1 / 28

Recreational Trails Program

Recreational Trails Program. Recreational Trails Program. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. - Federal Highway Administration.

ciaran-wolf
Download Presentation

Recreational Trails Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Recreational Trails Program

  2. Recreational Trails Program The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. - Federal Highway Administration

  3. Program Goal: Encourage all kinds of trail enthusiasts to work together to provide a wide variety of recreational trail opportunities

  4. History 1990 Congress makes major shift in surface transportation policy, now pedestrian and bicycle facilities are eligible for federal-aid highway funds. 1991 1998 2005 2012 2014 ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century SAFTEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users MAP-21 Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century

  5. U.S. Highway Trust Fund A transportation fund which receives money from a federal fuel tax of 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel and related excise taxes

  6. RTP operates on the “user-pay/user-benefit” philosophy

  7. 50%DistributedEqually 50%Based Upon Fuel Use in Each State Since 1991, the Recreational Trails Program has received over $915 million in federal funding

  8. $ 3,442,026 = ~40 grant awards

  9. Federal Highway Administration provides funds and guidance • Each state administers its own program • Georgia Department of Natural Resources State Parks & Historic Sites

  10. Georgia Trails & Greenways Advisory Committee HIKERS Georgia Appalachian Trail Club -Nancy LovingoodSecond position vacantBICYCLISTS Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association - Keith Owen Second position vacantOFF-ROAD VEHICLE USERS Southern Four Wheel Drive Association - Dave Logan Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association - Bruce Dreher EQUESTRIANS Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association - Debbie Crowe Back Country Horsemen of North Georgia - Randy BrownWATER TRAIL USERS Georgia Canoe Association- Dan MacIntyreGREENWAYS USERS Lumpkin County - Carlton Harris Fulton County - Greta DeMayoThird position vacant

  11. Georgia Recreational Trails Program Grant Cycle

  12. Eligibility • Who is eligible to apply for RTP funds? • city governments • county governments • authorized commissions • federal agencies • state agencies

  13. Trails Education Trail Maps Altamaha River Canoe Trail Map & Adventure Guide The RTP legislation permits Georgia to use five percent of its RTP funds for educational efforts. Trails Education Program Trails School & Crew Leader Training

  14. Reimbursement Program • Grant recipients pay 100% of up front cost • Eligible for 80% reimbursement • Non-Motorized Grant Max = $100,000 $ 100,000 + $ 25,000 = $ 125,000 80% 20%

  15. 80% Cost Share • Eligible Practices • Construction of new trails • Maintenance and restoration of existing trails • Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities • Parking, signage, restrooms, benches, trash receptacles, safety railing, guide maps • Lease and some purchases of trail construction and maintenance equipment • Acquisition of property or easements for trails • Assessments: handicap accessibility, environmental • Facilitating access and use of trails by persons with disabilities

  16. Eligible Matching Costs 20 % • Cash • Donations • Services • Materials • Land value • Volunteers • In-kind • Labor • Equipment • Other • No other federal sources • Prison labor

  17. Ineligible Practices • Sidewalks • Tracks • Design-only projects

  18. Application Basics Complete the Georgia RTP application form • Contact information • Motorized/ Non-motorized • Single/Multi-use • Mileage • Project description • Timetable (2 Years) • Environmental questionnaire • Support Documentation • Transmittal Letter • Current Resolution • Site Map • Location Map • Narrative description • Documentation for permits & approvals

  19. Budget • Make sure donations appear in budget sheet in-kind • Engineering & Design capped at 10% of grant award • Environmental compliance & archaeological survey

  20. Ranking Applications Each criteria question is scored. Total points will rank against other applicants in the same trail use category. • Location in relation to greenway corridor, greenspace, and/or recreation park • How do you minimize impact to the natural environment (Assessment Study and Improvements to Existing Trails) • Facilitate trail use by persons with disabilities • New recreational opportunities • Project’s response to local comprehensive plans

  21. Ranking Cont. • How project will add to supply of land for trail usage • Partnerships • How will grant funds leverage greater public investment? • How does the trail project form connections? • Other trails & greenways • Cultural/educational • Recreation/community • Unfinished projects & point deductions

  22. RTP Myths • PREP YOUR APPLICATION ! • Resolution • Line up your Partners • Donations (have a back up plan) • Stream or Utility Crossings • If you receive funding one year you cannot apply for the next year’s grant cycle FALSE • Your are not allowed to pave a trail FALSE • If you receive a score of zero on a criteria question, you will not score high enough to receive a grant award FALSE

  23. Award Winners • Awards Announced • Intergovernmental Review • Financial Meeting & Notice to Proceed • Submit Quarterly Progress Reports & Reimbursement Request • Inspections • Acknowledgement

  24. Reminders • Application and guidance documents available for download October 1st at: www.gastateparks.org/grants/rtp • Applications due (postmarked): November 26th • Anticipating approximately 40 grants awarded • Keep your application clear!

  25. Loren Moore Program Coordinator Loren.moore@gadnr.org 770-656-2770 Ext. 6 www.gastateparks.org/grants/rtp

More Related