Trail Development & Integration

Trails are both infrastructure and amenity, acting as vital corridors for people to travel and enjoy—and providing critical linkages for community engagement and economic development. At SF&A, our work is built on the belief that a trail’s value is defined by its integration into the community. We don’t just plan paths; we build the organizational and social infrastructure that keeps them safe, active, and viable for the long term.

Operational Leadership & Engagement

We don’t just advise on programs; we build and lead them. Our expertise is rooted in executive leadership and the creation of the human infrastructure that makes trail systems work for the residents they serve.

  • WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association): Led the organization through a period of critical growth, expanding its reach as a primary force for regional trail advocacy, safety, and policy.

  • Trail Ranger Program: Founded and designed this flagship program to provide a consistent, helpful presence on urban and regional trails—a national model for bridging the gap between "built" infrastructure and "active" community space.

  • Ambassador Strategies: Developed engagement and marketing frameworks to support successful trail towns and trail-based businesses across the country.

Research & National Strategy

Before founding SF&A, Shane Farthing served as Senior Director of Active Transportation at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), where he oversaw the Research-into-Practice team. This work established many of the current national standards for quantifying trail value.

  • Connectivity & Quantification: Administered and improved the BikeAble analysis to quantify connectivity and demonstrate the impact of different infrastructure investments (comparing pre- and post-alternatives).

  • Trail Metrics: Led the national research agenda on trail counts, cost modeling, and economic quantification.

  • Expert Advisory: Frequently tapped as a technical expert by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) for expert panels in Rhode Island Avenue (DC), Indian Head (MD), and El Paso (TX).

Regional Connectivity & Infrastructure

We support the build-out and strategic planning of critical trail corridors, bridging the gap between local recreation and regional transportation needs.

  • Metropolitan Branch Trail & Capital Crescent Trail: Strategic involvement in two of the nation’s premier rail-to-trail conversions.

  • Anacostia Trails & Oxon Run: Enhancing connectivity in underserved corridors to ensure equitable access to quality infrastructure.

  • Indian Head Rail Trail: Provided targeted advisory services on planning and marketing to better integrate the trail into the local community fabric.

Federal Funding & Implementation

We help small and under-resourced communities navigate the complexity of federal grant programs to move projects from the "wish list" to the construction phase.

  • Martinsburg Frog Hollow: A case study in using a pilot corridor to attract simultaneous economic and transportation investment. This project serves as a model for combining Appalachian brownfield redevelopment with a comprehensive recreation economy plan.

  • RAISE & SS4A (Safe Streets and Roads for All): Expertise in securing and implementing major federal transportation grants for safety and connectivity.

The SF&A Difference

Whether it is applying the rigor of national research to a local problem or securing a multi-million dollar federal grant, we ensure the project is scaled for the community it serves. The best-laid path is useless if it doesn't lead where people want to be.