Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Encyclopedia
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is an American
nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into rail trail
s within the United States of America. The mission of RTC is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
The organization publishes a quarterly magazine for its members. (ISSN 1523-4126) Rails to Trails magazine covers existing trails, planned trails, and member experiences, as well as news and items of interest to the bicycling public.
The organization is presently engaged in a multi-year task of mapping all rail trails with GPS devices. The 13500 miles (21,726.1 km) of open and operating trails are the first priorities of this project. Trails under construction or in the development phase are secondary priorities. RTC anticipates that the GPS data will lead to better maps, and assist in oversight and maintenance. Volunteers are used for a considerable amount of the organization's work.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
that works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
s within the United States of America. The mission of RTC is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
The organization publishes a quarterly magazine for its members. (ISSN 1523-4126) Rails to Trails magazine covers existing trails, planned trails, and member experiences, as well as news and items of interest to the bicycling public.
The organization is presently engaged in a multi-year task of mapping all rail trails with GPS devices. The 13500 miles (21,726.1 km) of open and operating trails are the first priorities of this project. Trails under construction or in the development phase are secondary priorities. RTC anticipates that the GPS data will lead to better maps, and assist in oversight and maintenance. Volunteers are used for a considerable amount of the organization's work.