The Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA21) established the Recreation Trails Program (RTP), which provides for the transfer of federal gas taxes paid on non-highway recreational fuel in off-highway vehicles to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) administers the RTP funds at the state level, while the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) provides program oversight at the federal level. RTP funding is currently made available through the federal program titled, "Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users". The acronym for this program is SAFETEA-LU.

RTP applicants (sponsors) can include federal, state, county or municipal agencies, private associations and clubs (not individuals). This grants program is a matching program, whereby RTP grants may not exceed 80% of the total of an individual project. This is a reimbursement program. After approval of all required documentation, FWP will reimburse the sponsor for 80% of the actual documented costs incurred. Reimbursement of RTP funds will only be approved for project expenditures incurred after the date of the signed project agreement between the project sponsor and FWP. The goal of Montana's RTP is to distribute money to the best trail projects statewide based on the applications that are complete and of high quality. FWP accepts grant applications on an annual basis; July 1st is the application deadline. Only one application is allowed per sponsor each year, however a sponsor may apply in succeeding years regardless of them receiving any funding in the previous year.

To make the application of this program understandable the grant rules, guidelines and application materials will remain posted online for applicants wishing to get a head start in preparing for 2009. The FWP staff reviews and rank RTP applications with input from the State Trails Advisory Committee. Call us in Helena at (406)-444-3750 for more information. Thank you for your interest in the Recreation Trails Grant Program.

Information

• Fact Sheet For Potential Recreational Trails Program Grant Applicants
• Glossary of Terms
• Recreational Trails Program Eligible Projects
• Recreational Trails Program Scoring Criteria
• FY 2008 Recreational Trails Program Grants ( 9 KB)
• FY 2009 RTP Grant Applicants ( 10 KB)

Application Forms & Guides

• Application Guidelines ( 50 KB | 67 KB)
• Program Application ( 96 KB | 104 KB)
• Fisheries Review Form ( 34 KB | 55 KB)
• Wildlife Review Form ( 35 KB | 56 KB)
• MEPA-NEPA Checklist ( 162 KB | 225 KB)

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