More Information Award Announcements Grant Workshop VT Trails & Greenways Council Vermont Trails and Greenways Plan (SCORP Chapter 4)   Materials Applicants Current Sponsors   Other Recreation Grant Home Staff Contact Us Links

Vermont's Recreation Trails Program

Program Overview: Vermont's Recreation Trails Program (RTP) is administered by the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR) in cooperation with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) and the Federal Highway Administration. 

The RTP is an assistance program making funds available to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses.

The Vermont Trails & Greenways Council is Vermont's recreational trails advisory committee representing motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users, advising FPR on matters related to the Vermont Trails System, including the allocation of state and federal funds appropriated related to trails, and advising FPR with RTP eligibility criteria, project sponsor criteria, and project selections.

RTP funding consists of predominantly National Recreation Trail Funds that come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use.  Federal RTP funds are distributed to the States by legislative formula:  half of the funds are distributed equally among states and half are distributed in proportion to the estimated amount of non-highway recreational fuel use in each State. 

A portion of Vermont's state recreation trail funds are also set aside to help fund Vermont's RTP.

Federal funds derived from the Federal Highway Administration's Federal Surface Transportation Program, were reauthorized through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA- LU) August 10, 2006. 

State recreation trails funds are derived from an annual appropriation of 3/4 of 1% of the total gas tax, not to exceed $370,000 which is transferred from the Transportation Fund into a Recreation Trails Fund.

Of this appropriation, twenty percent, or up to $74,000 is made available to the RTP for grants to municipalities and non-profit organizations.  Another $74,000 is made available to the RTP for trail projects on state land.

RTP rules require that federal funds be allocated to trail projects according to a 30-30-40 split between motorized, non-motorized, and diversified uses which means 30% of federal funds must be allocated to trail projects providing motorized recreational use, another 30% is to be allocated to projects providing for non-motorized recreational use, and 40% is to be distributed for multi-use recreational use.

In Vermont, FPR uses half of its RTP funds for trail work on its state land and opens up a competitive grant process to allocate the remaining RTP funds to municipalities and non-profit organizations.

What is eligible?

Construction, re-construction  of trails;

Development and rehabilitation of trailside amenities and trailhead facilities;

Maintenance and restoration of existing trails;

Bank stabilization, revegetation, and erosion control.

Construction of small bridges, railings, ramps, and retaining structures;

Operation of educational programs to promote safety and responsible use, environmental protection related to trail use;

Trail assessment for accessibility and sustainability and Universal Trail Assessment Process for trail design and implementation;

Acquisition of easements and fee simple title to property for recreation trails or trail corridors;

How does RTP project funding work?

• RTP is a reimbursable cost share program
• RTP may reimburse up to 80% of the eligible project costs
• RTP may match / and be matched by other Federal funding sources
• Project sponsors apply to FPR for RTP grants before beginning trail projects - usually 6 months prior to estimated start dates
• A federal approval process takes before individual grants are approved by FPR - usually within 6 months

Project sponsors are encouraged to use qualified youth conservation corps to help with trail work in their communities.

Next Grant Application Deadline: January 15, 2008

Eligible Applicants: Funds are available to municipal entities and non-profit organizations. 

Funds Available: Funds are subject to federal appropriation. It is anticipated that approximately $450,000 will be available for competitive grants for federal fiscal year 2008.

Program Timeline:

          October RTP grant applications for 2008 become available.

November 19, 2007 6PM - 8:00PM* Statewide grant workshop offered via interactive television to potential applicants.

January Grant applications due by 4:30PM, January 15, 2008.

February Application Review Committee meets to score applications and make funding recommendations to the Commissioner.

March - June Approved funding recommendations announced by FPR. Sponsors and grant staff obtain necessary permits and clearances for those projects recommended for funding. FPR sends a request to FHWA to obtain approval for these projects. Work may begin when projects have been approved by FHWA and a grant agreement has been signed by FPR.

* To find an interactive t.v. site near you, please visit the VIT web site:  http://www.vitlink.org   Be sure to call 802-241-3690 by 12 Noon on Friday November 16th to sign up at the location you choose.