from BlueRibbon Coalition executive director
Clark Collins BLUERIBBON
COALITION INC.
P.O. Box 5449, Pocatello, ID 83202
ph.(208)237-1557 fax 237-1566
Compuserve 73563,1551
RELEASE: November 29, 1995
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Clark L. Collins, BRC Executive
Director (208)237-1557
RE: "Kempthorne Trail Funding amendment included in National
Highway Systems Act."
MAKING FEDERAL FUNDING OF TRAILS A REALITY
POCATELLO, ID: Call it a milestone for off-highway recreation in America.
Off-roaders who paid millions of dollars in fuel taxes previously spent only on
building highways are finally getting some recognition ... and some real dollars
... for trails. But this is happening only after years of steady political
activism by the off-road community, an effort led in large measure by the
BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC).
After successfully working for initial passage of the Symms Act in 1991, the
Coalition turned to the task of actually getting the funding and now, finally,
with contract authority passed by Congress this year thanks to Senator Dirk
Kempthorne of Idaho, guaranteed federal funding for trails is a reality.
"Making the Recreational Trails Fund into a working program is a major
victory for the off-highway community and all of us can be justly proud of being
part of this milestone," said BRC Executive Director Clark Collins.
NRTFA REFRESHER
For too long the multiple use community's political action has been primarily
reactive. This unfortunate era in political action ended with the passage of the
National Recreational Trail Fund Act (NRTFA) in 1991. For the first time, the
Federal Government recognized the need to provide recreational facilities that
include motorized recreationists, set aside money to do so, and established a
balanced committee to oversee the expenditures.
The BlueRibbon Coalition took a leadership role in advancing this
legislation. We organized support among the recreation and multiple use
communities, as well as among state recreation administrators.
Off road recreationists pay anywhere from $64 to $167 million annually in
federal fuel taxes to the Federal Highway Trust Fund. The NRTFA authorized for
up to $30 million a year from the Highway Trust Fund to be distributed to state
trail management agencies for trail improvements.
The money for this "user pay -- user benefit" program is
distributed to the states according to a formula that is fair to states with a
high population of off road recreationists, but still provides trail funding for
states with low off road recreation populations.
Trail projects benefitting both motorized and non-motorized trail users are
funded according to a fair distribution formula. A national trails advisory
committee comprised of an equal number of motorized and non-motorized trail user
representatives was called for in the enabling act.
The program has been subject to annual appropriations. Unfortunately anti OHV
organizations succeeded in blocking NRTFA appropriations, except for $7.5
million (1/4 the $30 million per year authorized) in 1993. It's potential to
unite the trail user community nationwide has been largely unrealized.
The Kempthorne Amendment to the National Highway Systems Act was signed into
law by President Clinton as part of the National Highway Systems (NHS) act.
Kempthorne's amendmdent provided that funding for this program receive
"Contract Authority" at $15 million annually for fiscal 1996 &
1997. State highway projects are also "Contract Authority", not
subject to annual appropriations because they too are user pay -- user benefit.
Thank you letters can be sent to Senator Kempthorne at:
The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne
United States Senate
367 Dirksen Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
e-mail internet:Dirk_Kempthorne@kempthorne.senate.gov
(please note the (_) between Dirk and Kempthorne)
The BlueRibbon
Coalition is a national organization representing over 500 member
organizaitons and business nationwide who promote recreation access for
everyone. Call our membership information hotline (800)BLUE-RIB
"Preserving our natural resources FOR the public instead
of FROM the public."
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