Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Tim Hogsett
Action
Recreation Trails Grant Funding
August 26, 2010
I. Executive Summary: This item is to award federal funds allocated under the National Recreational Trail Grants for trail construction, renovation and acquisition projects. This item obligates federal National Recreational Trail Funds to eligible trail projects based upon the recommendations of the Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Board.
II. Discussion: The National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) comes from a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases to utilize off-road recreational vehicles, such as off-road motorcycles and four-wheelers. The purpose of the NRFT is to provide funding for projects that create new and maintain existing motorized and non-motorized recreational trails. These federal funds are administered by the Federal Highway Administration and distributed to states via a formula that takes into account state population and sales of fuel for off-road recreational vehicles. Nationwide, the program was appropriated $85 million for the current federal fiscal year (FY2010); Texas’ share of these funds is $2,997,268. Seven percent of the state’s apportionment is utilized to cover costs to administer the program, leaving $2,787,460 to fund projects. A number of projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and two projects were cancelled, creating another $528,622 available for re-allocation this year. The Department will utilize this $485,000 to fund trail improvements in ten state parks and fund an ATV Safety Program development project through the Texas 4-H Foundation resulting in a total of $3,316,137 of federal funding available to fund eligible trail construction projects.
In February 2010, a 90 day call for proposals was issued. Sixty-two eligible projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting over $9.0 million in funds. Recommendations are to fund 24 of these projects at this time in addition to the state park trails improvement project for a total of $3,316,137 of federal funding assistance.
The Act that created this fund stipulates that states must have a trails advisory board made up of various trail user group representatives to be eligible to receive the federal funds. The purpose of the trails advisory board is to provide guidance in the distribution of these funds. The 10 member, Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Board met in June 2010 to review the submitted trail project proposals and develop a list of recommended projects for funding. Each project was reviewed by the advisory board and scored based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities, and geographic distribution of funds. Exhibit A contains the list of submitted projects, with funds requested by each sponsor, project scoring and funding recommendations made by the advisory board and a description of each project. Eight Department trail improvement projects located at Bastrop SP, Cooper Lake SP, Lake Brownwood SP, Huntsville SP, Meridian SP, Seminole Canyon SP, Tyler SP, Caprock Canyons SP, and Chaparral WMA are included in the funding recommendation.
A federal requirement of the NRTF is that 30 percent of the funds be spent on motorized recreational trail projects, 30 percent on non-motorized trail projects, with the remaining 40 percent discretionary. The list of projects recommended for funding, if approved, will satisfy this federal requirement.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"Funding for 25 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $2,831,137 and State Park trail improvements in the amount of $485,000 is approved."
Attachments — 1
Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A
Score | Project Sponsor | Project Name | Funds Requested | Funds Recommended | Project Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | Gr. Houston Off-Road Bike Assoc. | Huntsville Trail | $160,000 | $160,000 | New 12 mile mountain bike trail, bridges, signs, design |
60 | Texas Equestrian Trail Riders | Bardwell Lake Trail Renovation | $17,600 | $17,600 | Renovation of existing 26 mile trail, tools, erosion control |
57 | City of El Paso | Three Hills Loop Mnt. Bike Trail | $77,913 | $77,913 | New 3 mile mountain bike trail, reclaim 2 miles, signs, design |
57 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | Barnwell Mountain Improvements | $54,000 | $54,000 | Purchase dozer, erosion control |
56 | Dallas Audubon Society | Cedar Ridge Trail | $25,600 | $25,600 | Erosion control and renovation of existing trails |
56 | Hays County | Dahlstrom Ranch Trails | $100,000 | $100,000 | New 3.15 mile accessible trail, benches |
54 | City of Austin | West Zilker Park Nature Trail | $62,890 | $62,890 | Renovate 2 mile trail, steps, fencing, storage shed |
54 | City of Garland | Spring Creek Trail | $40,000 | $40,000 | New 1.4 mile, renovate 2.6 mile, signs, trail markers, GPS |
54 | Memorial Park Conservancy | Memorial Park trail Improvements | $102,472 | $84,872 | New 1.2 miles, rehab 1.4 miles granite trail, signs, gates |
53 | Hays County WCID #2 | Bear Creek Trail | $190,000 | $190,000 | New 2.8 mile granite/natural trail, signs, seating, water crossing |
53 | City of Higgins | Community Park Trail | $50,500 | $45,200 | New 0.23 mile concrete trail, lighting, pavilion pad |
53 | City of Weslaco | Paseo del Norte Trail | $20,084 | $20,084 | New 0.66 mile granite trail |
52 | Friends of the Texas Historical Com. | Convergence Trail at Caddoan Mounds | $32,950 | $32,950 | New 0.24 mile granite trail. benches, signing, El Camino Real |
52 | City of Schertz | Schertz Trail | $87,300 | $87,300 | New 1.8 mile granite trail, drainage, signing |
52 | American Wind Power Center | Windmill Lake Trail | $78,680 | $43,560 | New 0.37 mile trail, signs, benches, lighting, parking, fencing |
52 | City of Childress | Childress Moto-Park Improvements | $253,900 | $203,150 | Motocross track, signing, seating, comfort stations, restroom |
50 | City of Freeport | Wetlands Trail | $199,898 | $199,898 | Renovate 0.13 mile granite trail, observation decks, bridge, signs |
50 | Angelina-Sabine National Forest | Motorized Trail System | $560,000 | $560,000 | New 15 mile motorized trail, planning, trailhead, bridges, signs |
49 | City of Castroville | Lions Park Trail | $8,000 | $8,000 | New 0.2 mile asphalt trail around park, benches |
49 | City of Farmersville | Chaparral Rail-Trail Improvements | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2.6 mile granite trail, bollards, engineering |
49 | City of Haltom City | Whites Branch Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.0 mile concrete, bridge, signs, design |
48 | City of The Colony | Wynnewood Peninsula Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 3 mile granite trail, parking area |
47 | City of Nassau Bay | Peninsula Trail | $160,000 | $160,000 | New 0.94 mile concrete trail, signs, benches, A&E |
46 | Three Palms Motorcycle Area | Three Palms Trails | $33,120 | $33,120 | New 7 miles of motorized trail on private property |
Texas 4-H Youth Dev. Program | 4-H ATV Safety Program | $25,000 | $25,000 | Develop youth ATV safety program | |
$2,831,137 |
Score | Project Sponsor | Project Name | Requested | Recommended | Project Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | City of Brady | Brady Creek Trail | $200,000 | $0 | Rebuild flood damaged 1.3 mile trail, bridges, parking |
45 | City of Friendswood | Trails to Parks | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.85 mile concrete greenbelt trail, signs, benches, call box |
45 | Lubbock Lake Landmark | Trail Rehabilitation | $123,500 | $0 | Renovate 1 mile asphalt trail, sings, benches |
45 | City of Universal City | Cibolo Creek Trail | $134,016 | $0 | New 0.56 mile, renovate 2.71 miles granite trail, signing |
44 | City of Tyler | South Tyler Trails | $196,000 | $0 | New 1.3 mile concrete trail, retaining walls, professional fees |
43 | Harris County MUD No. 43 | Multi-use Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.07 mile granite trail, benches, ADA ramp, hitching post |
43 | City of Liberty Hill | City Park Trail | $95,330 | $0 | New 1 mile granite trail, bridge, sign, benches |
43 | City of Paris | Trail de Paris Phase IV | $199,800 | $0 | New 0.79 mile asphalt trail extension, culverts, road crossings |
43 | City of Richardson | Ruth Back Toler Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.33 mile trail, bridges, signs |
42 | Fort Bend County MUN No. 146 | Oyster Creek Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.87 mile concrete trail, benches, accessible ramps |
41 | City of Hamilton | Pecan Creek Trail Improvements | $137,709 | $0 | New 0.34 mile and renovate 0.1 mile concrete trail, bridge repair |
41 | City of Henderson | Lake Forest Park Trail | $171,136 | $0 | New 0.86 mile concrete trail, lighting, boardwalk, resource survey |
41 | Montgomery County | Panorama Park Trail | $95,876 | $0 | New 0.62 mile granite trail, benches, signs, trash receptacles |
40 | City of Poth | Poth Railway Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.49 mile concrete trail, accessible ramps |
39 | City of Beaumont | Klein Park Trail Rehabilitation | $199,948 | $0 | Resurface 1.32 mile trail, ADA imp., benches, signs, drainage |
39 | Heard Science Museum | Laughlin-Bluestem Trail Rehabilitation | $106,306 | $0 | Repair 2000' of trail, signs, tools |
38 | City of Temple | Lions Park Trail Expansion | $144,416 | $0 | New 0.4 mile granite trail, bridge, signs |
35 | City of Greenville | Long Branch Trail | $199,850 | $0 | New 0.96 and renovate 0.85 mile granite trail, bridges, benches |
34 | City of Brownwood | Camp Bowie Trail | $161,600 | $0 | New 1.4 mile asphalt trail, signs, benches, crosswalk |
34 | Cypress Point Community Assoc. | Cypress Point Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.29 mile concrete trail, bridge, benches, bollards |
34 | City of North Richland Hills | Fossil Creek Trail | $192,669 | $0 | New 0.52 mile concrete trail, benches, bridge, signs, parking |
33 | City of Leon Valley | Leon Valley Trail | $60,015 | $0 | New 0.45 mile stabilized base trail, benches, bridge, bollards |
32 | City of Harker Heights | Purser Family Park Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile trail, low water crossing, ramps, benches |
30 | City of Mesquite | Clay Mathis Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.51 mile concrete trail, signs, benches, bike racks |
29 | City of Plano | Bluebonnet Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.49 mile concrete trail, accessible ramps |
28 | Westchase District | Liberty Loop Trail | $113,300 | $0 | New 1.62 mile trail, rest stops, signing, lighting, trash barrels |
27 | Harris County MUD No. 364 | Coles Crossing Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.65 mile asphalt trail, benches, drinking fount., signs |
26 | City of Allen | Dayspring Nature Trail | $125,482 | $0 | New 0.45 mile granite trail, tables, benches, fencing, signs |
23 | City of Haltom City | Little Fossil Creek Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.64 mile concrete trail, signs, overlooks, drinking fountain |
21 | City of Huntsville | Eastham-Thompson Park Trailheads | $67,790 | $0 | Drainage improvements, fencing, signs, benches, tables, trash cans |
19 | City of Benbrook | Winscott Trail | $102,000 | $0 | New 0.55 mile asphalt trail connection |
15 | City of Addison | Addison Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.24 mile concrete trail, fencing, lighting, signs, landscape |
15 | City of San Angelo | Rio Concho Trail Improvements | $200,000 | $0 | Add sidewalks & lighting to auto bridges |
14 | City of Kermit | Winkler Park Trails | $112,000 | $0 | New 0.51 mile concrete trail |
11 | Friends of the Trinity Strand Trail | Trinity Strand Trail Amenities | $90,048 | $0 | Water fountains, benches, signs, bike racks, trash receptacles |
11 | City of Krum | City Park Parking Lot | $199,732 | $0 | Repave parking lot at City park |
11 | City of Palmer | City Park Parking Lot | $184,000 | $0 | Repave parking lot at City park |