Commission Agenda Item No. 3
Presenter:
Tim Hogsett
Action
Recreation Trails Grant Funding
May 22, 2014
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 (FY2014); Texas’ share of these funds is $3,954,874. Seven percent of the state’s apportionment ($279,638) is utilized to cover costs to administer the program, leaving $3,675,236 to fund projects. Year before last, 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 three 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 $5,775,236 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. 82 projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting $13,437,892 in funds. Projects were evaluated and scored by the Texas Trails Advisory Board. Recommendations are to fund 38 of the projects totaling $5,253,655 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 2014 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 $400,000 per project versus $200,000 for non-motorized proposals. Funding recommendations in Exhibit A include 8 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 38 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $5,253,655 and state park trail improvements in the amount of $500,000 is approved."
Commission Agenda Item No. 3
Exhibit A
Ranking of 2014 Recreational Trail Grant Proposals
| Score | Sponsor | Project Name | County | Funds Requested | Funds Recommended | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | City of Childress | ATV & Moto Park Improvements | Childress | $193,144 | $193,144 | New 13 mile trail, road repairs, fencing, maintenance area, erosion control |
| 53 | City of Graham | Graham ATV and Moto Park | Young | $188,400 | $188,400 | New 8 mile trail, access road, staging area, planning |
| 48 | City of Canton | City Lake Park Trail | Van Zandt | $97,168 | $97,168 | New 0.66 mile trail, signing, bridges, benches |
| 48 | Greenbelt Alliance of Denton County | Lake Ray Roberts Equestrian Trail | Denton | $132,313 | $132,313 | Renovate 10 mile trail, bridge, signing |
| 48 | Hill Country Conservancy | Violet Crown Trail | Travis | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 0.9 mile trail, bridge, low water crossing, signing |
| 47 | City of Brownwood | Camp Bowie Walking Trail | Brown | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2 mile trail, crosswalks, benches, signing |
| 47 | City of Hico | Hike & Bike Trail Extension | Hamilton | $117,567 | $117,567 | New 0.3 mile, renovate 0.4 mile asphalt trail, benches, signing, fountain |
| 47 | City of Tyler | Faulkner Park Lake Trail | Smith | $98,300 | $98,300 | New 0.5 mile trail, observation deck, signing, benches, tables |
| 46 | East Texas Arboretum | Trail Enhancements | Henderson | $10,000 | $10,000 | Signing, drinking fountain, tree trimming, benches |
| 46 | Texas A&M University &emdash; Texarkana | Bringle Lake Trail Renovation | Bowie | $199,500 | $199,500 | Renovate 2.5 mile trail, benches, signing |
| 45 | City of Canyon | Canyon Parks Bike/Jog Trails | Randall | $73,168 | $73,168 | New 3.1 mile trail |
| 45 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | Barnwell Mountain Recreation Area | Upshur | $235,571 | $235,571 | Renovate 30 mile trail, maintenance building, trailhead shelters, parking |
| 44 | Village of Surfside Beach | Bluewater Trail, phase III | Brazoria | $153,593 | $153,593 | New 1.75 mile trail, bridge, fitness stations |
| 42 | Caddo Trail Riders Association | Caddo Grassland Equestrian Trails | Fannin | $65,800 | $65,800 | Renovate 27 mile trail, signs, water, hitching posts |
| 42 | Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council | Big Reef Interpretive Trail | Galveston | $136,000 | $136,000 | New 1.5 mile trail, observation deck, signing, benches, parking |
| 42 | City of McAllen | McAllen Motocross Park | Hidalgo | $400,000 | $240,000 | New 2.5 mile motorized riding area, restroom, fencing, signing |
| 42 | City of Rockport | Memorial Park Hike/Bike Trail Restoration | Aransas | $50,400 | $50,400 | Resurface 1.6 mile trail, signing, benches, water fountain |
| 41 | City of Bridgeport | Northwest OHV Park | Wise | $28,960 | $28,960 | Trail tools, maintenance vehicle, signing, radios |
| 41 | Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition | Bradfield Park | Harris | $98,280 | $98,280 | New 0.4 mile trail, signing, parking, benches, bike rack |
| 41 | Lasara ISD | Lasara Community Nature Trail | Willacy | $96,803 | $96,803 | New 1 mile trail, benches, bridge, signing, observation deck, tools |
| 39 | City of Breckenridge | Breckenridge Park Walk/Jog Trail | Stephens | $71,680 | $71,680 | New 0.57 mile trail, bridges, benches |
| 39 | City of Olney | Olney Walking Park | Young | $89,796 | $89,796 | New 0.33 mile trail, bridge improvements, lighting, signing, benches |
| 39 | City of Rusk | Rusk Recreational Trail | Cherokee | $164,305 | $118,830 | New 0.8 mile trail, benches, signs, parking area |
| 38 | City of Bridgeport | Northwest Hike & Bike Park | Wise | $67,040 | $67,040 | New 6 mile trail, restroom, fencing, signing, benches, tables |
| 38 | City of Kilgore | Kilgore Recreational Trail | Gregg | $199,510 | $199,510 | New 1.7 mile trail, bridge, benches, signing |
| 38 | National Park Service | Lake Meredith NRA &emdash; S. Turkey Creek Trail | Moore | $148,260 | $148,260 | New 10.6 mile trail |
| 38 | City of Port Isabel | Galvan-Bejarano McFarland Trail | Cameron | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 1.4 mile trail in TxDOT ROW |
| 38 | Sam Houston National Forest | Multi-use Trail Rehabilitation | Walker | $336,000 | $336,000 | Renovate 10 miles dirt trail, bridges, trailer, training |
| 37 | City of Horseshoe Bay | Horseshoe Bay Trail | Burnet | $110,334 | $110,334 | New 2.2 mile natural surface trail, signs |
| 37 | City of Levelland | Levelland Trail Expansion | Hockley | $27,594 | $27,594 | New 0.18 mile trail, benches |
| 37 | Mission Bend Greenbelt Association | Bayou Hike & Bike Trail Extension | Fort Bend | $96,640 | $96,640 | New 0.7 mile trail, signing, access ramps, gates |
| 36 | Friends of Trinity Strand | Trinity Strand Trail | Dallas | $33,984 | $33,984 | Water fountains, bike racks, benches,signing |
| 36 | Town of Little Elm | McCord Trail, Phase II | Denton | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 0.7 mile trail, bridge |
| 36 | San Diego ISD | San Diego Nature & Fitness Trail | Duval | $155,870 | $146,520 | New 0.4 mile trail, benches, signs |
| 36 | Town of Trophy Club | Trophy Club OHV Park Improvements | Denton | $144,000 | $144,000 | Parking, signs, fencing, visitor shade shelters |
| 35 | City of Raymondville | Raymondville Sports Park | Willacy | $48,500 | $48,500 | New 0.33 mile trail, singing, water fountain, benches |
| 35 | City of San Bonito | Heavin Trail Expansion | Cameron | $200,000 | $200,000 | New 2.75 mile trail |
| 35 | Texas Motorized Trail Coalition | Escondido Draw OHV Recreation Area | Crockett | $558,832 | $400,000 | Electric and water to site, entrance gate, signing, erosion control |
| 34 | City of Mesquite | Clay Mathis Greenbelt Hike & Bike Trail | Dallas | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, bridge underpass, benches, signing |
| 34 | City of Nassau Bay | Peninsula Trail Enhancement | Harris | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.2 mile trail, parking |
| 33 | Fort Bend County | Camp Cloud YMCA Camp | Fort Bend | $179,776 | $0 | New 1 mile asphalt & wood deck trail, benches, signs, trash cans |
| 33 | City of Gladewater | Lake Gladewater Nature Trail | Gregg | $199,806 | $0 | New 1.2 mile trail, bridge, shade shelter, benches, water fountain |
| 33 | City of Southlake | Trail Safety Enhancement | Denton | $200,000 | $0 | Renovate 5 mile trail, erosion control, signing |
| 30 | City of Deer Park | Park to Park Hike & Bike Trail | Harris | $200,000 | $0 | New 2.24 mile trail, signing, benches, water fountain |
| 30 | City of El Paso | Tierra Del Este Trail | El Paso | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile asphalt trail, signs |
| 30 | Town of Horizon City | Horizon Heights Trail | El Paso | $93,833 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, signs, benches, bike rack, erosion control |
| 30 | City of Pharr | Pharr Hike and Bike Trail | Hidalgo | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile trail, Parking, restroom, signing, water fountains, fencing |
| 29 | City of El Campo | West Loop Park | Wharton | $197,032 | $0 | New 1.3 mile trail |
| 29 | City of Mission | Mission Hike/Bike Trail Extension | Hidalgo | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.2 mile trail, restroom, parking area |
| 29 | White River Municipal Water Dist. | White River Multi-Use Trail System | Crosby | $381,616 | $0 | New 15 miles motorized trail, renovate 10 miles, restroom, fencing, equipment |
| 29 | City of Whitehouse | Gardenview Park Trail | Smith | $101,887 | $0 | New 0.38 mile trail, benches, signing |
| 28 | City of La Marque | Highland Bayou Park Trail | Galveston | $200,000 | $0 | New 1 mile trail, signs, benches |
| 28 | City of Seguin | Community Park Nature and Bike Trail | Guadalupe | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.9 mile trail, lighting, benches, signing, water fountain |
| 27 | City of Wake Village | Wake Village Trail System | Bowie | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.85 mile trail, parking, benches |
| 26 | City of Cedar Hill | FM 1382 Trail | Dallas | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.3 mile concrete trail, bridges, signing, |
| 26 | City of Houston | Wildheather Park Trail | Harris | $150,000 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, city will fund remaining amenities |
| 26 | City of Waco | Cameron Park Mountain Bike Trail | McLennan | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.2 mile skills traill, benches, signing, water fountain |
| 25 | Student Conservation Association | Building Trails for Texas History | Harris | $121,144 | $0 | New 0.9 mile trail, resource surveys, crew recruiting, living expenses |
| 24 | City of Belton | Nolan Creek Hike & Bike Trail | Bell | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.25 mile trail, lighting, signing, benches, tables, water fountain |
| 23 | City of Denton | Lake Forest Restroom & Trail Extension | Denton | $199,156 | $0 | Restroom, land acquisition, parking, signing, bridges, benches |
| 23 | City of Everman | Pitman Park Renovation | Tarrant | $199,376 | $0 | Renovate 1 mile trail, lighting, fitness stations, benches, tables |
| 21 | Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic Dist. Found. | Town Park in Ben Wheeler | Van Zandt | $188,599 | $0 | New 0.66 mile trail, bridge, shade shelter, benches, fitness stations, lighting |
| 21 | City of Jacksonville | Athletic Complex Trail | Cherokee | $195,527 | $0 | New 0.8 mile concrete trail, benches |
| 20 | Sam Houston Trails Coalition, Inc. | Richards-Raven Trail Network, Phase 3 | Montgomery | $200,000 | $0 | New 8 mile equestrian trail, bridges, trailhead, signing, NEPA |
| 19 | City of Huntington | Centennial Park Trail | Angelina | $184,642 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, shade structure, benches, fitness stations, water fountain |
| 19 | City of Omaha | Omaha City Park | Morris | $199,738 | $0 | New 0.4 mile trail, shade structure, fitness equipment, lighting, restroom, entry road |
| 18 | City of Grand Saline | William B. Persons Park Trail | Van Zandt | $145,360 | $0 | New 0.7 mile trail, parking, benches, signing |
| 17 | City of Corrigan | Corrigan City Park | Polk | $141,828 | $0 | New 0.17 mile trail, restroom, fitness equipment, lighting, benches |
| 17 | Horsepen Bayou MUD | Walking Trails of Concord Bridge | Harris | $95,000 | $0 | New 0.6 mile concrete trail, signs |
| 17 | City of Irving | Las Colinas Trail | Dallas | $199,447 | $0 | New 0.1 mile trail |
| 17 | City of Mount Vernon | Little Creek Park Walking Trail | Franklin | $199,820 | $0 | New 0.33 mile trail, bridge, water fountain, shade struct., benches, fitness equip. |
| 17 | City of North Richland Hills | Cotton Belt & John Barfield Trailhead | Tarrant | $87,086 | $0 | Parking area, signing, bike racks |
| 16 | Town of Flower Mound | Rheudasil Park Multi-use Trail | Denton | $159,728 | $0 | Renovate 0.16 mile trail, benches, pavilion, water fountain, landscaping |
| 16 | City of McAllen | McAllen Youth Baseball Complex Trail | Hidalgo | $192,000 | $0 | New 2 mile trail, benches, water fountain |
| 16 | Town of Ransom Canyon | Ransom Canyon Park Trail | Lubbock | $194,641 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, pavilion, restroom, fitness stations, benches, tables |
| 16 | City of Shallowater | Young City Park | Lubbock | $199,899 | $0 | New 0.66 mile trail, shade structure, benches, fitness stations, lighting |
| 15 | City of Weslaco | City Park Trail | Hidalgo | $200,000 | $0 | New 1.4 mile asphalt trail, benches, shade, signs, lighting |
| 14 | City of Crystal City | Juan Garcia Park Trail | Zavala | $199,994 | $0 | New 1.2 mile trail, shade structure, benches, fitness stations, lighting |
| 12 | Town of Prosper | Cockrell Park | Collin | $200,000 | $0 | New 0.5 mile trail, ballfield, pavilion, fencing, landscaping |
| 12 | Runnin WJ Therapeutic Center, Inc. | Project Horsepower | Bowie | $60,000 | $0 | No itemized budget |
| 11 | City of Gun Barrel | Silverleaf Trail | Henderson | $82,445 | $0 | New 0.17 mile trail, bridge, benches, tables, signing, landscaping |
| 9 | City of Dallas | Trinity Trail &emdash; Trail Side Facilities | Dallas | $121,200 | $0 | Signing, benches, kiosks, picnic tables |
| Total Requests = | $13,497,892 | |||||
| Total Recommended = | $5,253,655 | |||||
**Bold = Motorized Request