Resources

Billings Case Statement Cover

Billings Case Statement

Support Letters

Rails to Trails Web Site

MT Safe Routes to School

Billings Parks and Recreation

Media Roundup

CBS News, "Pedal Power"

CNN, "U.S. cities scrambling to meet rising mass transit demands"

CBS News, "D.C. SmartBike Revolution"

Montana Adds Section on Driving with Cyclists to New Driver's Manual

BikeNet Newsletter

Active Transporation for Billings

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2010 Campaign for Active Transportation

Active transportation is the use of trails, walking and biking for everyday travel. It provides communities with major benefits in the areas of mobility, public health, economic development, climate, and community.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation aims to double federal funding for trails, walking and biking in the next federal transportation reauthorization. Four communities were funded in the previous federal transportation bill as Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Programs: Marin County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, MO.; and Sheboygan County, WI. Rails-to-Trails aims to grow this program to 40 or more communities in the next bill, with each site seeking $50 million over six years to support strategic investments in active transportation systems and supporting programs.

Rails to Trails Conservancy has identified Billings as a community that could be part of this initiative.

What Could Billings Achieve with a $50 Million Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking?

Billings has a great foundation in place for active transporation. The Heritage Trail plan was adopted in 2004 to develop a system of trails and bikeways. Residents identified this as a priority because it would encourage people to be active and enable them to use non-motorized transportation. It is more important now than ever.

To date, Billings' trail system has been developed as funds and land become available.Twenty miles of hard-surface, multi-use trails are currently in use. Activities that will continue this momentum and help meet transportation challenges related to community growth include the following:

• Evaluate Safe Routes to School for all elementary schools and encourage them to participate
• Build public awareness and education to "share the road" with bicycles and pedestrians
• Solve geographic challenges presented by the Rimrocks, the Yellowstone River, the railroad and the interstate near the heart of the city.
• Develop better trail interconnectivity between neighborhoods, schools, parks, businesses, commercial areas, transportation hubs and transit
• Monitor trail use to inform future decision making
• Engage businesses in promoting alternate modes of transportation for their employees
• Maintain existing trails so they are safe to use

Making the Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure

Billings and more than 40 other communities around the United States submitted case statements outlining their plans for active transportation. (Read Billings' Case Statement.) These will become part of the national 2010 Initiative and on October 20, 2008, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy will submit a comprehensive report to Congress entitled "Active Transportation for America." Billings will create local attention and energy for the 2010 Campaign at the same time through press releases, letters to the editor, and engaging the support of our congressional delegation.

Want to find out more? Want to help? Here are some ideas:

• Visit www.railstrails.org and look for 2010 Campaign
• Sign up to receive the "Active Transportation Newsletter"
• Express your opinions through a letter to the editor (here's how)
• Draft a letter to Montana's Congressional delegation (here are some talking points)
• For more information about Billings becoming a Pilot Program, contact Darlene Tussing, City of Billings Alternate Modes Coordinator.

If you are writing a letter to the Congressional delegation, here are their addresses. For the best results, address each letter personally. Read support letters from others in the community for more ideas.