A New 4,000-Mile-Long Trail Will Connect the East and West Coasts
Forget the Appalachian Trail or an iconic road trip on Route 66. Soon, you'll be able to bike or hike from coast to coast on an uninterrupted, 4,000-mile-long path. It's being called the Great American Rail-Trail.
A long-time vision of the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) co-founder, David Burwell, the Great American Rail-Trail will utilize old railway corridors to seamlessly link Washington, DC with Washington State. Unlike current cross-country routes that often combine recreational trails and vehicle roads, the Great American Rail-Trail will be totally separate from vehicular traffic for its entire 4,000-mile stretch.
The RTC committed to making the Great American Rail-Trail a reality this past January, following an 18-month-long analysis and collaboration with local trail partners and state agencies. Currently, the RTC has more than 34,000 miles of existing rail-trails nationwide. Some of these will be incorporated into the Great American Rail-Trail, comprising about half of the proposed route.
Although the exact details of the trail won't be revealed until May 8, the 12 existing “gateway” trails it will use have already been made public.
The Great American Rail-Trail will start in Washington, DC before heading west through Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. From there, it will continue northwest through Indiana for 61 miles, making it the longest stretch of trail in the state. It will then cut through Illinois and Iowa before traversing 219 miles through rural Nebraska, connecting small towns overlooking the High Plains. From there, the trail will continue northwest through Wyoming, Montana and Idaho before finally crossing 200 miles of Washington State toward Seattle.
Still, there's a lot of work to be done. About 2,000 miles of trails still need to be built before the entire project is complete, and a target completion date has yet to be announced. Until then, the current sections of existing rail trails are open for use.
Even if you don't plan to hike or bike the entire length of the US, the trail will still have a significant impact on the surrounding communities.
“[The Great American Rail-Trail] will bridge gaps within and between communities along the route by creating safe walking and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping, green space and more,” Ryan Chao, the RTC’s new president, told TPG in an email. “Our vision for the Great American Rail-Trail is for it to be a trail for everyone — from leisurely walkers to avid cyclists and everyone in between.”
As Chao pointed out, the trail is expected to bring a low-cost, accessible and environmentally-friendly transportation and recreation option to approximately 50 million people living within 50 miles of the trail. That's because rail-trails, which are generally known for being flat and easily navigable, aren't just for hikers or cyclists. Inline skates, wheelchairs and horses are also welcome on the trail.
This type of infrastructure will also encourage more people to explore rural America while increasing the safety margin, making it a low-risk option for families, kids and travelers who simply don’t want to hike or bike alongside cars and trucks.
“We believe the Great American Rail-Trail will be a transformative project for the nation and each community it touches along the route,” Chao said. “The Great American Rail-Trail is being hosted by numerous iconic existing trails across the country, and the preferred route truly captures the diverse communities, spectacular landscapes and the culture and history that make America special.”
When the RTC unveils the preferred route on May 8, there will be a live stream that can be watched on the RTC’s website and Facebook page.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.