Thank you for your diligent efforts in reaching out to your state Departments of Transportation (DOT) and governors about the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).  Because of your grassroots efforts, nearly every state has decided to continue their RTP for fiscal year 2013.  Currently, only Florida and Kansas have decided to “opt out” of the RTP. StreetsBlog is reporting that grassroots efforts in New York and New Jersey played a key role in those states deciding NOT to “opt out” of the program. 

The RTP opt-out provision is just one of many decisions that governors and state DOTs have authority to make under the new surface transportation law, MAP-21. In the coming weeks and months, states will continue to make critical decisions about the future of active transportation programs and it is imperative that landscape architects continue to influence these decisions.  The Alliance for Bicycling and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists have partnered to form Advocacy Advance, which will provide advocacy tools to local advocates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to help secure important active transportation projects in their communities.

ASLA, along with other design, bicycling and walking, health care, historic preservation and other organizations, is working to engage members in some of Advocacy Advance’s grassroots efforts.  Advocacy Advance has assigned a state contact for each state to help coordinate all grassroots efforts in the state.

If you would like to become involved with Advocacy Advance’s grassroots efforts to continue bicycling and walking projects in your state and local communities, please contact your state contact or volunteer to become a state contact in your state.  Some of your ASLA chapter advocacy contacts have already engaged with Advocacy Advance and have led successful advocacy campaigns in their state.