ftrain

There are hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars available to build
ATV trails around the nation, and in your state.

So why aren't the trails being built? After all, it's your money.

In the early 1990s, Congress passed a law to create the Recreational
Trails Program (RTP). The program is set up to distribute a portion of
the gas tax that is collected on every gallon of gasoline purchased for
off-highway use. This includes ATVs, dirtbikes, snowmobiles and SUVs.
The amount collected since then has been almost $350 million.

You don't believe the numbers? Check for yourself at
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/...s/recfunds.htm

How do the millions of RTP dollars get spent? According to the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA), most states (except small ones) are
supposed to divide up the money like this: 30 percent for nonmotorized
trails, like those for hikers; 40 percent for multi-use trails, which
could involve trails used by hikers and bicyclists, or in some cases
nonmotorized and motorized users; 30 percent for motorized trails for
use by ATVers and other OHV users. But up to 5 percent can be used for
education.

A report by the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) that was
presented to the FHWA, however, found that from 1993 to 2002, projected
funding for motorized projects was just $43,319,108.

So what happened to the other $295 million of our money?

Well, $125 million went to hikers. So you paid for many miles of hiking
trails!

OK, now do some quick math. Take the total $350 million and subtract the
money allocated for projected motorized and nonmotorized projects
combined, That still leaves $179 million of your gas tax money that is
not accounted for.

Where did that money go? After all, federal law says that if you don't
use it or don't earmark it for something, then you might lose it.

And states aren't using millions of dollars that could be used for
trails, motorized or non-motorized.

Frustrating!

If a state isn't friendly to ATVers and other OHVers, or if the state
just doesn't put together enough motorized-trail projects, federal law
allows the state to just fund hiking trails and other nonmotorized
trails.

What a slap in the pocketbook.

Changes to the law have been proposed but most likely the law won't
change.

Do you have hundreds of miles of new ATV trails in your state? No?

I hope this has you scratching your head and asking yourself, "Just how
did my state spend my tax money for trails?"

Well, you can find out by reading the same report that I am reading.
Just turn on your computer and go to the CRT's report at
http://www.funoutdoors.info/rtphome.html

According to how I add and subtract the numbers, there are some real
winners and some losers among the states.

Let's start with Nebraska, a loser by my math when it comes to funding
motorized projects. The FHWA reports that Nebraska has $4,629,657 for
projects and only a measly $159,456 over the last 10 years has been
spent on motorized projects.

Hikers, on the other hand, have put $2,724,956 of our gas tax to good
use. Did the ATVers in Nebraska even get a thank you? I think not.

Dan Nitzel, business manager with the Nebraska OHV Association, has been
applying for motorized grants for years, only to be turned down year
after year.

New York, meanwhile, received $8,449,398 but doesn't report any projects
funded. There must be a glitch in the report or New York officials don't
want to report which projects they've funded, or maybe they haven't
funded any at all.

Who do you contact in your state to apply for Recreational Trails
Program (RTP) grants or to find out where your tax money is going? Try
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/...s/rtpstate.htm

These millions of grant dollars will take work on your part to actually
turn them into trails on the ground. States operate differently: some
will only allow government agencies (cities, counties, etc.) to apply
for grants, others also allow nonprofit organizations to apply, and some
even allow individuals to apply.

This is not free money. Each state is required to match the funds in
cash or in-kind contributions of 20 percent to 50 percent.

According to the CRT report, "the trend favoring the expenditure of RTP
funds for nonmotorized trail use is very clear, 2.7 to 1."

There are some winning states for ATVers and OHVers, however. California
has spent $3.4 million, Michigan $2.7 million and Texas $2.3 million on
motorized projects.

Of course, nonmotorized projects received more of our gas tax: $6.5
million in California, $5 million in Michigan and $5.7 million in Texas.
But at least they did something for OHV projects.

The next time you attend a local planning meeting where they will talk
about trails download the information from one of the websites I gave
you and share with the nonmotorized groups where millions of trail
dollars come from.

© 2004, All Terrain Vehicle Association

MikeM

Good lookin out. I could use some trails around here.

jimmyjammer

Mike NOT TRUE at all.

There have been hundreds and hundreds of miles opened in the last 2 years with taxpayer money.

Don't belive everything you read.

I have riden on many of these miles. Both in the Summer on the dirtbike and winter on the Snowmachine. Have you? I doubt it.

KB

ChrisNoF4i

FTrain is the number one propaganda machine.

CaNuCk1422

you could have billions and billions of dollars but without the land owners permission you cant build trails.
People dont get it that these trailer are mostly on people's land and they dont wana give permission to put a trail through there land cause its very rare that atv's or snowmobile's always stay on the trails you go off a trail and ruin the land owners land in the least bit he say screw you deny's permission to use his land now that whole trail system has to be rerouted.
just my 2 cents they should use that money though for some good stuff though