Two Expert Webinars: What the New T-Bill Means for Bike/Ped Projects

The recent passage of a 27-month federal surface transportation bill, "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century" (MAP-21), will bring dramatic changes to how communities around the country will fund their trail, walking and bicycling projects.


Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) will hold two free webinars to help advocates, planners, implementers and others navigate the changes made in MAP-21 to the core trails, walking and bicycling programs of the last transportation law: Transportation Enhancements (TE), Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program. These webinars will feature experts from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), local and/or state transportation agencies and RTC.

Webinar 1: Tuesday, July 17, 1 p.m. EDT: A MAP-21 Survival Guide for Trail, Walking and Bicycling Advocates > REGISTER HERE  

This webinar is geared specifically for national, state and local advocates and supporters of trail, walking and bicycling infrastructure as well as other beneficiaries of TE such as historic preservation and environmental interests. The webinar will address questions such as:

• What does the bill say about these activities and how are key provisions likely to be interpreted? 
• How can advocates best ensure trails and other projects will come to fruition? How should we manage the risks and meet the opportunities presented by MAP-21? 
• Secretary LaHood has made walking and biking visible priorities, but the bill presents challenges to this legacy. What will USDOT do to continue making progress?

Panelists:

• Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, USDOT
• David Tyahla, Senior Manager of Government Affairs, National Recreation and Park Association
• Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy and Trail Development, RTC
• Moderated by Marianne Fowler, RTC's Sr. Vice President of Federal Relations

Webinar 2: (Sometime the week of July 30, TBD): Implementing the Transportation Alternatives Provisions of MAP-21

This webinar will address specific issues faced by local and state agencies that are responsible for implementing the new Transportation Alternatives section of MAP-21.

Panelists for this session are still being finalized, but will include Tracy Hadden Loh, research manager for RTC and director of the National Transportation Enhancement Clearinghouse and some combination of representatives from federal, state and local (metropolitan planning organization) agencies.


REGISTER HERE