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Coalition for Recreational Trails

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About CRT

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations. Its members work together to build awareness and understanding of the Recreational Trails Program, which returns federal gasoline taxes paid by off-highway recreationists to the states for trail development and maintenance. CRT was formed in 1992 following the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) to ensure that the National Recreational Trails Fund (now known as the Recreational Trails Program or RTP) established by that legislation received adequate funding. During the six years of ISTEA, CRT worked to ensure that program was continued and strengthened as part of the ISTEA reauthorization process. Following the 1998 passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)and the 2005 passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), both of which significantly increased RTP program funding, CRT's efforts have been focused on supporting its continued, effective implementation and its extension and enhancement through the next round of transportation legislation. Click Here for CRT's Position on the Recreational Trails Program

National Members:

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Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2007 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

Coalition for Recreational Trails | Great Outdoors Month 2007 | Great Outdoors Week 2007 | News Releases Posted on Wed, 06/06/2007 - 15:43.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seven trail projects have been chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) as recipients of its eighth Annual Achievement Awards in recognition of their outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. These national awards will be presented at a special Capitol Hill ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2007 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week 2007.

The trail projects honored by the CRT and their award categories are:

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Recreation-Related Funding Sees Boosts Under New Surface Transportation Act

Coalition for Recreational Trails | CRT News Releases | CRT Policy | Scenic Byways | Scenic Byways Policy Posted on Fri, 10/14/2005 - 15:00.
August 10, 2005, was a remarkable day for recreation advocates in the United States. President George W. Bush signed SAFETEA–LU, the five-year, $286.4 billion omnibus transportation bill which replaces TEA-21. The bill substantially increases funding for a number of recreation-related programs including the Recreational Trails Program, the National Scenic Byways Program, the Federal Lands Highway Program, the Transportation Enhancement Program, the Sportfishing and Recreational Boating Safety Act and funding for bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements. An estimated $1.5 billion per year will go toward outdoor-related programs overall, not including millions of dollars for specific “high priority” community trail and recreation projects throughout the nation.
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Great Outdoors Week 2005 CRT Winners

Coalition for Recreational Trails | CRT News Releases | Great Outdoors Week Posted on Fri, 06/10/2005 - 11:15.
NEWS
Contact: Catherine Ahern

Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces “2005 Annual Achievement Awards” Winners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) has selected the winners of its sixth “Annual Achievement Awards” in recognition of their outstanding use of Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. The awards were presented at a special Capitol Hill ceremony in Washington, D.C. on June 7, 2005 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week.

The trail projects and programs honored by the CRT are as follows:

  • Kerby Peak Trail - Oregon – for Maintenance and Rehabilitation [Photo] [Info]
  • River Bluff Trail – Indiana – for Construction and Design/Nonmotorized [Photo] [Info]
  • Red Creek Bridge – Michigan – for Construction and Design/Motorized [Photo] [Info]
  • MKT Trail– Missouri – for Construction and Design/Trail-Related Facilities [Photo] [Info]
  • Johnson Camp Trail – California – for Multiple Use Management and Corridor Sharing [Info]
  • Cascade Trail– Maryland – for Environmental Compatibility [Photo] [Info]
  • North Slope Trailer – Wyoming/Utah – for Education and Communication [Photo] [Info]
  • Trail Access Information for Northern Nevada – for Accessibility Enhancement [Photo] [Info]
  • Superior Hiking Trail – Minnesota – for Use of Youth and Service Corps [Photo] [Info]
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CRT Position

Coalition for Recreational Trails | Trails Posted on Thu, 06/17/2004 - 10:21.

RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM

  • The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) was established by a provision of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and reauthorized in 1998 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and in 2005 as the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

  • The legislation applies the “user-pay/user-benefit” philosophy of the Highway Trust Fund to return monies to the states for maintenance and construction of trails, thus benefitting those who pay the federal motorfuel tax for nonhighway recreation uses. A Congressionally mandated study, conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Federal Highway Administration, supported an estimate of $167 million annually in Highway Trust Fund receipts attributable to nonhighway recreational activities. A subsequent review has found that the estimate could be as high as $286 million annually.
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