Alabama Trails Commission

The Alabama Trails Commission (ATC) was established by Act. 2010-585 (HB 376) of the 2010 Regular Legislative Session for the purpose of creating the ATC with 12 commissioners and 17 Advisory Board members representing all user groups and citizens within the state of Alabama. The purpose of this Act is to promote, develop, and facilitate a statewide trail system utilizing intergovernmental coordination, advocacy, education, and alternative funding sources. The ATC is receiving the necessary staff assistance from The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development.

Screen shot of Alabama Recreation Trails website showing man in wheelchair on gravel trail

Website Development

In cooperation with the Alabama Trails Commission UACED released the Alabama Recreation Trails website at www.alabamarecreationtrails.org in August 2015 as the primary online trail information source in Alabama. This site enables the public to search for Alabama trails based upon trail use type and amenities, to find locally owned outfitters, equipment suppliers, and lodging, and to connect to existing recreational organizations. The site also provides technical information for use by local governments, planners, nonprofit organizations, and citizens interested in creating trails in their communities. UACED worked with the University of Alabama Enterprise Integration Lab (faculty/ 5 student team) to develop the site and UACED staff researched and developed the content.

Large group of people sitting at tables looking at speaker

Alabama Recreational Trails Leadership Workshops

In support of the Alabama Trails Commission, UACED coordinates and holds the Alabama Recreational Trails Leadership Workshop series. Targeted to local, state, and federal government agencies, planning organizations, and nonprofit user groups, these workshops provide important information about planning and implementing trail projects to create valuable assets for Alabama communities.

Richard Martin Rails-to-Trail, Limestone County, Alabama

Rails to Trails Technical Assistance

As railroad operators elect to deactivate rail service on their lines, the federal Rail-Banking Program provides an opportunity for communities to preserve these corridors for possible future re-activation for rail service (an important future economic development opportunity), but in the interim, serve a public purpose through use as a multimodal trail. Since the federal rail-banking program was created in 1984, over 2,100 rail-trails have been established in the United States covering over 23,600 miles. These trails serve as significant positive community assets that provide excellent off-street opportunities for exercise, active living, and alternative daily transportation. Longer trails - particularly those at least 10 miles in length - enable communities to take advantage of bicycle tourism, which is a large and growing market that generates $83 billion in economic impact in the United States each year. Currently, Alabama has 22 rail trails, and just 2 of these are 10 miles or longer. Therefore, there is significant need in our state to develop longer trails that better connect our communities and that also can attract more bicycle tourists from outside of Alabama. UACED provides technical assistance at all stages of a rail-trail project to communities interested in taking advantage of rail-trail opportunities.