The Recreational Trails Program needs your help

by Greg Mumm
BRC Executive Director

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) has been a major source of funding for recreational trails since its inception in 1991. The BlueRibbon Coalition worked very hard to get this program introduced, passed and funded. Subsequent to that, BRC has retained its focus to ensure that this remarkable program continues as a viable funding source for recreational access. Over the years, RTP has provided about $677 million dollars in funding for thousands of trails across the country.

I would encourage you to read up on the RTP program in the history section of our website (www.sharetrails.org/ history). Even more information can be found by using the search function on our website's homepage to search for either "Recreational Trails Program" or "RTP," or by clicking on the "RTP" button on the left side of the page.

As remarkably successful as RTP has been, right now there is an ongoing concern that this program not be eclipsed in the next round of legislation.

The long and short of it is that Congress has begun to take action on the next "highway bill" from which traditionally the RTP program has been funded. Funding for the program rightly comes from the federal gas tax you pay at the pump--it is a calculated portion of fuel that is used for "off-highway motorized use." It was last reauthorized for three years in 2005 as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (commonly referred to as SAFETEA-LU.) This law is about to expire at the end of 2009 and the Recreational Trails Program will expire along with it unless it can be authorized in the next national surface transportation program bill.

The fact is that this time around it isn't just a "re-authorization" as in the past. RTP will need to be authorized all over again and then funded in this next bill if the program is to continue. The challenge is that there is a great deal more competition for those gas tax funds with a great deal of focus on this country's transportation infrastructure. Read that: Bridges and roads need repair or replacement. The 18.4 cent per gallon gas tax has not been raised since 1994, with an $8 billion deficit that had to be filled by Congress in 2009, and a similar deficit is expected in 2010. Feeding the shortfall, cars are more fuel efficient with a push for even more fuel efficient modes of transportation. Metropolitan areas are looking to gas tax as means for funding mass transit systems.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. As consideration is given for each of these important issues in Congress, you cannot help but recognize there is a question of whether or not funding for trails will be able to compete with all of these other important issues.

The bottom line for us is that RTP funding is vital for recreational access. We need to ensure it continues.

The BlueRibbon Coalition has been working side by side with all the members of the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) to educate legislators on the importance of the program and to seek champions to sponsor RTP in Congress. We need your help in this effort to ensure the Recreational Trails Program is part of the next highway bill.

As a member of the CRT, the BlueRibbon Coalition is asking every one of its member clubs and organizations to lend their shoulder to this task. Letters will be sent and calls will be made by the CRT on an ongoing basis to members of Congress and key members of the administration. As of right now, 186 organizations have signed on in support of the first letter sent to key Congressional members. CRT would like to have over 500 organizations signed on in support. BRC has enough member organizations to meet and even exceed that goal. Here is where your club can really make a difference. Please help.

You can see the first letter that was sent on our website [http://www.sharetrails.org/rtp/index.php#letter]. There is also a link right there on the page where your organization can sign on in support of this effort. Every state and every trail user benefits from the important funding the Recreational Trails Program brings to our trails. We need your club or organization to sign on! Please pass the word and this link on through your networks.