WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rails to Trails Conservancy recently shared an update on 2024’s progress along the developing 3,700-mile cross-country Great American Rail-Trail and highlighted its cumulative impact over the five years since the vision for the trail was introduced.
“Since RTC announced the route of the cross-country trail in 2019, we have seen an outpouring of enthusiasm for this project,” said Kevin Belle, RTC’s project manager for the Great American. “People from small towns and big cities equally want to see this trail completed because they understand the transformative impact it brings—new economic opportunity, spaces to play outside, and, arguably most important, quality of life. They’re coming together to organize, invest in and activate their segments of trail, which is the magic that will help connect the entire route.” The Great American Rail-Trail will be the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, stretching 3,700 miles between Washington, D.C., and Washington state. A new study finds that the trail will generate more than $229 million in visitor spending each year. The trail is a signature project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trails and active transportation advocacy organization. Map courtesy Rail-to-Trails Conservancy. Interactive Map: https://gis.railstotrails.org/grtamerican/
Highlights of progress along the Great American Rail-Trail include: More than $35 million in new public and private funding invested in the route in 2024, adding to the total of more than $161 million invested since the project launch, not including the integration of walking and biking infrastructure in the $87.5 million USDOT Bridge Reinvestment Program grant […]
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