Industry Info
Recreational Trails Program Reauthorized
Grassroots efforts from equestrians played important role
in making sure RTP was included in the FAST Act
Congress has passed and the
President has signed a multi-year
national highway bill known as the
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or the FAST Act. The
bill reauthorizes the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational
Trails Program (RTP) for the next
five years and provides $85 million
annually for the program.
The last highway bill was set to
expire in December and Congress
has been working on various versions of a national surface transportation bill for most of this year.
During the Congressional process
several attempts were made to
eliminate the RTP program from the
bill. However, these attempts were
unsuccessful.
“We are very pleased RTP was
included in the FAST Act. Every
time a multi-year national highway
bill is debated there is always an
12 • Walking On
attempt to eliminate this program
and this time was no different,” said
AHC vice president of government
affairs Ben Pendergrass. “Grassroots
support from recreational trail users,
including many equestrians, played
an important role in making sure
RTP was included in bill. The AHC
appreciates all the individual horsemen and organizations that contacted their Representatives in support
of RTP.”
“Strong support from Congressional champions of the program,
particularly Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Risch (R-ID),
Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH), as well as Representatives Hanna (R-NY), Rick
Larsen (D-WA), Tim Walz (D-MN)
and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA),
was also essential to preserving the
program,” continued Pendergrass.
Since its inception RTP has provided money for thousands of state
and local trail projects across the
country, including many that benefit
equestrians. RTP provides funding
directly to the states for recreational
trails and trail-related facilities for all
recreational trail users. It is funded
with a portion of the gas taxes paid
into the Highway Trust Fund by recreational off-highway vehicle users.
To learn more about the program
and find information about contacting your state RTP administrator
for guidance on State policies and
project eligibility requirements visit
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/. You can
also look up the projects funded in
your state in the RTP project database.
The AHC has advocated for the
RTP program since its inception and
is an active member in the Coalition
for Recreational Trails (CRT). CRT
is federation of national and regional
trail-related organizations formed
exclusively to build awareness about
and protect the RTP program.
“It is a victory for all recreational
users that RTP has been reauthorized. However, Governors still have
the option to opt out of the program.
This year only one state has done
this (Connecticut) so it is important
that recreational riders stay vigilant
against any attempts to eliminate the
program in their state,” said Pendergrass. “Additionally, if you have a
trail project in your area you would
like to see receive funding the AHC
encourages you to visit the RTP
website and contact your state RTP
administrator.