Recreational Trails Program

Benefits of Recreational Trails

1. Good for the mind. 2. Good for the body. 3. Positively impacts your social life. 4. Good for the economy. 5. Great for the great outdoors.

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. (www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/)

RTP Goal: To encourage all kinds of trail enthusiasts to work together to provide a

wide variety of recreational trail opportunities.

• 1991 ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

• 1998 TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

• 2005 SAFTEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

• 2012 MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (expires September 30,2014)

History1990 Congress makes major shift in surface transportation policy,

now pedestrian and bicycle facilities are eligible for federal-aid highway funds.

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

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

50%Distributed

Equally

50%Based Upon Fuel Use in Each State

Since 1991, the Recreational Trails Program has received over $915 million in federal funding

19931994

19951996

19971998

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

20132014

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

RTP Federal ApportionmentState of Georgia

1993 - 2014

Year

Mill

ions

of

Dol

lars

All About RTP

• Federal Highway Administration provides funds and guidance, but each state administers its own program

• States required to use RTP project funds according to a legislative formula

30%

• Motorized Recreational Trail Use

30%

• Nonmotorized Recreational Trail Use

40%

• Diverse Recreational Trail Use (Multi-use)

Eligibility

• Types of Trails•mountain biking• hiking/walking• equestrian• off-highway vehicle• water trails (canoe/kayak launch)

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

80% Cost Share 20% Match• Eligible Practices

• Development and

rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities• Construction of new trails • Maintenance and

restoration of existing trails• Purchase and lease of trail

construction and maintenance equipment• Acquisition of easements or

property for trails

• Eligible Match Dollars • Cash• Labor• Materials donated• In-kind services• Land purchase

Funding Break Down

$ 100,000 + $ 25,000 = $ 125,000

80% 20%

Trails EducationThe RTP legislation permits Georgia to use five percent of its RTP funds for educational efforts.

Trail MapsAltamaha River Canoe Trail Map & Adventure Guide

Trails Education ProgramTrails School & Crew Leader Training

Georgia Trails & Greenways Advisory CommitteeHIKERS

Nancy Lovingood - Georgia Appalachian Trail ClubSecond position vacant

BICYCLISTS

Keith Owen - Southern Off-Road Bicycle AssociationSecond position vacant

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USERS

Dave Logan - Southern Four Wheel Drive AssocationBruce Dreher - Georgia Recreational Trail Riders Association

EQUESTRIANS

Larry Wheat - Back Country Horsemen of North GeorgiaDebbie Crowe - Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association

WATER TRAIL USERS

Dan MacIntyre, Georgia Canoe Association

GREENWAYS USERS

Greta DeMayo - Fulton CountyCarlton E. Harris - Lumpkin CountyThird position vacant

Georgia Recreational Trails Program Grant CycleAugust

Pre Application Workshops

NovemberApplications Due (end of month)

December – JanuaryApplication Review and Ranking

MarchGrant Awards Announced

Ranking Applications• Motorized/Non-

motorized• Single/Multi-use• Mileage• Location• Budget• Partnerships

• Location in relation to greenway corridor, greenspace, recreation park

• Minimize impact to the natural environment

• Trail use by persons with disabilities

• New recreational opportunities

• Project’s response to local comprehensive plan

Award Winners• Awards Announced• Financial Meeting• Notice to Proceed• Submit Quarterly

Progress Reports• Inspections• Acknowledgement

Coweta CountyBrown’s Mill Battlefield Trail• Funded FY2010 • 0.85 miles new trail construction• pavilion• parking lot• bike racks• benches

• Site of the Battle of Brown’s Mill • Civil War cavalry battle July 30, 1864

• Partnered with local Boy Scout Troops

Timeline Contract Agreement September 2011Final Inspection December 2013

Coweta CountyBrown’s Mill Battlefield Trail

Matching Funds• County Employee

Labor• County

Equipment (clearing/grading)

• Slate stone & granite dust

• Landscaping/grass

Total: $ 75,600

Grant Funds• Design &

Engineering• Interpretive

Trail Markers• Construction

ContractTotal: $ 100,000

Matching Cash• Design &

Engineering• Benches• Entrance

Gate• Erosion

ControlTotal: $ 26,000

Grant Funds In-Kind 49% 51%

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998-9

9200

0200

1200

2200

3200

4

2005-0

6200

7200

8200

9201

0201

1201

2

2013-1

4 $-

$500,000.00

$1,000,000.00

$1,500,000.00

$2,000,000.00

$2,500,000.00

$3,000,000.00

$3,500,000.00

$4,000,000.00

RTP Funding Cycles

$ 3,442,026

Get Outdoors Georgia!