AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST April 2020

Bill would boost trail money

Bipartisan Effort Would Double Funding

The Recreational Trails Full Funding Act of 2020 holds the potential to more than double the annual funding for the federal Recreational Trails Program, which helps pay for trail construction and maintenance.

The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah)—who is the deputy Republican leader of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee—along with Representatives Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.). The legislation is also cosponsored by Reps. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho).

The RTP is modeled after the Highway Trust Fund and uses gasoline taxes paid for use in dirt bikes, snowmobiles, ATVs and other off-highway vehicles.

The program currently is funded at $84 million a year, substantially less than the amount collected in taxes on fuel used by these vehicles. The current estimate, which indicates trail users pay more than $270 million a year in fuel taxes—is more than a decade old.

The bill would require the Federal Highway Administration to estimate the amount of gas taxes paid by nonhighway recreational users and increase RTP funding from $84 million to $250 million per year. It also calls for increased transparency of the programs funded.

The AMA is part of a coalition that has been working for increased funding for trails, including those used for responsible motorized recreation.