Presenter: Tim Hogsett
Commission Agenda Item No. 13
Action
National Recreational Trail Grant Funding
August 21, 2008
I. Executive Summary: Action item 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 NRTF 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 $80 million for the current federal fiscal year (FY2008); Texas' share of these funds is $3,715,499. A number of projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and two large projects were cancelled, creating another $1,579,688 available for re-allocation this year. The Department will utilize $490,000 to fund trail improvements in ten state parks resulting in a total of $4,805,187 of federal funding available to fund eligible trail construction projects.
In February 2008, a 90 day call for proposals was issued. A record 73 projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting $12.5 million in funds. Recommendations are to fund 30 of these projects at this time in addition to the state park trails improvement project for a total of $5,295,187 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 nine member, Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Board met in late June 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. Ten Department state park trail improvement projects located at Bastrop, Big Bend Ranch, Caprock Canyons, Cooper Lake, Franklin Mountains, Garner, Huntsville, Martin Dies, Jr., Pedernales Falls, and Ray Roberts Greenbelt 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 30 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $4,805,187 and State Park trail improvements in the amount of $490,000 is approved."
Attachments - 1
- Exhibit A - Project Listing and Funding Recommendations
Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Exhibit A
Project Listing and Funding Recommendations
| Score | Sponsor | Project | Requested Funding | Recommended Funding | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | City of Austin | Emma Long Park Motorcycle Trail | $196,000 | $196,000 | Renovate 9 mile motorized trail, pavilion, fence, signs |
| 54 | City of Lufkin | Lost Arrow Trail Expansion | $59,784 | $59,784 | New 2.0 mile, 3' wide natural surfaced trail, bridges, signs, benches |
| 54 | Stephen F. Austin University | Hunt's Woods Mountain Biking Trail | $104,700 | $104,700 | New 1.33 mile ADA trail, renovate 1.9 mile bike trail, bridge |
| 53 | GHORBA | Double Lake Trail Expansion | $120,000 | $120,000 | New 12 mile, 3' wide natural surfaced mountain bike trail |
| 52 | City of Universal City | Gothic & Northview Parks Trails | $49,300 | $49,300 | New 0.75 mile, 5' wide granite trails |
| 51 | Hill Country Conservancy | Walk for a Day | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 5 mile, 10' wide natural surface trail, bridge, parking, restroom |
| 50 | Brazos River Authority | Possum Kingdom Lake Trail | $121,600 | $121,600 | New 5 mile natural surface trail, restroom, parking, signs |
| 50 | City of Hamilton | Pecan Creek Park Trail | $76,742 | $76,742 | New 0.61 mile, 6' wide asphalt trail, renovate restroom, lights, signs |
| 50 | City of La Grange | Strides for Nature Trail | $165,603 | $161,603 | New 4 mile natural & granite trail system, bridges, gazebos, signs |
| 50 | The Woodlands Association | George Mitchell Preserve Trails | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.5 mile natural surface trail, 4 creek crossings, signs |
| 48 | City of Alpine | Alpine Creek Trail — Phase II | $175,000 | $175,000 | New 1.33 mile, 5' wide pervious concrete trail |
| 48 | Lubbock Co. W.C.I.D. No. 1 | Buffalo Springs Lake OHV Trails | $214,456 | $214,456 | Improve 16 miles of motorized trails, restroom, tractor, ATV, signs |
| 47 | City of Donna | Donna OHV Park | $280,562 | $280,562 | Improvements to motocross track, parking, restroom, fencing |
| 47 | City of Henderson | Fair Park | $109,840 | $61,440 | New 0.36 mile, 6' wide concrete trail, bridges, lights, signs |
| 47 | Jarvis Christian College | Wetlands Nature Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.7 mile, 8' wide asphalt trail, signs |
| 46 | City of Denton | Lake Forest Park Trails | $49,550 | $49,550 | Renovation of pedestrian bridge and approach trail |
| 46 | Harris County M.U.D. No. 286 | Hike & Bike Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.52 mile, 6' wide asphalt trail, signs |
| 46 | City of San Marcos | Five Mile Dam Hiking Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.8 mile, 6' wide granite trail, benches, signs |
| 46 | Village of Surfside Beach | Bluewater Highway Trail | $155,996 | $155,996 | New 2.7 mile, 8' wide asphalt trail, restroom, viewing deck |
| 46 | White Knuckle Holdings, LLC | White Knuckle Ranch | $40,000 | $40,000 | Restroom, storage building, pavilion, tractor at OHV facility |
| 45 | City of Corinth | Elm Fork Trail Rehabilitation | $188,786 | $188,786 | Renovate 4.46 mile trail, bridges, erosion control, water xing |
| 45 | City of Corpus Christi | Oso Conservation/Interpretive Park | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 0.75 mile, 10' wide granite trail, bridge, signs, benches, overlook |
| 45 | City of Gatesville | Faunt Le Roy/Raby Trail | $200,000 | $163,600 | New 1.5 mile, 10' wide granite trail, bridge, benches, land acq. |
| 45 | City of Paris | Trail de Paris West Extension | $120,000 | $120,000 | New 0.3 mile extension of rail-trail, benches, bridge |
| 45 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area | $343,400 | $343,400 | Restroom, motorized trail repair, tot lot, erosion control, rock garden |
| 45 | City of Waxahachie | MKT Trail | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 4.5 mile crushed aggregate trail, fencing, benches |
| 44 | City of Temple | Friar's Creek Nature Trail | $200,000 | $188,720 | New 1.0 mile, 8' wide pervious concrete trail, benches, signs |
| 43 | Cameron Co. Drainage Dist. #1 | Cascade Park | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.1 mile, 12' wide granite trail, boardwalk, benches, restroom |
| 42 | City of Royse City | Walker Haek Trail | $160,236 | $128,160 | New 0.95 mile, 6' wide concrete trail, exercise stations, water |
| 42 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | Escondido Draw recreation Area | $205,788 | $205,788 | Acquisition of 85 acres at OHV area, water well, electrical |
| 41 | City of Center | Northwest Center Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.91 mile, 4' wide concrete trail, lights, bridges |
| 41 | City of Parker | Preserve Recreational Trail | $105,012 | $0 | New 0.6 mile, 8' wide granite trail along creek, tools, benches |
| 40 | Montgomery County | Panorama Park & Preserve | $113,698 | $0 | New 0.62 mile, 6' wide granite trail, restroom, parking, gazebo |
| 40 | Sienna Plantation MUD | Sienna Plantation Levee Trail, Ph. II | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.35 mile, 8' wide granite trail, benches, signs |
| 40 | Willacy Co. Navigation Dist. | Port Mansfield Trail Extension | $40,000 | $0 | New 0.75 mile, 6' wide granite trail, signs |
| 39 | City of Detroit | Eagle Trail | $99,969 | $0 | New 0.35 mile, 8' wide asphalt trail, fence, benches, parking, land, restroom |
| 39 | The Park People | Brays Bayou Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile, 10' wide concrete, benches, signs |
| 39 | City of Waco | Cameron Park Trail Improvements | $192,000 | $0 | Improve 21 mile trail, erosion control, benches, signs, parking |
| 38 | City of Rosenberg | Seabourne Creek Trail | $83,080 | $0 | Renovate 2.68 mile nature trail, exercise stations |
| 37 | City of Deer Park | East Side Multipurpose Trail | $189,602 | $0 | New 1.8 mile, 8' wide granite trial, benches, signs, picnic tables |
| 37 | City of Princeton | Ticky Creek Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.8 mile, 6' wide asphalt trail, bridge, benches, land |
| 36 | City of San Antonio | Medina River Greenway | $192,241 | $0 | New 0.33 mile, renovate 0.31 mile, 8' wide limestone trail, signs |
| 35 | City of Arlington | Crystal Canyon Nature Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.8 mile, 8' wide limestone trail, bridges, signs, parking |
| 34 | City of El Paso | Riverbend Trail — Phase II | $164,700 | $0 | New 1,300' concrete trail, lighting, parking lot, connects other trails |
| 34 | Katy Prairie Conservancy | Cypress Creek Greenbelt | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile, 10' wide granite trail, parking, signs |
| 34 | Partnership for the Pathway | Red River Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.73 mile, 10' wide concrete trail |
| 34 | City of Poth | Poth Rail to Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.85 mile, 10' wide paved trail, restroom, water, pavilion, benches |
| 33 | City of Cottonwood Shores | Cottonwood Shores Park | $200,000 | $0 | New 2.8 mile, 5' wide granite trail, restroom, parking, lights, signs |
| 33 | City of Euless | Trails of Euless | $105,424 | $0 | New 0.29 mile, 12' wide concrete trail section, retaining wall |
| 32 | City of Denton | Cross Timbers Trail Renovation | $23,378 | $0 | Renovation of 130' section of trail, bridge, low water crossing |
| 31 | City of Victoria | Lone Tree Hike/Bike Trail | $199,999 | $0 | New 0.42 mile, 10' wide concrete trail, lighting |
| 30 | City of Aransas Pass | Community Park Trail | $75,669 | $0 | New 0.35 mile, 10' wide asphalt trail, gazebo, benches, tables |
| 30 | N. Texas Rural Rail District | Wichita Valley Railway Daylight Tr. | $77,284 | $0 | New 0.5 mile, 5' wide concrete trail, tools, erosion control, signs |
| 30 | Timber Lane Utility District | Cypress Creek Hike and Bike Trail | $200,000 | $0 | Land acquisition, new 0.57 mile granite trail, bridges, signs |
| 29 | Cameron County | El Camino Isla Blanca Trail | $148,408 | $0 | New 0.3 mile, renovate 0.3 mile, 8' wide concrete trail, benches, signs, restroom |
| 28 | Housing Authority of Texarkana | Rose Hill Community Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.25 mile, 10' wide concrete trail, bridge, lights, benches |
| 27 | Chihuahuan Desert Res. Inst. | Improving Garden Accessibility | $136,954 | $0 | Improve 0.6 mile garden trails for accessibility |
| 27 | City of Houston | Cole Creek Park Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.34 mile, 10' wide asphalt trail, benches, lights, water, tables |
| 26 | City of Lancaster | Pleasant Run Trail | $140,000 | $0 | New 1.9 mile, 12' wide concrete trail |
| 24 | City of Allen | Celebration Pass Pedestrian Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.52 mile, 10' wide concrete trail, bridge, low water xing |
| 24 | City of Alvin | Bob Briscoe Park Trail | $196,308 | $0 | New 1.0 mile, 8' wide concrete trail, bridge, benches, water |
| 22 | Friends of the Katy | Lee Park Connection Trail | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.19 mile ramp, stairs, walls, A&E, planting |
| 21 | Town of Addison | Greenhill Section of Addison Trail | $199,928 | $0 | New 0.24 mile, 10' wide concrete trail, fencing, lighting, signs |
| 19 | Parkway Utility District | Hike and Bike Trail | $86,160 | $0 | New 1.14 mile, 6' wide recycled concrete trail |
| 19 | TXTEAMM | Trail Education Management | $93,800 | $0 | Safety training and outdoor ethics education |
| 18 | City of Kemp | Kemp Parks and Trails | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.45 mile, 4' wide concrete trail, bridge, parking, benches |
| 18 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | User Education & Statewide Support | $276,048 | $0 | Storage building, truck, utilities, tools |
| 14 | City of Angleton | Freedom Park | $199,268 | $0 | New 0.78 mile, 10' wide cinder trail, restroom, pavilion |
| 13 | City of Denton | Cooper Creek Trail Upgrades | $142,859 | $0 | Renovation of pedestrian bridge and approach trail |
| 12 | City of La Feria | South Texas Regional Trails | $713,409 | $0 | Land acquisition, buildings, utilities, parking, signs, 10 miles trail |
| 11 | Heard Museum | Heard Museum Trail Reconstruction | $200,000 | $0 | Parking, seating area, repair trails, signs, amenities |
| 9 | City of Seabrook | Planning for Seabrook Trails | $144,000 | $0 | Design, engineering and architecture services |
| 9 | El Paso Archeology Museum | Archeology Trail Improvement | $199,760 | $0 | Renovation of 1 mile interpretive trail, erosion control, ADA |