RTP News - August 2005

August 23

STATE TRAIL ADMINISTRATORS MEETING 2005: September 20-22, 2005, Newark DE
If you plan to attend, YOU MUST REGISTER AT www.destateparks.com/greenway/TrailAdmin/. If you have dietary restrictions or need special accommodation for transport, please use the Comments section. Also, please note that cars may not be driven to the training site on Day 2 (the UTAP training), because there is no parking at the site. We will have vans from the Marriott to transport folks. We cannot pick up from other hotels.

Please verify that your name is on the list posted at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stam2005/attendees.htm. Only people who registered via the Registration Form at www.destateparks.com/greenway/TrailAdmin/ are on this list. If you sent an email but didn't register, please submit a registration using the form provided.

We continue to update the STAM 2005 webpage at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stam2005/index.htm as the event gets nearer. Please feel free to submit ideas even if you can't attend.
STATE TRAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING IN FY 2005
UPDATE: Aug 26th: All States eligible, just need final documentation from MA, MI, and MO. Also, I would like minutes from CA and HI.
Almost all States have submitted documentation of FY 2005 State Trail Advisory Committee meetings to qualify for FY 2006 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) apportionments. We still need responses from (as of August 23, 2005): Alabama, Maryland (Aug 3), Massachusetts (Sept 13), Michigan (Sept 13), Mississippi (Aug 8), Missouri (Sept 17), Texas (June, but I don't have details yet), Utah (Aug 9), Washington (Aug 17).

As of now (Aug 23), I have not heard from: Alabama. No response means no apportionment. Let's get this list empty this week. The "drop dead" deadline for a State to have its FY 2005 meeting is September 30, but we need documentation by August 29th to submit our apportionment factors to the FHWA Office of Budget and Finance on August 31st. For those States that won't meet until September, please set a firm date by August 29th, and let me know. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rtp9908_pt1.htm#page5 for information about the Advisory Committee requirement.
SNOWMOBILE NUMBERS
UPDATE: Aug 26: MA and NM arrived, will use FY 2004 for MD.
As of now, I don't plan to send an official inquiry for snowmobile figures to States, since I'm only missing a handful of States, none of which are key snowmobiling destinations. No response by our deadline (August 29th) means we assume zero snowmobile use. We must submit our FY 2006 RTP apportionment factors by August 31st.

Still need info: MD, MA, NM. After August 29th is too late, and you get ZERO.

Received info: AZ, AK, CA, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY.

No response expected / Assume zero snowmobile use: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA. If your State is in this list, we assume zero snowmobile use unless the State can document snowmobile use in FY 2005.

Here are the snowmobile figures I have as of 23 August 2005: Snowmobile Estimates for FY 2006 Apportionment Factors

SAFETEA-LU UPDATES

WEBSITE UPDATES
We posted Transportation Enhancement (TE) apportionments from 1992-2004 at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/apportionments.htm. The 2005 apportionments are still being calculated: we will update both the RTP and TE apportionments when they become available.

We posted revised RTP, TE, and Bicycle and Pedestrian legislation to incorporate changes enacted in SAFETEA-LU (see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/legislation.htm, www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/legislation.htm, and www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/sec217.htm), and a revised list of TE Eligible Activities (www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/teas.htm). We will also post a new version of the RTP Brochure/Summary (hopefully on August 24). Revised Guidance will come later: we hope to have a draft at the State Trail Administrators Meeting. We don't expect a lot of changes.
SAFETEA-LU ENACTED
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) is in effect as of August 10, 2005.

Here are the dollar figures for the Recreational Trails Program:
FY 2004: apparently is a "done deal" with the amounts previously apportioned.
FY 2005: $60 million. This is the current rate at which we have been doing the FY 2005 Advanced Apportionments: most States can expect approximately the same total as in FY 2004.
FY 2006: $70 million
FY 2007: $75 million
FY 2008: $80 million
FY 2009: $85 million

Here are some highlights of RTP amendments. These are in effect as of August 10, 2005, the date of enactment.

Sec 1109: Recreational Trails Program.

(a) FHWA Administrative funds: specifically allows "training". Deletes obsolete reference to the National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee (which expired in 2000, and hasn't met since 1994). This means: FHWA has clear authority to support trail related training programs. FHWA Administrative funds will be $840,000 per year, not a 1.5% takedown.

(b)(2)(F) Assessment of trail conditions for accessibility and maintenance. This means: You can fund a project to do Universal Trail Assessment Process or similar trail assessments as independent projects.

(b)(2)(G) now the Education section: Development and dissemination of publications and operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection, (as those objectives relate to 1 or more of the use of recreational trails, supporting non-law enforcement trail safety and trail use monitoring patrol programs, and providing trail-related training), but in an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the apportionment made to the State for the fiscal year. This means: you can use education funds to:
- Develop and distribute safety and environmental protection brochures and publications related to trail use (see www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/ed/team_green/pdf/activitybook.pdf for an example of a previously funded project).
- Provide or support trail monitoring patrols to promote safety and environmental protection related to trails (but not provide support for law enforcement patrols).
- Provide or support training to benefit safety and environmental protection related to trails. This includes training on trail planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations, since those items can affect trail safety and trail-related environmental protection. However, this does not include training on organizational development (developing trail clubs), grant writing, or public health promotion.
(c) Eliminates the waiver from the 30% provisions. Beginning August 10, 2005 [date of enactment], all States must meet the 30% provisions, or else carry over the funds to a following year. Waivers enacted prior to August 10, 2005 remain in effect, but States may not enact retroactive waivers. Over time, this will eventually mean USE or LOSE. But States still retain flexibility to carry over funds (until they reach their obligation ceiling). This should allow States to generate a large enough amount to do something like purchase a large chunk of land for an OHV park.

(d)(1,2,3). Amends the allowable Federal share to be the same as a State's normal Federal-aid highway program Federal share (generally greater than 80% in western States, so this mostly benefits western States, and doesn't harm eastern States). States may continue to require a higher matching share if they wish.

(d)(4) Allows RTP funds to be used to match other Federal funding programs. As of August 10, 2005, a State may use RTP funds to match other Federal funding programs, including Transportation Enhancement funds.

(e) Allows preapproval planning and environmental compliance costs to be credited toward the non-Federal share of the cost of a project, limited to costs incurred less than 18 months prior to project approval. This should help project sponsors get credit for developing their RTP projects (if your State chooses to allow this provision). States may use this provision beginning August 10, 2005 for new project obligations.

(f) Encourages States to use Youth Corps (but does not require). This is a repeat of the same provision from TEA-21.

NOT INCLUDED IN SAFETEA-LU: There are no project streamlining provisions as the Administration and the Senate proposed: RTP projects still must be included in the statewide and metropolitan transportation plans. Also, if an RTP project is within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway, it must comply with highway contracting procedures.
STATE ASSUMPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Sec 6003, State Assumption of Responsibilities for Certain Programs and Projects, allows up to five States to assume the responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation for the Recreational Trails Program and for Transportation Enhancements for environmental reviews, consultation, and project and program decisionmaking. This would allow States to assume program control and authority to administer the RTP and/or TE, but the State also would assume full responsibility and liability, and accept the jurisdiction of Federal courts. This would require an application procedure, certifications, public notices, and input from Federal agencies and the public. If your State interested in participating in this program, please let me know. We want to figure out how much interest there might be in this program.
OTHER SAFETEA-LU PROVISIONS OF TRAIL-RELATED INTEREST
Sec 1113(c): TE remains 10% of STP, but with a minimum amount set at the FY 2005 level (STP's maximum size under SAFETEA-LU is in FY 2005).
Sec 1122: Transportation Enhancement Definitions are slightly revised, nothing major from the trail viewpoint.
Sec 1401: Highway Safety Improvement Program. New 23 U.S.C. 148(d)(1) includes trails as eligible.
Sec 1404: Adds a new Safe Routes to School Program. Trails are eligible.
Sec 1802: National Scenic Byways Program. Minor amendments, makes clear Indian tribal byways are eligible for designation and for funding.
Sec 1902: Donations and Credits: Amends 23 U.S.C. 323(c) to include local governments, and eliminates §323(e). This means local governments will be able to provide the same kinds of donations as private donors.

NOT INCLUDED IN SAFETEA-LU:
- Amendment proposed by the Administration and the Senate in 23 U.S.C. 217 to insert "pedestrians" every time §217 mentions "bicycles" or "bicyclists", and also to guarantee that equestrians clearly may be included as shared use path users.
- Amendment proposed by the Administration and the Senate in 23 U.S.C. 144(o) to the Bridge program to allow historic bridge preservation efforts that cost more than the cost of demolition.

Resources and News from Nonprofit Trail Organizations

AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY'S 2006 NATIONAL TRAILS FUND
-----Original Message-----
From: Ivan Levin
Subject: American Hiking Society Now Accepting Grant Applications for the 2006 National Trails Fund
The American Hiking Society announced it is accepting applications for the 2006 National Trails Fund. It gives community nonprofit organizations funds to build or repair new or existing trails, protect trail corridors, and support trail outreach and volunteer programs.
IASA MANUALS ON THE WEB
Two new manuals are available from the International Association of Snowmobile Administrators (IASA): Renting Snowmobiles Successfully and Guidelines for Snowmobile Trail Groomer Operator Training. They are available on the American Council of Snowmobile Association (ACSA) website. Go to www.snowmobilers.org and click on the "Resources" button. ACSA also posted IASA's Guidelines for Snowmobile Trail Signing and Placement.
NATIONAL TRAILS TRAINING PARTNERSHIP NOTES
-----Original Message-----
From: MacTrail@aol.com
Subject: Notes from NTTP meeting June 10, 2005

The notes from the last NTTP meeting of June 10, 2005 are now at www.NTTP.net (click on News) or go directly to the news page at: http://americantrails.org/nttp/newsNTTP.html. If you have any questions or corrections to the meeting notes please contact Stuart Macdonald at mactrail@aol.com or 801-712-3407.
TREAD LIGHTLY MASTER TREAD TRAINER COURSE and other news
----Original Message-----
From: Dianne Olson
Subject: Tread Trainer Program Update - August

Tread Trainer Program Updates and Tread Lightly! Information, August 12, 2005 This update is provided by Tread Lightly!, with funding from Ford Motor Company Fund and the Federal Highway Administration. Visit www.treadlightly.org/trainer.mv for more information.
1. Request for Newsletter Articles
  Now calling all Master Trainers and Trainers to submit articles for the fall edition Tread Trainer newsletter. Articles can be on anything Tread Lightly! from how you implemented the Tread Lightly! message in your area, great events that you participated in this summer and shared the Tread Lightly! message, to unique or fun ways to share the Tread Lightly! message. This is your chance to share your experiences with the hundreds of other trainers out there.
  
  Send submissions to Monica Clay at monica@treadlightly.org by September 2, 2005.
  
  Please include:
  - 2-4 paragraph article
  - Pictures associated with the article or of you
  - Permission to edit and publish your writing for the newsletter
2. Training Decals Now Available
  Need a little something more for your presentations or trainings to get folks excited? Training Decals are now available through the Tread Trainer program. These small 2x4 inch stickers declare to the world "Training Completed" and can be handed out as incentive live the Tread Lightly! philosophy and encourage recreationists to be good ambassadors for their sport. Decals cost 30 cents and can only be purchased by calling Dianne or Nicole at 800-966-9900. These decals are eligible for free materials.
3. Master Trainer and Trainer course scheduling
  Tread Lightly! is accepting requests for Master Trainer and Trainer Courses for 2006. If you are interested in holding a Trainer course in your area and would like Tread Lightly! to help with the promotion and logistics please email nicole@treadlightly.org or call 800-966-9900. Course request applications are at www.treadlightly.org/trainer.mv.
Happy Trails, The Tread Trainer Staff
Dianne, Nicole, and Monica
298 24th Street, Ste. 325
Ogden, UT 84401
Phone: 801-627-0077; Fax: 801-621-8633; Toll Free: 800-966-9900

August 1

SAFETEA-LU PASSED BY THE CONGRESS
It appears our new Reauthorization is "SAFETEA-LU". A more final text will be available within the next few weeks.

Here are the dollar figures for the Recreational Trails Program:
FY 2004: I have no idea. Perhaps FY 2004 is a "done deal" with the $60 million previously apportioned, but I'm not sure.
FY 2005: $60 million. This is the current rate at which we have been doing the FY 2005 Advanced Apportionments.
FY 2006: $70 million
FY 2007: $75 million
FY 2008: $80 million
FY 2009: $85 million

Here are some highlights of amendments.
Sec 1109: Recreational Trails Program. THE GOOD NEWS! The big winners are trail assessments and trail training.
- FHWA Administrative funds: specifically allows "training". Deletes obsolete reference to the National Recreational Trails Advisory Committee (which expired in 2000, and hasn't met since 1994).
- Clarifies eligibility for:
  NEW (b)(2)(F) Assessment of trail conditions for accessibility and maintenance. THIS MEANS: You can fund a project to do Universal Trail Assessment Process or similar assessments as independent projects.
  AMENDED (b)(2)(G) now the Education section, now specifically allows non-law enforcement trail safety and trail monitoring patrol programs, and providing trail-related training. Education funds are still limited to 5% of a State's apportionment.
- ELIMINATES the waiver from the 30% provisions. Starting from the moment this bill gets enacted, all States MUST meet the 30% provisions, or else carry over the funds to a following year. Over time, this will eventually mean USE or LOSE. But States still retain flexibility to carry over funds (until they reach the obligation deadline), perhaps to generate a large enough amount to do something like purchase a large chunk of land for an OHV park. This is good news for program equity.
- Amends the allowable Federal share to be the same as a State's normal Federal-aid highway program Federal share (generally greater than 80% in western States, so this mostly benefits western States, and doesn't harm eastern States).
- Allows RTP funds to be used to match other Federal funding programs.
- Allows preapproval planning and environmental compliance costs to be credited toward the non-Federal share of the cost of a project, limited to costs incurred less than 18 months prior to project approval. THIS SHOULD HELP project sponsors get credit for developing their RTP projects (if your States allows this provision to take effect).
- ENCOURAGES (but does not require) States to use Youth Corps. Unfortunately, the encouragement didn't get codified into 23 U.S.C. 206, but it continues the same encouragement provision from TEA-21.
BAD NEWS: There are no project streamlining provisions as we and the Senate had proposed: RTP projects still must be included in the statewide and metropolitan transportation plans [despite unanimous agreement on the part of the States that this provision was a big stumbling block for RTP project implementation]. Also, if an RTP project is within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway, it must comply with highway contracting procedures. This is sad: we lost a good opportunity to make the project development process more efficient.
OTHER SAFETEA-LU PROVISIONS OF TRAIL-RELATED INTEREST
Sec 1122: Transportation Enhancement Definitions are slightly revised, nothing major. TE remains 10% of STP (I presume as amended by equity programs such as Minimum Guarantee). But note that STP no longer has the Highway Safety Improvement Program component, which is now a new core program.

Sec 1404: Adds a new Safe Routes to School Program.
Sec 1802: National Scenic Byways Program. Minor amendments, makes clear Indian tribes are eligible.
Sec 1902: Donations and Credits: Amends 23 U.S.C. 323(c) to include local governments, and eliminates §323(e). This means local governments will be able to provide the same kinds of donations as private donors.

UNFORTUNATELY APPEAR TO BE MISSING:
- Amendment proposed by the Administration and the Senate in 23 U.S.C. 217 to insert "pedestrians" every time §217 mentions "bicycles" or "bicyclists", and also to guarantee that equestrians clearly may be included as shared use path users.
- Amendment proposed by the Administration and the Senate in 23 U.S.C. 144(o) to the Bridge program to allow historic bridge preservation efforts that cost more than the cost of demolition.
Sadly, both of these provisions appeared, at least to us, to make totally logical sense: we can't fathom why they didn't get included in the final. Maybe we just haven't seen the full text yet...
STATE TRAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE INQUISITION
More than half the States have submitted documentation of FY 2005 State Trail Advisory Committee meetings to qualify for FY 2006 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) apportionments, and we received promises from some more. Therefore, we expect to send "The Advisory Committee Inquisition Memo" only to States from which we have not yet received any information about the FY 2005 State Trail Advisory Committee meeting. I didn't get around to sending the Inquisition Memo, and I won't be getting it out until at least August 18th. Nevertheless, we still need responses.

Sufficient Documentation received as of July 30, 2005
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii (on the way), Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas (on the way), West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Still Need Documentation as of July 30, 2005
Alabama, California (scheduled Aug 18), Kentucky, Maryland (scheduled Aug 3), Massachusetts, Michigan (scheduled for September), Mississippi, Missouri (expected early September), Tennessee (July 20), Texas (June, but I don't have details yet), Utah (scheduled Aug 9), Vermont, Virginia, Washington (scheduled Aug 17).

As of now (July 30), the SEND list will include: Alabama, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Vermont, Virginia. Let's see if we can get this list empty by August 18th.

While the "drop dead" deadline for a State to have its FY 2005 meeting is September 30, I would like the documentation by August 29th. We submit our apportionment factors to the FHWA Office of Budget and Finance on August 31st. For those States that won't meet until September, please set a firm date by August 29th. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rtp9908_pt1.htm#page5 for information about the Advisory Committee requirement. Please send them to me on August 17th.
SNOWMOBILE NUMBERS
Likewise, we only plan to send an official inquiry for snowmobile figures to States from which we have not received any information. I hope to avoid sending any official inquiry at all, although we might have to send out something the week of July 18th to States still remaining in the "still need info" list below. No response by our deadline (August 29th) means we assume zero snowmobile use. We must submit our FY 2006 RTP apportionment factors by August 31st.

Received info: AZ, CA, DE, ID, IL, IN, KS, ME, MI, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, ND (expect further update), OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, WA, WV, WI, WY.

Still need info: AK, CO, CT, IA, MD, MA, MN, MT, NM, VT. Please send to me between August 17 and 29. After August 29th is too late, and you get a ZERO.

No response expected / Assume zero snowmobile use: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA. If your State is in this list, we assume zero snowmobile use unless the State can document snowmobile use in FY 2005.

Here are the snowmobile figures I have as of 30 July 2005:
- Snowmobile Estimates for FY 2006 Apportionment Factors

STATE TRAIL ADMINISTRATORS MEETING 2005
We continue to update the STAM 2005 webpage at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stam2005/index.htm as the event gets nearer. Please feel free to submit ideas even if you can't attend.
From: Ivan Levin
Subject: American Hiking Society's 2006 National Trails Fund Reminder
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 1:11 PM

Dear American Hiking Society Partners,

The National Trails Fund season is upon us again. Please feel free to pass along the information below to other non-profit trail organizations and throughout your agencies.

Apply Now For the 2006 National Trails Fund
Created in 1998, the National Trails Fund (NTF) is the only privately supported national grants program that provides funding to grassroots organizations working to establish, protect, and maintain foot trails in America. To date, American Hiking has granted more than $240,000 to 56 different organizations across the country for land acquisition, constituency building campaigns, and traditional trail work projects.

American Hiking Society is now accepting applications for the 2006 National Trails Fund. Awards will range from $500 to $10,000 per project, thanks to the generous support of Cascade Designs and L.L.Bean, the program's charter sponsors. Applications must be postmarked by November 1, 2005. For more information on the National Trails Fund contact Ivan Levin, Trail Programs Manager, at ILevin@AmericanHiking.org or 301-565-6704 x 208.

Thanks and I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

Ivan Levin, Trail Programs Manager, American Hiking Society, 1422 Fenwick Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-565-6704 x 208

To provide Feedback, Suggestions, or Comments for this page contact Christopher B. Douwes at christopher.douwes@dot.gov.