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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 and resulted in the reauthorization of RTP with dedicated annual funding of $85 million for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014 in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Click Here for CRT's Summary of the Recreational Trails Program.

National Members:

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Recreational Trails Program Reauthorized for Two More Years

Coalition for Recreational Trails | CRT News Releases | CRT Policy | Policies & Issues Posted on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 09:29.
Recreational Trails Program Reauthorized for Two More Years

Washington, D.C. – The Recreational Trails Program (RTP), the funding program that has sustained state trail programs for two decades, has been reauthorized as part of the transportation bill approved by the U.S. Congress on June 29, 2012 and signed by President Barack Obama on July 6, 2012. Under the new legislation, which will fund transportation programs through September 30, 2014, the RTP will receive $85 million in annual funding for the next two fiscal years.

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74 Members of Congress Call for Reauthorization of Recreational Trails Program

Coalition for Recreational Trails Posted on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 15:16.
May 6, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) - The nation’s leading trail organizations expressed appreciation and delight regarding a new letter to key Congressional leaders, who are crafting a new national surface transportation bill, calling for reauthorization of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The letter was drafted by U.S. Representatives Tom Petri (R-WI) and Mike Michaud (D-ME) and signed by 74 Members of Congress.
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Congressmen Voice Strong Support for Recreational Trails Program

Coalition for Recreational Trails | News Releases Posted on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 16:01.
Twenty-six Members of Congress have sent key House leaders a letter supporting continuation of the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) in the upcoming Surface Transportation Act of 2009 and requesting an increase in funding for the highly successful and popular program. Without reauthorization, the current program, funded by federal tax paid on fuel used in off-highway recreation, would expire when the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) concludes at the end of September 2009.

Led by Congressmen Michael Michaud (D-ME) and Thomas Petri (R-WI), a diverse group of Members – including several serving on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure – representing districts across the nation, thanked the committee leadership for continuing the RTP in recently introduced transportation legislation and called for some needed changes to the current program, especially increased funding. The requested funding increase would total $690 million over six years – $90 million in 2010, $100 million in 2011, $110 million in 2012, $120 million in 2013, $130 million in 2014, and $140 million in 2015. The group also requested $2.5 million for a study of off-highway vehicle use to ensure that RTP funding accurately reflects federal off-highway recreation tax receipts, and an adjustment of the funding allocated to the Federal Highway Administration for program administration.

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Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2009 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

Coalition for Recreational Trails | Great Outdoors Week | GOM 2009 | News Releases Posted on Wed, 06/10/2009 - 21:14.
Washington, D.C. – Nine trail projects and programs have been chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) as recipients of its 11th 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 10, 2009 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week 2009.

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

  • Kings Campground and Trailhead Project (California) – Maintenance and Rehabilitation
  • Giant’s Stairs Trail Project (Maine) – Education and Communication
  • Meduxnekeag River Bridge (Maine) – Multiple-Use Management and Corridor Sharing
  • Minnesota – Outstanding State Recreational Trails Advisory Committee
  • Highbridge Park Project (New York) – Environment and Wildlife Compatibility
  • Oregon – Outstanding State Trail Program
  • Sam Houston Multiple-Use Trail (Texas) – Construction and Design
  • Southwest Key Trail (Texas) – Accessibility Enhancement
  • North Bend Lake Equestrian Trail (West Virginia) – Use of Youth Conservation and Service Corps

More information on the award-winning projects can be found at: www.americantrails.org/awards/CRT09awards/index.html

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Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2009 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

Coalition for Recreational Trails | Coalitions & Initiatives | GOM 2009 Posted on Sat, 06/06/2009 - 15:11.
Nine trail projects have been chosen by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) as recipients of its 11th 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 10, 2009 as part of the celebration of Great Outdoors Week 2009.

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

  • Kings Campground and Trailhead Project (California) – Maintenance and Rehabilitation

  • Giant’s Stairs Trail Project (Maine) – Education and Communication

  • Meduxnekeag River Bridge (Maine) – Multiple Use Management and Corridor Sharing

  • Minnesota – Outstanding State Recreational Trails Advisory Committee

  • Highbridge Park Project (New York)– Environment and Wildlife Compatibility

  • Oregon – Outstanding RTP Program

  • Sam Houston Multiple-Use Trail (Texas) – Construction and Design

  • Southwest Key Trail (Texas) – Accessibility Enhancement

  • North Bend Lake Equestrian Trail (West Virginia) – Use of Youth Conservation/ Service Corps

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    Coalition for Recreational Trails Announces 2007 Annual Achievement Awards Winners

    Coalition for Recreational Trails | Great Outdoors Week 2007 | GOM 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 | Scenic Byways | CRT News Releases | CRT Policy | 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 created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), reauthorized in 1998 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and reauthorized again in 2005 through 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, returning federal tax on fuel used for nonhighway recreation to the states for trail projects.
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