Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Presenter:
Andy Goldbloom
Action
Recreation Trails Grant Funding
May 23, 2013
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 Committee.
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 (FHWA) 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 (FY2013), Texas’ share of these funds is $3,954,874. Last year, the FHWA reviewed their funding distribution formula and discovered an error that underfunded the Texas apportionment from 2009 through 2011. This error has been corrected with additional funding authorized for Texas. A number of projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and two projects were cancelled, creating another $500,000 available for re-allocation this year. The Department has been utilizing the re-allocated funding to fund trail improvements in state parks. The result is a total of $6,276,354 of federal funding available to fund eligible trail construction projects.
The program has an annual deadline of February 1 for local sponsors to submit trail funding proposals. Seventy-two projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting over $11.5 million in funds. Projects were evaluated and scored by the Texas Trails Advisory Board. Recommendations are to fund 33 of the projects totaling $5,776,354 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 Committee met in March 2013 to review the submitted trail project proposals and develop a list of recommended projects for funding. Each project was reviewed by the advisory committee 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, project scoring and funding recommendations made by the advisory committee and a description of each project.
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. Because few public park entities in Texas provide opportunities for motorized trail riding, it is typically difficult to generate enough motorized trail proposals to meet the 30 percent motorized trail mandate. As such, the grant funding limit for motorized proposals is $500,000 per project versus $200,000 for non-motorized proposals. Funding recommendations in Exhibit A include 5 motorized trail projects that satisfy the 30 percent motorized trail requirement.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"Funding for 33 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $5,776,354 and state park trail improvements in the amount of $500,000 is approved."
Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Exhibit A
Ranking of 2013 Recreational Trail Grant Proposals
| Sponsor | Project Name | County | Funds Requested | Funds Recommended | Project Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Fort Worth Mountain Bikers Assoc. | Marion Sansom Park Mtn. Bike Tr. Imp. | Tarrant | $27,502 | $27,502 | Renovate 0.25 mile trail, benches, culverts |
| 46 | Sam Houston Trails Coalition, Inc. | Richards-Raven Trail Network, Phase II | Montgomery | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 10 mile equestrian trail, bridges, trailhead, signing, NEPA |
| 44 | City of San Marcos | Purgatory Creek Natural Area Trails | Hays | $92,375 | $92,375 | New 1.4 mile granite trail, parking |
| 43 | City of Childress | ATV & Moto Park Improvements | Childress | $165,280 | $165,280 | New 10 mile trail, staging area, unloading ramp, tools, erosion control |
| 43 | City of Grapevine | Wall-Farrar Trail | Tarrant | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.6 mile granite and dirt trail, bridges, signs, shelter, entry icons |
| 43 | Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Assoc. | Huntsville Trail Expansion | Walker | $100,000 | $100,000 | Bridge to access new trail area |
| 43 | National Audubon Society | Trinity River Audubon Center Trail | Dallas | $74,880 | $74,880 | New 1 mile dirt trail, signs, boardwalk |
| 42 | City of Taylor | Taylor Cross Town Recreation Trail | Williamson | $158,250 | $158,250 | New 0.5 renovate 0.4 mile concrete trail, benches, signs |
| 42 | City of Tulia | Mackenzie Park Trail Improvements | Swisher | $66,771 | $66,771 | Renovate 0.5 mile trail, culverts |
| 41 | City of New Braunfels | Fisher Park Trails | Comal | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2.5 mile concrete trail, signs, shade structure, boardwalk |
| 41 | Westcave Preserve Corp. | Westcave Preserve Trails | Travis | $70,192 | $70,192 | New 0.25, renovate 0.5 mile of trail, ATV & trailer, signs, tools |
| 40 | City of Kilgore | Kilgore Recreational Trail | Gregg | $195,787 | $195,787 | New 1.25 mile concrete trail, bridge, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 40 | City of McAllen | McAllen Motocross Park | Hidalgo | $238,424 | $218,400 | New 2.5 mile motorized riding area, restroom, fencing, signing |
| 40 | City of Pearland | Phase II Connectivity Trail | Brazoria | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2.75 mile concrete trail |
| 40 | City of Pflugerville | Gilleland Creek Trail | Travis | $172,500 | $172,500 | New 0.55 mile concrete trail, signs, benches, trash cans |
| 40 | San Antonio River Authority | Helton - San Antonio River Park Trail | Bexar | $150,000 | $150,000 | New 1.2 mile granite/concrete trail |
| 40 | City of Seabrook | Seabrook to Armand Bayou Trail | Harris | $156,800 | $156,800 | New 1.3 mile granite trail, bridge, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 40 | City of Universal City | Cibolo Creek Recreation and Nature Tr. | Bexar | $117,600 | $117,600 | New 0.6 mile granite trail, renovate 2.7 mile trail, signing |
| 39 | Friends of Trinity River Refuge | From Crosswalks to Boardwalks | Liberty | $45,000 | $45,000 | New 500' boardwalk |
| 39 | Schertz Seguin Local Gov. Corp. | SSLGC Motorized Trail | Guadalupe | $400,000 | $400,000 | New 35 mile motorized trail, restroom, staging area, signs, entry booth |
| 37 | City of Emory | Emory Recreational Trail | Rains | $143,710 | $143,710 | New 0.5 mile asphalt trail, parking area, bridge |
| 37 | City of Leander | North Branch Brushy Creek Trail | Williamson | $56,000 | $56,000 | New 0.4 mile granite trail, bridge |
| 37 | City of Lindale | Lindale Community Park | Smith | $199,980 | $145,860 | New 0.65 mile concrete trail, restroom, fitness stations, bridge |
| 37 | Sam Houston National Forest | Multi-use Trail Rehabilitation | Walker | $476,000 | $476,000 | Renovate 10 miles dirt trail, bridges, trailer, training |
| 37 | City of Stephenville | City Park North Trail Link | Erath | $141,600 | $141,600 | New 0.4 mile concrete trail, benches, trash cans, parking |
| 37 | White River Municipal Water Dist. | White River Multi-Use Trail System | Crosby | $540,496 | $500,000 | New 15 miles motorized trail, renovate 10 miles, restroom, fencing, equipment |
| 35 | Bowie County | Northeast Texas Trail | Bowie | $158,400 | $158,400 | Convert 2.1 mile abandoned rail corridor into trail |
| 35 | City of Canton | Mill Creek Lake Park Trail Improvements | Van Zandt | $179,440 | $179,440 | New 4.48 mile granite and dirt trail, signing |
| 35 | Fort Bend County MUD #146 | Oyster Creek Hike and Bike Trail | Fort Bend | $164,394 | $164,394 | New 1.4 mile concrete trail, benches, signs |
| 35 | City of La Feria | Arroyo Colorado Overlook Point Trail | Cameron | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2.3 mile asphalt trail, parking area, signs |
| 34 | City of Denton | CCNHC - Davis Trailhead & Trail | Denton | $199,613 | $199,613 | New 1.3 mile dirt trail, elevated walkway, restrooms, pavilion |
| 34 | Harris County | Anderson Trail | Harris | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 0.8 mile asphalt trail, signing |
| 34 | City of Wylie | Municipal Complex Trails | Collin | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 0.95 mile concrete trail, bridge, benches, signing |
| 33 | City of Austin | Heritage Village YMCA Trail | Travis | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.6 mile concrete trail |
| 33 | Caddo Trail Riders Association | Caddo Grassland Equestrian Trails | Fannin | $81,560 | $0 | Renovate 18 mile trail, signs, water, hitching posts |
| 33 | City of Farmersville | Chaparral Trail, Phase III | Collin | $200,000 | $0 | Surface 0.7 miles of abandoned railroad, deck/rail bridges, benches, parking |
| 33 | City of Marble Falls | Backbone Creek Trail Loop | Burnet | $200,000 | $0 | New 2.0 miles, resurface 1.1 mile trail, signs |
| 33 | City of Princeton | Community Park Trail | Collin | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.3 mile asphalt/concrete trail, benches, trash cans, exercise station |
| 33 | City of Rusk | Rusk Recreational Trail | Cherokee | $159,046 | $0 | New 0.8 mile asphalt trail, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 32 | City of Palestine | Reagan Park Recreational Trail | Anderson | $140,915 | $0 | New 0.5 mile concrete trail, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 31 | East Texas Arboretum | Educational Nature Trail, Phase III | Henderson | $48,000 | $0 | New 160' concrete trail, parking area, storage shed, signing |
| 30 | City of Horseshoe Bay | Horseshoe Bay Trail | Burnet | $120,000 | $0 | New 1.15 mile natural surface trail, signs |
| 30 | Mission Bend Greenbelt Association | Bayou Hike/Bike Trail Extension | Fort Bend | $169,815 | $0 | New 0.75 mile granite trail, gates, bollards |
| 29 | Aransas County | Airport Trail | Aransas | $118,661 | $0 | New 1.8 mile crushed aggregate trail, bridges |
| 29 | Harris County MUD No. 120 | MUD 120 Trail | Harris | $91,434 | $0 | New 0.5 mile, renovate 0.4 mile concrete trails |
| 28 | City of El Paso | Tierra Del Este Trail | El Paso | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile asphalt trail, signs, benches, landscaping |
| 28 | City of Electra | City Park Trail | Wichita | $111,138 | $0 | New 0.45 mile concrete trail, lighting, fitness stations, benches |
| 28 | City of Krum | Krum Community Trail | Denton | $199,941 | $0 | New 0.8 mile concrete trail, parking, sidewalk, signs |
| 27 | City of Forney | Spellman 43 Acre Amphitheater Trail | Kaufman | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.9 mile concrete trail, bridges, lighting |
| 27 | City of Seguin | Manual C. Castilla Walking Trail | Guadalupe | $57,602 | $0 | Resurface 0.25 mile trail, parking area, sidewalk |
| 26 | Fort Bend County | Camp Cloud YMCA Camp | Fort Bend | $179,776 | $0 | New 1 mile asphalt & wood deck trail, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 26 | City of Port Lavaca | Wilson Field Sports Complex Trails | Calhoun | $143,886 | $0 | New 0.7 mile concrete trail in city park |
| 24 | City of Hico | Hike & Bike Trail Extension | Hamilton | $128,969 | $0 | New 0.5 mile, renovate 1 mile asphalt trail, benches, tables, fountain |
| 23 | City of Houston | Brewster Park Walking Trail | Harris | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.4 mile concrete trail, benches, picnic tables, landscaping |
| 23 | City of Weslaco | City Park Trail | Hidalgo | $125,320 | $0 | New 1.4 mile asphalt trail, benches, shade, signs |
| 22 | City of Everman | Renovation of City Park | Tarrant | $158,500 | $0 | Renovate 1 mile trail, restroom, fitness stations |
| 22 | Maverick County | Elm Creek Walking Trail | Maverick | $109,536 | $0 | New 0.2 mile concrete trail, benches, signs along creek |
| 21 | City of El Campo | West Loop Park | Wharton | $197,032 | $0 | New 1.3 mile granite trail in city park |
| 21 | City of Jacksonville | Athletic Complex Trail | Cherokee | $187,882 | $0 | New 0.8 mile concrete trail, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 21 | City of Jefferson | Trail Connection for Port Jefferson | Marion | $199,200 | $0 | New 275' boardwalk, signing, land |
| 21 | City of Rowlett | Scenic Point Park Trail | Dallas | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.4 mile concrete trail, boardwalk, tables, benches, trash cans |
| 20 | City of Cedar Hill | FM1382 Trail | Dallas | $200,000 | $0 | |
| 20 | Fort Bend County MUD #143 | Fort Bend County MUD #143 Trail | Fort Bend | $83,928 | $0 | New 0.9 mile granite trail |
| 20 | City of Harlingen | Ramsey Nature Park Revitalization | Cameron | $200,000 | $0 | Surface/repair 0.9 miles of trail, bridges, signs, parking |
| 20 | Harris County MUD No. 365 | Jarvis Nature Trail | Harris | $91,320 | $0 | New 0.5 mile granite trail, bridge, signs |
| 19 | City of Duncanville | Lakeside Park Trail Improvements | Dallas | $200,000 | $0 | Renovate 0.25 mile trail, bridge |
| 19 | Horsepen Bayou MUD | Walking Trails of Concord Bridge | Harris | $135,800 | $0 | New 0.6 mile concrete trail, fence, fitness equipment, signs |
| 18 | Hermann Park Conservancy | Sunset Meadow in Hermann Park | Harris | $93,168 | $0 | New 619' granite trail, water fountain, benches, signs trash cans |
| 16 | Manvel Lions Club | Manvel Lions Club Park | Brazoria | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.8 mile fly ash trail, parking lot, land |
| 15 | Pecan Grove MUD | Plantation Memorial Park Trail Rehab | Fort Bend | $25,520 | $0 | 580' concrete trail |
| 12 | City of Galveston | East End Lagoon - Big Reef Trail | Galveston | $192,000 | $0 | New 400' long pier, parking, boardwalks, signs |
| 10 | City of Bridgeport | Northwest OHV Park | Wise | $170,887 | $0 | Purchase of motor grader to maintain existing motorized trail park |
| Total Requests = | $11,811,830 | |||||
| Total Recommended = | $5,776,354 | |||||