Why It Matters
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy faces an unprecedented threat to its core mission. The Trump administration has frozen and canceled hundreds of millions in active transportation grants, while Congress prepares legislation to exclude bike and walking paths from future transportation bills. Simultaneously, H.R. 4924 threatens the railbanking statute that enables rail-to-trail conversions—potentially blocking thousands of miles of planned projects across 43 states.
RTC’s lobbying strategy has shifted from expansion to defense: preserving dedicated trail funding, protecting rail-to-trail conversion mechanisms, and maintaining momentum on its Great American Rail-Trail project as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorization approaches expiration.
By the Numbers
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy spent $63,527 on in-house lobbying in fourth quarter 2025. The organization has filed 76 disclosures and spent approximately $2.1 million on lobbying since 2004, focusing on transportation, natural resources, and appropriations.
RTC conducted lobbying directly through its own staff this quarter, led by Marianne Wesley Fowler. The organization has historically supplemented its in-house team with external firms including Summit Strategies Government Affairs LLC, Daschle Group LLC, Fiorentino Group LLC, DB3 LLC, O’Keeffe Shahmoradi Strategies LLC, and O’Keeffe Strategies LLC.
The Agenda
RTC’s fourth quarter 2025 filing did not disclose specific issues or legislation, but its historical advocacy signals clear priorities: securing federal funding for trails and active transportation, advancing the RTP Full Funding Act of 2025, and countering threats posed by the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act.
Broader Context
The Trump administration has canceled previously awarded funding for trail and bike projects, including a $147 million grant for Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail and $11.5 million for Albuquerque’s Rail Trail, with roughly 3,200 grants under review. House Transportation Committee Chair Sam Graves has vowed to exclude bike and walking path funding from the next transportation bill, and Congress eliminated the $750 million Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. The Great American Rail-Trail secured nearly $30 million in 2025, offering a rare bright spot.
Between The Lines
The RTP Full Funding Act of 2025 has bipartisan support from Senators Klobuchar and Risch. Members are also securing Infrastructure Law dollars for local projects, including $3.9 million for Central New York’s Peace Trail and $2.8 million for Baltimore parks. Multiple bills propose new National Scenic Trail designations, reflecting durable congressional interest in trail expansion.
Competitive Landscape
The Trust for Public Land is RTC’s closest Capitol Hill peer, with overlapping advocacy on active transportation and trails across its Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 2025 filings. The Trust pursues a broader conservation agenda, creating a complementary dynamic where both organizations amplify support for trails and green infrastructure on the Hill.
The Bottom Line
RTC’s advocacy is now about defending existing programs. With hostile congressional leadership, an antagonistic executive branch, and rail banking legislation advancing, the organization’s continued lobbying investment signals just how much is at stake.
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