Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is sponsored by Federal Highway Administration (administered by state agencies like PA DCNR). The Recreational Trails Program provides funding for developing and maintaining recreational trails. This includes construction of new trails, maintenance of existing ones, and development of trailside and trailhead facilities.

1Grants Cycle 202 6-202 7 # Pennsylvania Recreational Trails (PRT) Program The Pennsylvania Recreational Trails (PRT) Program is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). FHWA provides funds to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and non-motorized recreational trail uses.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has been designated as the state agency responsible for administering this federal program in Pennsylvania.

Annual distribution of PRT Program funds is based on the following requirements: • 40% for projects that facilitate diverse recreational trail use • 30% for projects that facilitate motorized recreation • 30% for projects that facilitate non-motorized recreation Refer to the FHWA Recreational Trails Program Guidance for additional information.

The 20-member Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee provides guidance to the Department regarding the administration of the PRT program. Committee members represent the following user groups: All-Terrain Vehicle Riding, Bicycling, Cross Country Skiing, Four-Wheel Driving, Water Trails Users, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Off-Highway Motorcycling, People with Disabilities, Snowmobiling, Hiking, Walking, and eight Members at Large.

Federal and state agencies, municipalities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for PRT funding. PRT applicants submit grant applications through DCNR’s annual Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2). DCNR will apply any unallocated PRT motorized funds annually to motorized recreation projects on DCNR lands.

Grantees are required to provide a minimum match of 20% of the total project cost. Match can include a combination of cash and/or non-cash values. Eligible match sources can be local, state or other federal funding sources.

However, when other federal funding sources are used as match, the total federal share cannot exceed 95% of the total project cost. At least 5% of the match must come from non-federal sources such as state, local or private sources. If other government sources are used as match, restrictions that apply to these funding sources may also apply to the PRT project.

Match may be used only once. If it has been counted as match for another project, it may not be counted again regardless of the funding source. 2Grants Cycle 202 6-202 7 Eligible Project Categories A.

Maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails. B. Development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages for recreational trails.

C. Purchase or lease of equipment for recreational trail construction and maintenance. D.

Construction of new recreational trails. E. Acquisition of easements and fee simple title to property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors.

NOTE: DCNR is currently not accepting applications for land acquisition under the PRT Program . F. Payment of costs to the state incurred in administering the program (not to exceed 7 percent of the apportionment made to the state for the fiscal year).

G. Operation of educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection as those objectives relate to the use of recreational trails (not to exceed 5 percent of the apportionment made to the state for the fiscal year). Ineligible Project Categories A.

Condemnation of any kind of interest in property B. Construction of any recreational trail on certain federal lands for any motorized use unless certain conditions are met, as outlined in FHWA’s Recreational Trails Program Guidance. C.

Upgrading, expanding, or otherwise facilitating motorized use or access to recreational trails predominantly used by non-motorized recreational trail users and on which, as of May 1, 1991, motorized use was prohibited or had not occurred D. Trail feasibility studies or trail planning unless the plan is a relatively small portion of an overall trail project E.

Projects located on railroad rights-of-way on which the railroad tracks are in place (projects may be located within or along railroad rights-of-way if trail users will not traverse on or between railroad tracks) F. Improvements to roads and/or bridges intended to be generally accessible by low clearance passenger vehicles (regular passenger cars) G.

Paths or sidewalks along or adjacent to public roads or streets, unless this path or sidewalk is needed to complete a missing link between other recreational trails; or H. Routine law enforcement. PRT applicants submit grant applications through DCNR’s annual Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).

During the application review process, DCNR will identify projects that are eligible for PRT funding and work with the applicant to secure the appropriate environmental documentation, including Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Index (PNDI) clearances, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act compliance documentation and PA Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) clearances.

Once all documentation is compiled, it is submitted to PennDOT and FHWA for review and approval. Once approval is received, DCNR will release the fully executed Grant Agreement to the grantee. No project activities can take place prior to approval from PennDOT and FHWA.