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What is the Recreation Trails Program? The Recreation Trails Program (RTP) is a federal assistance program of the Federal Highway Administration that provides funding for the development and maintenance of recreation trails, trailside amenities, and trailhead facilities. Both motorized and non-motorized trail projects may qualify for assistance. The program is administered at the state level through the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, in cooperation with the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
Where are funds derived from? RTP in Vermont is mostly comprised of federal RTP funds, generated from the federal motor fuel excise tax paid by users of off-road recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and off-road light trucks and off-road motorcycles. These funds are allocated to Vermont out of the States’ share of funds from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Title 23 U.S.C., Chapter 2, Section 206 dictates use of the federal RTP funds. A small portion of state funds from the Vermont Recreation Trails Fund* are also made available for community grants ($74,000 by state statute).
RTP’s federal rules require RTP funds be allocated to trail projects so that 30% of federal funds are distributed for motorized recreational use, 30% are distributed for non-motorized use, and 40% are distributed for multiple-use recreation trails.
Who is Eligible? Municipalities and non-profit organizations may receive a grant for up to 80% of the total cost of a recreation trail project.
How is funding received? RTP is a reimbursement program: the project sponsor will not receive a cash grant at the time of project approval. Instead, the sponsor must pay for all the trail project expenditures and then submit a request to be reimbursed for the agreed upon percentage rate of eligible expenses incurred. Reimbursement is not permitted for work that takes place prior to project approval. Supporting documentation is required.
What is the required match?Project sponsors must provide a match of at least 20% of the total project costs.
In the grant application, sponsors need to complete an cost estimate for the trail project, itemizing project expenditures. Its is the sponsor's responsibility to come up with at least 20% of the total project costs as the sponsor's match. There is a Sponsor Match Summary Form in the grant application asking sponsors to show specifically where match will come from.
Match may consist of:
- State Funds: (other state grants/funds)
- Local Cash or In-Kind Contributions: Sponsor's direct monetary contribution; (i.e. cash from fund-raising efforts, organizational or municipal funds, local tax revenues, set-aside project funds, force-fund accounts of town/organizational labor forces, etc.);
- Private Contributions: Other non-governmental grants (i.e. foundation grants, local non-profit organizational grants);
- Non-Monetary Contributions: Value of volunteer labor or donations (i.e. donations of labor; in-kind labor contributions; or business donations of materials, tools, equipment/supplies needed for the project;)
- Other Federal Funds: (i.e. other federal grants, funds, federal aid)
Only necessary expenditures for a trail project (and only those that are eligible under RTP) are considered eligible for match.
Grant fund amounts: RTP will provide up to 80% reimbursement assistance for eligible projects. Project sponsors may apply for grants up to $20,000*.
*FPR may award additional funds to meet federal and state policy guidelines.
What is eligible?
Below are some examples of what RTP funds can be used for:
- Construction, reconstruction, and/or re-alignment of single-use or multi-use recreation trails and trail linkages;
- Maintenance, restoration rehabilitation or relocation of existing recreational trails; (i.e. erosion control, improvements in trail design for future sustainability, stabilization, improved surfacing/grade, etc.)
- Construction of trail structures such as small bridges, railings, ramps retaining structures, and appropriate signage along a trail;
- Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities;
- Operation of educational programs specifically to promote safety, responsible trail use, and environmental protection (i.e. training or patrols; trail safety educational training, trail etiquette, trail-related environmental education/environmental interpretive information for a nature trail);
- Assessment of the current condition of existing trails for improve accessibility and future maintenance;
- Acquisition of easements and fee simple title to property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors.
NOTE ABOUT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:
Federal FTP rules allow only up to 5% of federal RTP funds to be used for educational projects; and, States may use less than this amount; Sponsors who apply for educational project funds should focus on public education efforts aimed at providing the public with information about appropriate trail use, accessibility/allowable use(s), and environmental protection for as many users and user groups possible. Sponsors need to address a key finding in the Vermont Trails and Greenways Plan of SCORP and describe how their educational project will maximize recreational benefits in Vermont while at the same time minimize environmental impact.
How do I apply?
Each fall grant applications become available through FPR and are downloadable from this website.
February 25th is the grant deadline. Each February grant applications are accepted by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and reviewed by a 5-member ranking committee of trail users and professionals from private, state, and federal sectors representing motorized, non-motorized, and multi-use trail user populations. This committee is nominated through the Vermont Trails & Greenways Council (www.vermonttrailsandgreenways.org) and appointed by FPR’s Commissioner to evaluate grant applications and make competitive funding recommendations to FPR.
RTP at work in Vermont
Since its inception in 1993 Vermont has received over $7,000,000 in federal RTP funds and has funded over 1200 trail projects throughout the state. It is anticipated that Vermont will receive an apportionment of approximately $1 million in RTP funds for 2011. Vermont uses half of its RTP apportionment for statewide public trails and trail systems within Vermont’s State Parks and State Forests, and half of the funds, plus an additional $74,000 of state recreation trail funds are allocated to communities through RTP grants.
Recent Community Projects Funded
2010 VAST Winter Trail Maintenance & Grooming
Vermont ATV Sportsmen’s Association’s ATV Safety Course
Cross Vermont Trail Wells River Bridge section
Adams Camp Trails in Stowe
Kingdom Trails Association’s Nordic System Rehabilitation
Moosalamoo Trails
Local Motion’s Trail Finder Expansion
Rutland’s Pine Hill Park Trails
NorthWoods Stewardship Center North Woods Trails
Cross Vermont Trail Old Rte. 2 Western Section
Northern Forest Canoe Trail’s Richford River Access
The Nature Conservancy’s Black Mountain Trail Restoration
Williston Hill Trail
Sharon – Royalton Community Trail Phase I
Mad River Path Association’s Clay Brook Footbridge
Green Mountain Club’s Birch Glen Camp Repairs
Fellowship of the Wheel – Hinesburg Town Forest Trails
2009 VAST Winter Trail Maintenance and Winter Grooming
Irish Hill Trails Reconstruction
Northfield Trails/Paine Mountain Multi Use Trail
Pine Hill Park Trails
St. Albans - Aldis Hill Trails
VYCC Training Center Trails
Long Trail Reconstruction: South of Bamforth Ridge Shelter on Camel’s Hump
Cross Vermont Trail – U-32 School Forest/Winooski River Loop Trail
Local Motion’s Trail Finder and Trail Finder Expansion Project
Moretown Town Forest Trails
Catamount Trails Association Relocation Project in Coolidge State Forest
Chittenden East Creek Trails
Millstone Trails Association Connector Trails
Colchester Pond
Tripp Hill Recreation Management Planning Project
Reading Community Recreational Space Trail
Vermont Trails & Greenways Council Statewide Educational Development
Ellis-Bruce Trail in Calais
NorthWoods Stewardship Center’s Connecticut River Canoe Trail Guide
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