Program Overview

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The RTP provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) reauthorized the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) through Federal fiscal years 2013 and 2014 as a setaside from the new Transportation Alternatives Program.

Each State:

• receives funds apportioned by statutory formula
• administers its own program, usually through a State resource or park agency (See State contact list)
• develops its own procedures to solicit and select projects for funding
• has a State Recreational Trail Advisory Committee to assist with the program that must meet at least one time each fiscal year
  
  • in some States, the committee selects the projects
  • in others, the committee is advisory only

Description

• Program Brief
  Brief description, talking points, and key links for the Recreational Trails Program.

• Program Brochure
  Description of the Recreational Trails Program.

• Federal Transportation Funds Benefit Recreation
  A narrative description (and presentation) of how FHWA programs can benefit recreational interests.

• TrailLink 2005, Federal Highway Administration Presentation
  Cynthia J Burbank, Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment, and Realty

Funding and Projects

• Recreational Trails Program Allocations and Apportionments: Funding Levels by State

• Recreational Trails Program Project Database and Report on State Trail Projects
  This database of projects funded under the Recreational Trails Program has been compiled by the Coalition for Recreational Trails from reports supplied by State trail administrators. The report for FHWA documents RTP accomplishments on projects from 1993 through 2010.
  • Documenting Accomplishments of the Recreational Trails Program: Reports available 1999 through 2004

• Annual Achievement Awards Presented by the Coalition for Recreational Trails
  The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) recognizes outstanding RTP projects through its Annual Achievement Awards.

Legislation

• Program Legislation
  Funding and Program Authorization and other related legislative provisions.

Interagency Agreements

• Executive Order 13195: Trails for America in the 21st Century
  To achieve the common goal of better establishing and operating America's national system of trails.

• The National Trails System Memorandum of Understanding (2006)
  • National Park Service, National Trails System. www.nps.gov/nts/

• Memorandum of Understanding for the Administration and Management of National Historic and National Scenic Trails (in effect 2001 to 2006) [EXPIRED]

• Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Trails Training and Trails Resource Information Exchange (HTML / PDF 760 KB)
  • National Trails Training Partnership www.nttp.net

• Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Public Health and Recreation (HTML / PDF 54 KB)
  The Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Interior, Army, and Transportation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote uses and benefits of the Nation's public lands and water resources to enhance the physical and mental health and well being of all Americans, through sound nutrition, physical activity, and recreation in America's great outdoors. See Recreational Trails Program - Related Links for links to trail-related recreation resources.

• Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Public Health and Recreation (in effect June 2002 to June 2006) [EXPIRED] (HTML / PDF 147 KB)

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