Tell Governor Christie To Save Rec Trails Funding

From the Rails to Trails Conservency:

Save the Recreational Trails Program! The hugely popular, cost-efficient Recreational Trails Program (RTP) has endured multiple attacks over its 20-year history. Most recently, it faced elimination during the drafting of the new transportation bill MAP-21, but thankfully a bipartisan effort led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) was successful in preserving the program.

But, there's a catch.

Governors can choose to opt out of the program for their state, thereby reallocating these funds to other programs that were not the intended recipients, and ultimately failing to invest in the critical programs your state needs to generate economic activity, attract tourists and encourage people to get outdoors and be active.

Governor Christie has until September 1st to decide if New Jersey will opt out of the Rec Trails Program. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania Governor Corbett has agreed to not opt out, let's follow suit in NJ.

Contact the Governor Today

Here is a list of 2010 projects using Rec Trails funding in New Jersey

"The Circuit" Promises To Make Trail Connections Beyond The Philadelphia Region

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and dignitaries from both sides of the Delaware River made the formal announcement for "The Circuit". A 750 mile regional trail network that cover all of the Greater Philadelphia Region including Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties.

Planning for the Circuit will unify a fractured network of multi-use trails. Currently in the 9 County Philadelphia Region 250 miles of trails are complete including the Schuylkill River Trail and The East Coast Greenw. 50 miles of trails are in the planning or construction phases including sections of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and the East Coast Greenway. Those trails are to be connected by another 450 miles of planned trails estimated to cost about 250 Million dollars to build. While that may seem to be a lot of money, laying out the project over a 20 year timeline would only account for 1% of the Philadelphia Regions transportation and transit budget.

But as the map shows the Circuit will be making connections far beyond the Liberty Bell. The East Coast Greenway will run from Maine to Florida but trails in Camden and Gloucester County could link up with the regional trail being developed in Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Mercer County's trails could link with Monmouth's growing network by prioritizing the Capital to Coast Trail. And so on...

Connectthecircuit.org

A Trail from Bridgeton to Philadelphia - How Do We Do It?

Imagine a multi-use trail that spans 3 counties in South Jersey. One that could connect with the East Coast Greenway and Southeastern Pennsylvania's enormous Schuylkill River Trail network on one end and a network of trails to the beaches of Ocean City on the other

There is a rail alignment that could accomplish this, or not. From Bridgeton to Glassboro the alignment is known as the Bridgeton Secondary - an abandoned rail right of way that only requires prioritization and funding from Cumberland and Gloucester Counties. From Glassboro on north the story is totally different, the proposed Camden to Glassboro Light Rail Line has already gone through a scoping study and a rail with trail concept was not considered. However Delaware River Port Authority has just set aside money (as a loan to NJ TRANSIT) for the important Environmental Impact Study (EIS), and will offer a chance for citizens and other interested parties to include a trail along the rail alignment or elsewhere along the corridor. Currently the EIS is in its early stages and the public comment period may not be announced for some time. Check periodically with this blog or go to http://glassborocamdenline.com.

The last leg between Camden and Philadelphia is becoming a reality. Construction on new segments of the Camden GreenWay will begin in March. Meanwhile the DRPA has posted its Request For Qualifications for the design of the Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway Ramp, which when completed in 2014 will replace the 3 story stair tower with an ADA accessible ramp.

The vision for the trail