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 Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act reauthorized the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for Federal fiscal years 2016 through 2020 as a set-aside of funds from the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside under Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG).

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 Summary
  Description of the Recreational Trails Program.

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

Projects and Funding

• Recreational Trails Program Project Database and Report on State Trail Projects
  This database of projects funded under the Recreational Trails Program has been compiled from reports supplied by State trail administrators.

  • 2019 Recreational Trails Program Annual Report
  • 2017-18 Recreational Trails Program Annual Report
  • 2016 Recreational Trails Program Annual Report
  • Documenting Accomplishments of the Recreational Trails Program: Reports available 1999 through 2017-18

• 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.

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.
• National Park Service, National Trails System
  • The National Trails System Memorandum of Understanding (for 2017-2027)
  • The National Trails System Memorandum of Understanding (in effect 2006 to 2016) [EXPIRED]
  • 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
  • National Trails Training Partnership
• 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)