TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Moving Americans into the 21st Century
	Fact Sheet
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RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM
Year	1997(ISTEA)	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Authorization	($15M)*	$30M	$40M	$50M	$50M	$50M	$50M

*Funded from administrative takedown

Program Purpose

The Recreational Trails Program provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users.

Funding

Provides stable funding for the Recreational Trails program by establishing it as a Federal-aid program category with contract authority. [1103(f), 1112(a)]

Funds are apportioned to the States by formula—50% equally among all eligible States and 50% in propor tion to the amount of off-road recreational fuel use—fuel used for off-road recreation by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, and off-road light trucks. [1103(f)(2)]

The maximum Federal share attributable to the Recreational Trails Program is 80% [23USC206(f)]

• Federal agency project sponsors may provide additional Federal funds up to a total Federal share of 95%.

• Funds from other Federal programs may be used for the matching share.

• States may allow a programmatic match instead of a project level match.

"Soft match" (credit for donations of funds, materials, services, or new right-of-way) is permitted from any project sponsor, whether a private organization or public agency. [23USC206(h)(1)]

Eligibility

Eligible project categories are [23USC206(d)(2)]:

• maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails;

• development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages;

• purchase and lease of recreational trail construction and maintenance equipment;

• construction of new recreational trails (with restrictions on new trails on Federal land);

• acquisition of easements or property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors;

• State administrative costs related to program administration (up to 7% of a State’s funds); and

• operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection as those objectives related to the use of recreational trails (up to 5% of a State’s funds).

Use of Funds

States must meet minimum funding shares among motorized, nonmotorized, diverse trail use [1112(a)]:

• 40% minimum for diverse trail use

• 30% minimum for motorized recreation

• 30% minimum for nonmotorized recreation

• A diverse motorized use project may satisfy the diverse and motorized requirements simultaneously.

• A diverse nonmotorized use project may satisfy the diverse and nonmotorized requirements simultaneously.

States should give consideration to projects that provide for the redesign, reconstruction, nonroutine main tenance, or relocation of recreational trails to benefit the natural environment. [1112(a)]

States are encouraged to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth conservation orservice corps to perform trail construction and maintenance. [1112(e)]

State Program Administration

The Governor of the State designates the agency to administer the program, which may be an agency other than the State DOT. [23USC206(c)(1)]

The State must have a State Recreational Trail Advisory Committee that represents both motorized and non motorized recreational trail users, which shall meet not less often than once per fiscal year. [23USC206(c)(2)]

September 14, 1998