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration produced a new report: Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned. This report describes safety, design, and operational issues relating to Rails-with-Trails: shared use paths or other trails located along or near active railroad and transit corridors. The USDOT does not endorse, support, or recommend rails-with-trails. This report is intended to provide information so that RWT decisions are made with safety and security as top priorities: both for railroad and transit operations, and for trail users.

   We will send 2 copies to each FHWA division office, and a copy to each State RTP administrator, State TE manager, and State bicycle and pedestrian coordinator.

   This report is available online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rwt. A PDF version is available at www.altaplanning.com/focus/rails_lessons.html. Additional printed copies are available through the FHWA Report Center. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/trailpub.htm for the order form, or send a fax to 301-577-1421 and request publication FTA-MA-26-0052-041.

2. OTHER TRAIL PUBLICATIONS
   The US Forest Service video "Constructing Trail Switchbacks" and the publications "Geosynthetics for Trails in Wet Areas" and "Handtools for Trail Work" are back in print. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/trailpub.htm for the order form.

3. HOUSE / SENATE BILLS FOR REAUTHORIZATION
   For the House bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/, choose the option to search by bill number, and a search under HR 3 will produce all versions of the bill -- choose the one passed by the House.

   For the Senate EPW bill, see http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id=233877.

4. REVISED APPORTIONMENT TABLES
   FHWA posted Supplemental FY 2004 Apportionment tables. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510541.htm. There is no table for FY 2005 yet, because we won't know the final FY 2005 amounts until after Reauthorization.

   The Recreational Trails Program apportionments remain unchanged from the Advance Apportionments previously posted. See Table 15 (www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510541a15.htm).

   The Transportation Enhancements (TE) amounts are at www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510541a10b.htm. Look for the column "MANDATORY TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS". (Note: TE amounts are the same as Highway Safety: both are 10% of STP, plus 10% of the Minimum Guarantee attributed to STP.)

   See also www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510541a14a.htm, which shows the flexibility of total amounts of the FY 2004 suballocations of Optional Safety and Transportation Enhancement funds, as compared to amounts sub-allocated for each program for FY 1997, according to 23 U.S.C §126(b). This table shows how calculations are made to determine the maximum amount that a State DOT can transfer out of TE (or out of Highway Safety).

   These figures might change with Reauthorization, since the final STP amounts for FY 2004 still have not been established in an Authorization Act. But maybe not: the Congress might decide that what was done was done, and leave it.

5. NTTP [National Trails Training Partnership]
   FROM: Stuart Macdonald, National Trails Training Partnership

   We're trying to make it easier to find appropriate training opportunities on the National Trails Training Partnership website. Please take a look a sample web page for training in a single State: http://americantrails.org/nttp/states/COtrain.html

   We'd like to do this for every State, but we need your help in finding providers of trail-related training and other resources specific to your State. If you have any information, please send me:

   1. A contact for any organization or agency in your state that provides training, classes, or workshops on any aspect of trails, greenways, or bike/ped facilities.

   2. Info on State trails conferences or workshops scheduled in 2005 or 2006. This year I only see State conferences in VA, PA, NY, CO, and MO, plus the MidAmerica in MN, and walk/bike conferences in CA and FL.

   3. Publications, surveys, studies, or guidelines that would be helpful in planning, designing, building, and managing trails in your region. We can link to a web page, or post electronic copies on the website, or let people know how to obtain printed materials.

   Thanks for your help, and please send anything you'd like to share to mactrail@aol.com or by mail to:

   Stuart Macdonald
   National Trails Training Partnership
   2750 East 4135 South
   Salt Lake City UT 84124
   NEW cell phone: 801-712-3407
   mactrail@aol.com, www.NTTP.net

6. MOU on PUBLIC HEALTH AND RECREATION
   On March 29, 2005, the USDOT signed on to the Federal Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Public Health and Recreation. See www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/partnership.htm for more information on this MOU.

7. NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM MAP ONLINE
   See www.nps.gov/hfc/carto/nps-trails.htm. If you need hard copy maps (which also has the guide [trail descriptions] on the reverse), please let me know (I have several thousand in my office).

8. STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION INTERNS AVAILABLE
   From: Charmion Handy [mailto:CHandy@thesca.org]
   Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 12:54 PM
   Subject: SCA still has applicants for summer positions

   As SCA's [Student Conservation Association] programs grow and strengthen, so does our applicant pool. Our Placement team is working hard to find valuable experiences for our applicants. In reviewing our applicant pool, we have discovered that we have a high concentration of applicants desiring specific types of positions-although we do have a diverse applicant pool interested in all sorts of things. We are reaching out to our agency partners and contacts to see if you have a need that fits the interest of many of our applicants. While our interns participate in projects representing over fifty different disciplines, there are a few that are quite popular. We want to offer as many opportunities of interest to our applicants as possible and having more of these types of positions will help. These disciplines include:

   • Ecological Restoration
   • Backcountry
   • Wildlife
   • Natural Science
   • Resource Management
   • Marine Biology

   In case you are unfamiliar with Resource Assistants and Conservation Associates: Resource Assistants (RAs) are college students and other adults who serve as volunteer interns typically for 12-week terms. Conservation Associates (CAs), on the other hand, serve for 6 to 12 months; consequently, they are older than RAs on average (mostly college graduates). Estimated costs for each can be found at: http://www.theSCA.org/req_prices.cfm.

   It is not too late to submit your requests for our summer/fall season, especially if your position request includes projects relating to the above disciplines. We do prefer that you consider requesting positions that are flexible or with start dates after June 1, although we'd be happy to try for whatever date is convenient for you. We understand budgets are tight and SCA is a cost effective means to get projects completed. One of our Army Corps partners stated that his site saw a return of $3 for every $1 dollar spent for an intern. Now that AmeriCorps education awards ($1,000 minimum) are available to all eligible SCA interns, a greater number of applicants are able to serve. Federal sites that find they have year end funds, can contact SCA for assistance in obligating funds for next year's projects.

   If you would like to see examples of position descriptions, visit www.theSCA.org/ci_select.cfm where you can search current positions in various ways. Additional information about SCA interns is located at www.theSCA.org/agency.cfm.

   In order to access and complete the online request form, go to www.theSCA.org/req_vol.cfm. If you prefer a paper request form, just contact us and ask for one.

   For further questions or assistance, please contact Charmion Lea Handy, Partnership Accounts Director at 603/543-1700 ext. 150 or via e-mail at chandy@thesca.org.

9. RESEARCH FUNDS AVAILABLE: Active Living Research Issues Call for Proposals
   Active Living Research has issued Call for Proposals Round 5. The primary purpose of this Call for Proposals is to increase understanding regarding how policies influence physical activity in schools and communities in order to motivate and guide policy change. Information on the five research topics specific to this round of funding is outlined in the complete Call for Proposals found on the Active Living Research Web site www.activelivingresearch.org. Funds are also available for Dissertation Awards.

   Up to $1 million is available in this round of funding for research grants. Grants of up to $200,000 total over two years are available. Brief proposals are due May 25, 2005 (1p.m. PDT).

   Foundation and is administered by San Diego State University. Active Living Research stimulates and supports research that will identify environmental factors and policies that influence physical activity among Americans, both young and old.

   Leslie S. Linton, JD, MPH, Deputy Director
   Active Living Research
   San Diego State University
   3900 Fifth Avenue, Suite 310
   San Diego, CA 92103
   voice: (619) 260-5544; fax: (619) 260-1510

10. AND FINALLY: COMING SOON NEAR YOU? See http://www.segway.com/segway/model_xt.html.