About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC): Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation's leading advocate for trails and a national champion for active transportation. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a significant voice in federal legislation related to creating bikeable and walkable communities. RTC is headquartered in Washington DC with regional offices in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.About the Internship Program: RTC is looking for interns interested in working on environmental and public policy issues. Interns will participate as full members of the team and are included in staff meetings and social gatherings. Hours are flexible to accommodate class schedule(s) or other commitments. Hours are weekdays 9 to 5.
Position Description: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Policy team has an opening for a 2-4 month internship. US Congress will soon start debating how to shape the next decade of transportation investments, and this is an opportunity to play a role in our efforts to influence that process.
The Policy/Research intern will assist the team on one or more aspects of making our case to Congress:
- Assist the Director Policy Outreach in producing a report on the significance and potential of bicycling and walking beyond urban centers. This project will provide a narrative and policy-making tools to increase the stature of active transportation for regions of the U.S. that are not densely populated. Tasks may include:
- Produce charts and graphs from quantitative data.
- Conduct testing & user trials of a new policy tool to make it more useful and usable.
- Gather best practices information from the U.S. and international successes in increasing the transportation mode share for walking and bicycling.
- Write and produce content for this project for the Rails-to-Trails website.
- Assemble and rewrite stories gathered and match them with photos from RTC's extensive photo library.
- Mobilizing stakeholders and organizations to achieve support for our primary federal legislative agenda. Tasks may include:
- Identify and contact organizations around the country and/or in key legislative districts.
- Creatively identify and establish relationships with listserves, groups, and other interested parties.
- Target specific groups for more in-depth relationship cultivation
- Support the Senior VP of Federal Relations in the effort to build relationships and support through direct lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a significant player in shifting national transportation policy to support goals of health, economy, livable communities, and environmental justice. Our strategy is to focus on making system-wide improvements at the city and county-level that offer safe, convenient connectivity so people of all ages and skill levels can get around on foot or by bike. This strategy is needed to rectify an over-emphasis on providing transportation funding at the "project" level. Interns working with the RTC Policy team will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best-trained and experienced policy professionals in Washington DC. Prior successes include significant accomplishments such as establishing the US DOT's Transportation Enhancements program in ISTEA (see www.enhancements.org) and the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program in SAFETEA-LU (see www.smartmobility.us). Applicants can learn more about the current Campaign for Active Transportation at: www.railstotrails.org/2010.
Qualifications: Senior undergrad or master student working towards their degree in Planning, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Transportation Engineering, or a related field. Applicants should be task-oriented, highly organized and possess a strong interest in the topics of health, environment, sustainable transportation, pedestrians, bicycles, or trails.
Benefits: Internship are unpaid, though interns enjoy the benefits of working in downtown Washington, DC, in the casual but professional RTC National Office. Our Dupont Circle office is easily accessible by Metro's red, orange and blue lines. Nearby cultural attractions include the Smithsonian museums, Embassy Row, historical monuments, and the trendy Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods.
