Resources and Links
Trail Related Information Resources
The links on this page provide tools and resources culled from a wide variety of industry resources ranging from Federal agencies to local privately funding organizations all supporting the goals of Recreational Trails Program.
Please note: Links to web sites outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT) are offered for your convenience in accessing related information. Linking to a web site does not constitute an endorsement by DOT or any of its employees. We will not intentionally link to or endorse any websites which offer commercial products or services.
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National Trails Training Partnership - trail organizations and agencies working together to promote trail training and resources. www.nttp.net
- A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking - The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) created A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking to answer transportation project-related questions. www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/publications/transportation_decision_making/
- The American Trails Cool Trail Solutions website is devoted to photos and graphics of SOLUTIONS to a wide array of trail-related problems: accessibility, bridges, highway and railroad crossings, water crossings, trail surfaces, trailside and trailhead facilities, and much, much more.
- American Trails Resource and Library page - thousands of links and full-text publications. www.americantrails.org/resources
- American Whitewater - State by State Information on Recreational Use Statutes. www.americanwhitewater.org/archive/article/124
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - a government wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities. www.cfda.gov
- The Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO provides content on environmental topics related to transportation, see http://environment.transportation.org/.
- Conservation Corps and Transportation: Making the Connection
This is a guide to transportation funding programs for service and conservation corps. www.corpsnetwork.org/transportation/
- Equine Land Conservation Resource - Dedicated to promoting access to and conservation of land for equestrian use. www.elcr.org
- Equestrian Trails and Conservation Awareness - a website addressing natural resource conservation issues for recreational horse trail riders. www.etaca.info
- Forest Service Trail Fundamentals - trail fundamentals include five concepts that are cornerstones of effective trail planning, design, construction, maintenance, and management. www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trail-management/trail-fundamentals/
- International Mountain Bicycling Association's Resources Guide - Information on grants, liability, trail building, etc. www.imba.com/resources/index.html
- The Greenways Archive - collects publications pertaining to recreational and environmental green spaces. www.lib.ncsu.edu/specialcollections/greenways/
- Leave No Trace - dedicated to promoting and inspiring outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships. www.lnt.org
- National Association of Reversionary Property Owners - advocate for property rights along railroad corridors. www.home.earthlink.net/~dick156/
- National Center on Accessibility - a program of the Indiana University's Department of Recreation and Park Administration in cooperation with the National Park Service, Office on Accessibility. www.indiana.edu/~nca
- The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has many reports relating to environmental issues. Many NCHRP reports are linked from the Center for Environmental Excellence by AASHTO and Recent Developments. Among reports that mention and/or may affect the RTP and TE is the Synthesis on Effective Delivery of Small-Scale Federal-Aid Projects.
- The FHWA National Highway Institute has many courses and study programs available related to surface transportation and the environmental process. See www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/. NHI has "Custom Catalog" features on its website. These features allow you to create, download, and print a customized version of NHI's course catalog based on your personal preferences. See www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/down_catalog.aspx. NHI added several web-based courses to its catalog, especially in its maintenance series.
- National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council's OHV Library - http://nohvcclibrary.forestry.uga.edu
- National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse - provides information on FHWA's Transportation Enhancement Program, a funding source for nonmotorized trails that serve a transportation function. www.enhancements.org
- Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute, established at Marshall University, Huntington WV. http://www.marshall.edu/ati/index.htmlx.
- Scenic Byways - FHWA sponsored website for travelers. www.byways.org
- Snowmobile Resources - safety and best practice resources, including rider training information: www.snowiasa.org/guidelines-resources/.
- Toolbox for the Great Outdoors (American Recreation Coalition) - information about programs available to provide high quality recreation experiences on public lands. The Toolbox is a partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Federal Highway Administration. www.tools4outdoors.us/
- Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse website: www.railstotrails.org/ourWork/trailBuilding/index.html
- The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has many reports relating to transit issues, see www.trb.org/Publications/PubsTCRPProjectReports.aspx. Report 145: Reinventing the Urban Interstate: A New Paradigm for Multimodal Corridors presents strategies for planning, designing, building, and operating multimodal corridors-freeways and high-capacity transit lines running parallel in the same travel corridors.
- The Transportation Research Board (TRB) releases (or reports on) many research reports each week. There are often reports relating to eligible TE activities, especially nonmotorized transportation infrastructure and safety, historic preservation, wetlands, and wildlife crossings. See the TRB Newsletter.
- Transportation Research Board Bicycle Transportation Committee - This Committee is concerned with all aspects of bicycling and bicyclists and criteria for bicycle facilities to assure that the bicycle rider has safe, convenient, and efficient travel. www.bicyclinginfo.org/trbbike/
- Transportation Research Board Pedestrian Committee - This Committee is concerned with research on pedestrians and pedestrian facilities that will provide safe, comfortable, and efficient walking environments along sidewalks, along and across roadways, and connecting to other modes of transportation. www.walkinginfo.org/trbped/
- Tread Lightly! - promoting responsible outdoor recreation through education, restoration, and research. www.treadlightly.org
- University of Minnesota Trail Library - index of publications relating to planning, design, construction, and maintenance of all types of trails. http//forestry.lib.umn.edu/bib/trls.phtml
- U.S. Bicycle Route System - The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is hosting a Task Force to develop a national interstate route system for bicycle routes, with input from States and national bicycle advocacy organizations. The Adventure Cycling Association provides staff support. The Task Force has developed a report and a draft corridor plan. www.adventurecycling.org/routes/nbrn/usbikewaysystem.cfm
