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The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a matching reimbursement grant program that provides for the creation and maintenance of trails and trail facilities. The program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
RTP funds come from federal gasoline tax revenues, some of which are used for recreation activities and for non-gasoline tax supported roads. FHWA prescribes many of the regulations governing this program. Grants may go to registered nonprofit organizations, city governments, county governments or other government entities but must be considered in accord with guidance from the Virginia Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee. The RTP requires that 30 percent of trail program funds be used for motorized (ATV, OHV, dirt-bikes, etc.) recreational trail uses, 30 percent for non-motorized recreational trails uses, and 40 percent for proposals with the greatest number of compatible recreational purposes and/or those that provide for innovative recreational trail corridor sharing (multiple-use trails).
This is a matching reimbursement program. The sponsoring entity must be able to finance the project while requesting periodic reimbursements. All projects must have at least a 20 percent match. Proposals for planning, gap analysis, feasibility studies or any combination thereof are ineligible.
Grants are awarded for projects that enhance trail opportunities that bring about results not otherwise possible. Therefore, RTP grants that replace other potential or actual trail funding will not be awarded.
RTP grants are for projects with primarily recreational value rather than those with more utilitarian transportation value. Grant awards are usually made for between $25,000 and $100,000.
A two-phase application process is being used for the grant cycle. The first phase requires applicants to submit a Application. The second phase requires completion of the Proposal Description and Environmental Screening Application (PDESA). Only those applicants selected to advance to the second phase need to complete the PDESA. DCR uses this two-phase approach so that applicants need not write time-consuming proposals for which funding is unlikely.
Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on April 13, 2012. Those received after this time will not be considered.
For more information about the Recreational Trails Program, please contact Synthia Waymack at synthia.waymack@dcr.virginia.gov, (804) 786-4379.