Program Guidance

The following guidance will help States and project sponsors meet Recreational Trail Program (RTP) requirements and provide best practices for trail accessibility, and trail design, construction, and maintenance.

See also:

• Accessibility Guidance
• Financial Management Guidance
• State Practices
• FHWA Policy and Guidance Center: The PGC provides a central location of laws, policies, and guidance about the Federal-aid Highway Program (FAHP).

Recreational Trails Program Guidance
This program guidance explains Recreational Trails Program (RTP) policies and procedures including State Recreational Trail Advisory Committee requirements, project eligibility requirements, and other Federal requirements. Although issued as Interim Guidance, it is still in effect.

• Original Memorandum dated April 1, 1999
• Recreational Trails Program Guidance (1999) (HTML)
  This version incorporates updated information and corrections.
• Recreational Trails Program Guidance (1999) (PDF - 251 KB)
  The original guidance was issued April 1, 1999. This PDF has revisions and corrections as of August 1, 1999. It does not incorporate additional updates or corrections.
• RTP Trail Assessments, Education and Training, and State Administrative Costs
• RTP Federal Share and Matching Requirements under SAFETEA-LU
• Compliance for FY 2012 Apportionments (Note: no formal Memo was sent for FY 2013, but compliance was documented for all States.)
  • Compliance for FY 2012 Apportionments - Attachments
  • Compliance for FY 2013 Apportionments - Attachments

Related Guidance

• A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking
  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) created A Guide to Transportation Decisionmaking to answer transportation project-related questions.
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Guidance
  Promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation accessibility, use, and safety. Also provides additional links to Bicycle and Pedestrian Publications and Resources.
• Bicycle Facilities and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
  Responses to inquiries about bicycle facilities permitted by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Equestrian and Other Nonmotorized Use on Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
• FHWA Order 6640.1A: FHWA Policy on Permissible Project Related Activities During the NEPA Process (October 1, 2010)
• Manuals and Guides for Trail Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation, and for Signs
  • Bollards, Gates, and Other Barriers
• Presentation: Bicycle Path Entry Control. (Ed Cox, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Sacramento, CA and Maggie O'Mara, Senior Transportation Engineer, California Department of Transportation)
  This presentation discusses methods to control entry to shared use paths. It considers issues related to bollards, gates, and other barriers. It looks at examples and discusses what works well and what doesn't.
  Disclaimer: This presentation is provided in the interest of information exchange, and reflects the views of the authors. Providing this resource does not necessarily represent endorsement by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Presentation: Designing for Nonmotorists. Presented at the FHWA Field Engineers Learning & Development Seminar, April 20, 2010, Dallas TX.
  • Part 1: Policy, Planning, Programs, and Provisions for Pedal-Power, Pedestrians, and Paths
  • Part 2: Highway and Street Facilities
  • Part 3: Shared Use Paths
  • Part 4: Recreational Trails
  • Part 5: Resources
• Preventive Maintenance Eligibility
• Shared Use Paths Along or Near Freeways and Bicycles on Freeways
• Snow Removal on Sidewalks Constructed with Federal Funding
• Statewide Transportation Planning; Metropolitan Transportation Planning; Final Rule (effective March 16, 2007)
  • HTML: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-02-14/html/07-493.htm
  • PDF (395 KB): http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-02-14/pdf/07-493.pdf
• Transportation Enhancement Activities Guidance