RTP News - October 2006

October 10

1. Recreational Trails Program FY 2007 Apportionments
2. Clarification of FHWA's Oversight Role in Accessibility
3. State Trail Administrators Meeting: October 18-19, 2007, Davenport, Iowa
4. RTP Publications and Recreational Trails Program Reports Order Form

1. Recreational Trails Program FY 2007 Apportionments
   FHWA released the FY 2007 Apportionments on October 2, 2006: see Funding Levels by State. These are initial apportionments: in the past several years, there have been rescissions in the final Appropriations Acts, which would reduce the apportionments. FHWA will post apportionments for all FHWA apportioned categories at www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices.htm in the N4510.6xx series (expect later in October). FHWA Division offices received notices for all FHWA apportioned programs on October 2, 2006.

   The final FY 2007 apportionments for Transportation Enhancements will be known after the FY 2007 Appropriations Acts, but SAFETEA-LU Section 1113(c) set TE apportionments no lower than the FY 2005 amounts: see www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/apportionments.htm.

2. Clarification of FHWA's Oversight Role in Accessibility
   FHWA issued a Memorandum and Questions and Answers entitled "Clarification of FHWA's Oversight Role in Accessibility" on September 12, 2006. These documents clarify FHWA's Accessibility Guidance.

   • Memorandum from the Administrator
   • Memorandum: Clarification of FHWA's Oversight Role in Accessibility
   • Questions and Answers

   We received two more questions since this Guidance was released:

   • What is the difference between a structural resurfacing and a thin surface overlay (nonstructural)?
     The overall question relates to the definitions of "alterations" and "maintenance". Routine maintenance does not necessarily trigger the need to make accessibility improvements, but alterations do. Court findings have determined that some activities that DOTs consider "maintenance" are "alterations". Generally, pothole repair, joint sealing, and tar and chip operations are maintenance. Activities such as "mill and fill" or anything more extensive are alterations. The official response will require significant detail. Stay tuned.

   • What are the requirements for a trail bridge over a highway?
     Proposed Answer: The Clarification Memorandum states: "Where shared use paths and pedestrian trails cross highways or streets, the crossing also shall meet the same requirements as street crossings, including the provision of detectable warnings." Therefore, where shared use paths and pedestrian trails cross highways on bridges or other structures, the structures and their ramps must meet the Access Board's guidance for pedestrian overpasses and underpasses (www.access-board.gov/prowac/draft.htm#305) and for ramps (www.access-board.gov/prowac/draft.htm#406).

   Now that FHWA has released this Accessibility Guidance, we also posted:

   • DRAFT Accessibility Guidance for Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, Recreational Trails, Scenic Byways, and Transportation Enhancements. This goes into additional detail for trails.

   • Manuals and Guides for Trail Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation, and for Signs.

3. State Trail Administrators Meeting: October 18-19, 2007, Davenport, Iowa
   The 2007 State Trail Administrators Meeting will be October 18-19, 2007, in Davenport, Iowa. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/stam2006/index.htm. We updated the agenda.

   We will have conference call capability for Plenary sessions: October 18 from 10:30 to 1:15 (with a break for lunch) and just about all day on the 19th. If you would like to participate through a conference call, please contact Jonathan LeClere (jonathan.leclere@dot.gov), and he will send the information to you. For conference call logistics reasons, we are limiting this call to State Trail Administrators and interested FHWA people. The conference site is on Central Time: please plan accordingly.

   On the afternoon of October 19, we invite State Trail Advisory Committee members to attend a State Trail Advisory Committee Discussion, led by Tim Mitchell. We also invite the advisory committee members to stay for the Coalition for Recreational Trails update to learn about "What's Happening in Washington and Why You Should Care" and include a discussion about the enhancements we anticipate for the RTP project database.

   Of course, if you can, please stay for the National Trails Symposium. See www.americantrails.org/quad/index.html.

4. RTP Publications and Recreational Trails Program Reports Order Form
   The Recreational Trails Program Publications list is at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/publications.htm. Most of the publications that were on the Order Form are out of print, but most are available electronically. We revised the Trails Reports Order Form.