In this issue:
The State Trail Administrators met on November 13-15, 2008 in Little Rock AR. We posted meeting notes.
The Corps Network published Conservation Corps and Transportation: Making the Connection. This is a guide to transportation funding programs for service and conservation corps to provide examples of how to work with the States under the Recreational Trails Program and Transportation Enhancement Activities. See www.corpsnetwork.org/transportation/. This webpage links to case studies from the publication and has an interactive map to help you find qualified Corps. The PDF is at www.corpsnetwork.org/transportation/TCN_GuideBook_FINAL.pdf.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) encourages the States to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service and conservation corps to perform appropriate transportation enhancement activities and recreational trail projects, in accordance with TEA-21 §1108(g) and §1112(e) and SAFETEA-LU §1109(f)). FHWA added links to the Corps Network transportation webpage from the RTP Guidance and TE Guidance webpages under State Practices.
Thank you to The Corps Network, Stuart Macdonald (American Trails), and the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse for helping to develop this publication.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is seeking grant proposals for National Scenic Byways Program funding consideration for FY 2009. SAFETEA-LU authorized up to $43.5 million for this fiscal year. FHWA has decided to continue to be more strategic in its grant awards process by targeting its resources toward projects that provide the greatest benefits. FHWA invites the application of large-scale, high-cost projects that provide strategic benefits to the byway and the byway traveler. Applications are due to FHWA division offices by March 13, 2009.
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Interior, Army, and Transportation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Public Health and Recreation (HTML / PDF 54 KB). This MOU establishes a general framework 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 Related Links to recreation resources and TAP Resources for transportation links.
National Park Service Conservation and Recreation Newsletter
The National Park Service has a monthly Conservation and Recreation Newsletter.
The Professional Trailbuilders Association released a newsletter to inform the public about the 2009 Trailbuilders Conference, to be held March 15-20, 2009, in Asheville NC. See http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs057/1101517566435/archive/1102342399142.html. See more information at www.trailbuilders.org.
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