Memorandum
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

We are requesting documentation to comply with a statutory requirement to assure States are eligible to receive FY 2009 apportionments under the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The RTP legislation specifies in 23 U.S.C. 206(c):

1. the Governor of the State shall designate the State agency or agencies that will be responsible for administering apportionments to the State under this section; and
2. the State shall establish a State recreational trail advisory committee that represents both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users, which shall meet not less often than once per fiscal year.

In most States, the RTP is administered by a State resource agency rather than the State department of transportation (see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rtpstate.htm for the contact list). Please work with the appropriate State agency to provide documentation that the State has met, or will have met, the RTP advisory committee requirement in FY 2007. Please reply to Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager, at christopher.douwes@dot.gov by September 10. States listed on Attachment 1 already provided sufficient documentation and do not need to reply to this request.

Documentation may include:

• A copy of meeting minutes or a link to minutes posted on a website. The minutes should include a list of committee members and the organizations and/or trail uses they represent.
• A copy of a certification letter from the State to the division stating the committee had met. Please include a list of committee members and the organizations or trail uses they represent.
• Other written documentation that the State has met the requirement, such as confirmation by you or your staff. Please include a list of committee members and the organizations or trail uses they represent.

Please note there is no need to send a copy of the Governor's letter designating the State agency unless the Governor designated a new agency to administer the RTP in 2007. We have designation letters on file for all States.

States must have motorized and nonmotorized user representation on their committees. Further guidance on the RTP State Recreational Trail Advisory Committee requirement is in Attachment 2, and current guidance is at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rtp9908_pt1.htm#page5.

A State committee of people who "know about trails" but who do not represent specific trail user interests does not meet the RTP's statutory requirement. A State Highway Administration's trails and greenways committee that does not have motorized user representation or discuss motorized recreational trail use does not meet the RTP's statutory requirement.

Motorized user representatives must be motorized users who are recognized by and acceptable to mainstream motorized trail organizations within the State. Nonmotorized user representatives must be nonmotorized users who are recognized by and acceptable to mainstream nonmotorized trail organizations within the State. If a State's committee representation does not meet these requirements, then the advisory committee does not meet the RTP's statutory requirement. The State must hold a meeting prior to September 30, 2007, with a committee that meets the RTP's statutory requirement.

If a State does not have sufficient motorized projects in a fiscal year to meet the 30 percent requirement, then it must carry over sufficient funds for future motorized projects (RTP funds are available for the current fiscal year plus three fiscal years). If a State has consistent difficulty finding motorized projects to fund, then it should consider several options:

• Look at successful project examples, such as the annual RTP Achievement Awards: see www.americantrails.org/awards/CRTawards.html.
• Contact national motorized organizations for ideas, see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/links.htm#Trail.
• Contact USDA Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management districts within the State that may have motorized trail opportunities.
• Consider policy or project selection changes to help motorized projects to move forward.
• Waive caps on project size or amount to allow large dollar value projects, such as land acquisition for motorized trail areas.
• Allow nongovernmental organizations to apply for RTP funds.

If you have questions about the RTP, please call Christopher Douwes at 202-366-5013, or email christopher.douwes@dot.gov.

Attachments

• Attachment 1: States that have provided sufficient documentation in FY 2008 to be eligible for FY 2009 RTP Apportionments
• Attachment 2: RTP Advisory Committee Requirements