Resource Library:

Planning And Design

Subcategories • Accessible Trail DesignCase StudiesCost EstimatingFeasibility StudiesLivable/Active CommunitiesLand Acquisition and ConservationMaster PlansSignage and InterpretationTrailheadsTrail Networks DesignTrails as TransportationClosing Trail System GapsWildlife and Habitat



published Aug 2016

Achieving Multimodal Networks

by Federal Highway Administration

This publication is intended to be a resource for practitioners seeking to build multimodal transportation networks.


posted Nov 23, 2022

Activating the Trail Community in Conservation Issues

This webinar will explore ways to empower and activate trail users on your local trails.


published Jul 2016

Active Transportation and Parks and Recreation

by National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

A national study on Active Transportation and Parks and Recreation.


published Jan 2010

Active Transportation Beyond Urban Center

Growing evidence from across America documents the beneficial effects of walking and biking. A study on active transportation.


published Oct 2019

Active Transportation Transforms America

by Rails to Trails Conservancy

American communities today are at a crossroads. For the past 70 years, the automobile has been the dominant mode of transportation and has received the lion’s share of federal and state transportation investment. Engineers have prioritized maximum car throughput and free-flowing speed or level of service as markers of transportation efficiency and success. Now, communities across America are looking for ways to strike a better balance so that residents might have more transportation choices and a higher quality of life. Multimodal transportation systems that prioritize human-centered mobility are in high demand.


posted Nov 16, 2021

Adaptive Mountain Biking: Trail Design for Accessibility and Reduced Risk

This webinar will focus on trail design for accessibility and risk reduction for adaptive mountain biking.


published Mar 2023

Adaptive Recreation: Hiking and Biking for Mobility Device Users

by Quinn Brett with National Park Service

This U.S. Fish and Wildlife presentation by Quinn Brett focuses on trail information and trail usability.


published Jun 2022

Advancing Trails to Support Multimodal Networks

by Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

This info brief provides a fresh look at the current state of practice for trail development, reflecting new research and showing the growing applications of trails in every type of environment and community.


posted Jun 11, 2019

Africatown Connections Blueway: Healing Begins by Reclaiming Our Heritage and Happiness

by Elizabeth Smith-Incer with National Park Service, Joe Womack with Clean, Healthy, Educated, Safe & Sustainable Community, Inc.

Preserving and making available the international historical significance of Africatown.


published Sep 2022

Age and Dementia Friendly Design Considerations for Physical Infrastructure

by Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease

Inclusive design can address functional needs arising from dementia.