Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is sponsored by Federal Highway Administration (administered by state agencies like WA RCO). The Recreational Trails Program is a federal grant program that provides funding for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of recreational trails and directly related trailhead facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses.

RCO - Washington Recreation & Conservation Office --> Recreational Trails Program - Recreation and Conservation Office Recreational Trails Program The Recreational Trails Program provides federal funds to rehabilitate and maintain trails that provide a backcountry experience. A backcountry experience means that the user will experience nature instead of seeing or hearing human development and activity.

While backcountry trails may be near cities or roads, or even offer views of cities and towns, the trail’s physical setting should be predominately natural. This grant program invests in all types of trails, including those for riding off-road vehicles, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, hiking, horseback riding, motorcycling, water trails, and more.

Grant Application Schedule Application Webinar, Applications Open Technical Review (Staff Review) Technical Completion Deadline Project Evaluation (Written) February 8, 2027 - March 15, 2027 Board Approves Preliminary Ranked Lists Most recent grants and evaluation results, listed by the application year.

Applicant Authorization Resolution Certification of Applicant Match Form Department of Natural Resources Scope of Work Acknowledgement Form Electronic Signature Authorization Form Fiscal Data Collection Sheet Landowner Form for Maintenance Projects Manual 4: Development Projects Read the article: “Outstanding State Trail Program” in a national competition.

Clearing overgrown brush and fallen trees from trails Repairing trail damage from floods and fires Replacing bridges and drainage structures Local agencies (cities, towns, counties, port districts, park and recreation districts, etc.) Every six years, Congress passes the nation’s surface transportation bill. Since 1991, this massive funding authorization law has included provisions for these cooperative, state-administered grants.

Funding comes from federal gasoline taxes and is awarded every other year. General projects: $150,000 Education projects: $10,000 each year Applicants must provide 20 percent minimum match.

Match may include the following: Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials Federal, state, local, and private grants Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials Environmental Requirement Grant applicants must show compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Development : Development of trailside facilities, trailheads, and trail links for recreational trails.

Maintenance: Maintenance and restoration of trails, trailside facilities, and trailheads. Minor trail relocations. Education: Programs to directly convey a safety or environmental protection message for recreational trails.

New trail development not directly related to an existing trail Projects facilitating motorized use on national forest or Bureau of Land Management land unless the land is not designated wilderness and construction is consistent with the management direction in the forest or Bureau plans. Projects facilitating motorized use on or access to recreational trails on which, as of May 1, 1991, motorized use was prohibited or had not occurred.

Planning, feasibility studies, master plans, and wildlife impact studies Roads or bridges unless specifically designated for recreational trail use, not accessible to or maintained for cars, or closely associated with a campground or trailhead project Sidewalks and other paths that provide an urban trail experience Those that severely restrict public use, such as deed provisions that have a significant negative impact on public recreational use of the property; projects may be on public or private land, but must provide written assurances of public access Those on property bought under a conditional sales contract, unless the grant applicant has title to the property Trails and facilities developed with these grants must be open and available for twenty-five years.

Projects that maintain trails must be open and available during the active period of the project agreement; however, those that entail capital work to build new trails or facilities or make significant, long-term renewal improvements to existing facilities must be open and available for twenty-five years. For details, see the grant manual . Some upcoming grant application deadlines may be adjusted due to the government shutdown.

Find deadline updates on the corresponding grant pages. PRISM, RCO’s database for grant project management, is unavailable. Thank you for your patience as we work to get it back online.