As demand for connected trail networks grows, planners face the challenge of quantifying the full value of those investments, especially in smaller or under-resourced communities. This presentation introduces the Trail Benefits Tool, a publicly available, user-friendly platform that enables planners, advocates, and decision-makers to conduct robust economic-impact and benefit-cost analyses without the cost or complexity of traditional consulting.
Funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and developed by North Carolina State University's Institute for Transportation Research and Education, the tool calculates jobs, tax revenue, health benefits, safety improvements, and emissions reductions. Its customizable inputs allow users to tailor results to local conditions, making it ideal for funding applications such as the U.S. Department of Transportation's RAISE grants.
Learn how to integrate the tool into planning workflows, adapt it to urban and rural contexts, and use its outputs to communicate with diverse audiences, including policymakers and community members. Presenters address how the tool supports inclusive and equitable planning by incorporating benefits for historically underserved areas. Closed Captioning
Learning Objectives:
Apply the Trail Benefits Tool to conduct localized economic-impact or benefit–cost analyses that strengthen funding proposals, grant applications, and advocacy efforts for trails and active transportation projects.
Integrate monetized health, safety, and environmental benefits into planning workflows to communicate trail value effectively to policymakers, community stakeholders, and the public in both urban and rural contexts.
Adapt the tool’s customizable inputs to reflect equitable planning priorities, ensuring that trail investment decisions address the needs of historically underserved communities and promote inclusive access to active transportation networks.
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