Recreational Trails Program (20.219)

Program

20.219 Recreational Trails Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU),, Public Law 109-59, 23 U.S.C 104, 206.

Program Number

20.219

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS; PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds from this program may be used for: (1) Maintenance and restoration of existing trails; (2) development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages; (3) purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment; (4) construction of new trails (with restrictions for new trails on Federal lands); (5) acquisition of easements or property for trails or trail corridors; (6) assessment of trail conditions for accessibility and maintenance; (7) development and dissemination of publications and operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection (as those objectives relate to one or more of the use of recreational trails, supporting non-law enforcement trail safety and trail use monitoring patrol programs, and providing trail-related training), (limited to 5 percent of a State's funds); and(8) State administrative costs related to this program (limited to 7 percent of a State's funds). Funds may not be used for: property condemnation; constructing new trails for motorized use on National Forest or Bureau of Land Management lands unless the project is consistent with resource management plans; or facilitating motorized access on otherwise non motorized trails. The USDOT encourages States to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth conservation or service corps to perform construction and maintenance of recreational trails under this program. Funds from this program may be used for: (1) Maintenance and restoration of existing trails; (2) development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages; (3) purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment; (4) construction of new trails (with restrictions for new trails on Federal lands); (5) acquisition of easements or property for trails or trail corridors; (6) assessment of trail conditions for accessibility and maintenance; (7) development and dissemination of publications and operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection (as those objectives relate to one or more of the use of recreational trails, supporting non-law enforcement trail safety and trail use monitoring patrol programs, and providing trail-related training), (limited to 5 percent of a State's funds); and(8) State administrative costs related to this program (limited to 7 percent of a State's funds).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The Governor of each State must designate the State agency or agencies responsible for administering this program. The State must have a State recreational trail advisory committee that represents both motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users, which shall meet not less than once per fiscal year. The State agency may accept project proposals from private organizations, or from municipal, county, State, or Federal government entities, and other government entities. The projects must satisfy one or more of the permissible uses.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The State agency designated by the Governor.

Credentials/Documentation

Allowable costs will be determined in accordance with applicable cost principles listed in 49 CFR Part 18.22 for the kind of organization receiving the grant or subgrant. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The States must submit project proposals to the FHWA division office located in each State for approval. The State may submit individual projects or consolidate similar projects for the purposes of program approval. FHWA approval constitutes a commitment to pay the Federal share of the project's cost. The State's projects also must be included in State transportation improvement programs and applicable metropolitan transportation improvement programs.

Award Procedure

The State agency or agencies designated by the Governors decide which projects will be developed within funding levels, but the FHWA division office located in each State makes the final decision on the eligibility of specific projects for funding.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 5 days to 5 months.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Public Law 109-59.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 80.%. Funds from any other Federal program may be used for the non Federal match if the project also is eligible under the other program. Recreational Trails Program funds may be used to match other Federal funds if the project also is eligible under the other program. States also may allow a programmatic match: if some project sponsors in a State provide more match funds than required, other sponsors in the State may provide less. Some in-kind materials and services may be credited toward the project match. States may allow some pre-approval planning and environmental assessment costs toward the project match.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds generally become available at the beginning of the fiscal year for which they are authorized, and must be obligated within 3 years after the close of that fiscal year. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The method of money release varies case by case.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of State, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 in a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Project records and documents must be retained by the State for 3 years following the final submission for Federal payment in accordance with 49 CFR 18.41.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: States selected projects located on Federal, State, local, and private lands for all kinds of recreational trail uses including projects such as: grooming snow trails, maintaining trails, constructing nature trails, constructing urban multiple use trails, developing rail-trails, repairing motorized and non motorized trails, constructing and rehabilitating trail bridges, improving trail access for people with disabilities, developing trailside and trailhead facilities, assessing trails for accessibility and maintenance, improving trail information and signs, and providing trail safety patrols and trail-related training. Many projects use youth conservation or service corps. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-8083-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $1,552,157; FY 09 est $1,650,196; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Apportionments to the States are based on statutory formula. All 50 States and the District of Columbia are eligible to receive apportionments. For fiscal year 2005 funds ranged from $580,000 to $4,263,285; the average was $1,160,000. For fiscal year 2006 funds ranged from $678,039 to $5,099,645; the average was $1,356,078 (however, some States rescinded FY 2006 funds). For fiscal year 2007 funds ranged from $727,059 to $5,555,406; the average was $1,473,725 (however, some States rescinded funds). For fiscal year 2008 funds ranged from $776,078 to $6,037,429; the average was $1,552,157, but funds were subject to rescissions resulting about an 11.5% decrease. For fiscal year 2009 funds ranged from $825,000 to $4,680,480; the average was $1,650,196, but funds are subject to rescissions (not finalized until September 2009).. See www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/recfunds.htm.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

23 CFR, Highways and 49 CFR, Transportation. There are no regulations specifically for this program. Program guidance was completed on April 1, 1999; and is posted at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/guidance.htm along with program updates.

Related Programs

20.205 Highway Planning and Construction

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. State-level offices of the Federal Highway Administration (as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog) or the State agency designated by the Governor to administer this program.

Headquarters Office

Christopher B. Douwes 1200 New Jersey Ave S.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: christopher.douwes@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-5013 Fax: 202-366-3409

Web Site Address

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Trail projects to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. Examples include maintenance and construction of trails for hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles; development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities; operation of educational projects and programs to promote safety and environmental protection related to recreational trails; State administrative costs related to this program. Many projects use youth conservation or service corps. See specific project examples at: Award winning projects: http://www.americantrails.org/awards/CRTawards.html Project database: http://www.funoutdoors.info/rtphome.html. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

To be eligible, projects must be selected on the basis of State priorities within the limit of the funds apportioned to each State.