Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Presenter:
Trey Cooksey
Action
Texas Statewide Recreational Trail Grants Funding
Recommended Approval of Trail Construction, Renovation, and Acquisition Projects
May 24, 2018
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 (NRTF) to eligible trail projects based upon the recommendations of the Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee.
II. Discussion: The 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 (FY2017); 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. Several projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and four projects were cancelled, creating another $700,000 available for re-allocation this year. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been utilizing the re-allocated funding to fund trail improvements in state parks. The result is a total of $4,375,236 of federal funding available to fund eligible trail construction projects.
The program has an annual deadline of February 1st for local sponsors to submit trail funding proposals. Sixty-seven projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting $11,173,732 in funds. Projects were evaluated and scored by the Texas Trails Advisory Board. Recommendations are to fund nineteen of the projects totaling $3,380,780 of federal funding assistance.
The federal 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 2018 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.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"Funding for nineteen projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $3,380,780 and state park trail improvements in the amount of $700,000 is approved."
Commission Agenda Item No. 11
Exhibit A
Ranking of 2018 Recreational Trail Grant Proposals
| Score | Sponsor | Project Name | County | Total Cost | Funds Recommended | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area | Tandy Hills Natural Area | Tarrant | $35,000.00 | $28,000.00 | Rehabilitation of 1.5 miles natural surface hiking trail; addition of 1.5 miles natural surface hiking trail with addition of raised causeway and bridge. |
| 54 | GHORBA | Harvey Restoration & Education | Harris | $180,000.00 | $144,000.00 | Hurricane Harvey trail restoration and repair of 90 miles of existing natural surface trails and features in Harris, Ft. Bend, Montgomery, and Galveston counties; including volunteer training, and public education. |
| 54 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition | TEXAS MOTORIZED TRAIL COALITION 2018 ESCONDIDO DRAW RECREATION AREA | Crockett | $485,650.00 | $388,520.00 | New 5 miles of 4x4 trail and renovate up to 70 miles of OHV trail network. Also funding for fire prevention, security, dust management, wildlife surveys, fire prevention, toilet install, entry gate, establish wildlife viewing/rest areas, additional parking, perimeter fence, vehicle maintenance area, & trash management. |
| 53 | Great Paris Development Foundation, Inc. | GPDF RTT Bagwell to Clarksville | Red River | $222,000.00 | $177,600.00 | New 5 mile Rails to Trails conversion including grading, bridge repair and railings, safety bollards and road crossings. |
| 52 | Waco Motorcycle Club | Waco Eagles Motocross Dirt Bike Park | McLennan | $488,200.00 | $390,560.00 | Renovation of 10 miles of OHV trail, trail maintenance equipment, supplies and trail amenities. |
| 51 | Cullinan Park Conservancy | White Lake Loop Trail | Fort Bend | $501,700.00 | $200,000.00 | 1.2 mile decomposed granite trail extension to complete loop, boardwalks. |
| 51 | Ecology Action of Texas | Circle Acres Preserve Trail Rehabilitation | Travis | $42,780.00 | $29,200.00 | Renovation of our entire .5 mile trail network, establishment of a new side trail, rehabilitation of three trail heads, signage, and establishment of a picnic area. |
| 51 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana | Bringle Lake Trail Phase 3 | Bowie | $250,000.00 | $200,000.00 | New 1.71 mile 10' wide multi-use stabilized natural surface trail with benches, lighting, trailheads, & signage to complete 7 mile loop. |
| 51 | Waxahachie | MKT Trail | Ellis | $250,000.00 | $200,000.00 | New 2 mile 8' wide decomposed granite rail trail with fencing and trail amenities. |
| 49 | Friends of Neches River National Wildlife Refuge | Song Bird Trail Restoration at Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, TX | Cherokee | $200,000.00 | $160,000.00 | Restore .5 mile of natural surface trail, .11 mile natural surface new trail, with bridge replacement, install gate, interpretation sign. Open and maintain trail for public use. |
| 48 | Mineola Economic Development Corp. (Lake Country Trails) | I&GN Recreational Hiking & Biking Trail | Wood | $345,500.00 | $200,000.00 | New 1.1 mile 14' wide linear biking/pedestrian use natural ground with railroad ballast. Trailhead, benches, culverts, erosion preventing wing wall & signage will be installed. |
| 48 | Port Aransas | Restoring Access to Port Aransas Nature Preserve | Nueces | $776,200.00 | $200,000.00 | New 500 foot 6' wide hike & bike boardwalk and observation tower with striping of .42 mile bike lane. |
| 47 | Bridgeport | Bridgeport Adventure Park - Signage | Wise | $25,000.00 | $20,000.00 | Renovation of .13 mile existing trail and adding a new park entrance sign |
| 47 | University of Texas Tyler | UT Tyler Trail Project | Smith | $71,400.00 | $56,900.00 | New 1.24 miles of natural surface multi-use trail & renovation of 3.32 miles of mountain bike trail. |
| 46 | Huffman ISD | Huffman Community Trails | Harris | $325,700.00 | $200,000.00 | New 1 mile 6' wide loop trail. Trail will be a combination of 3/4 mile of StaLok Granite surface and 1/4 mile of Ipe wood boardwalk with signage, benches, bathroom & hand-washing station. |
| 45 | Brazoria County | Brazoria County Parks Trail Development | Brazoria | $250,000.00 | $186,000.00 | New 2.5 mile walking/biking trail using decomposed granite with 12' wide x 70' long wooden bridge. |
| 45 | Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust | Plum Creek Wetland Preserve Community Trail | Caldwell | $288,800.00 | $200,000.00 | New 1 mile, 8' wide multi-use concrete trail with welcome sign/information kiosk, trail distance markers, benches, and pet waste stations/trash receptacles |
| 45 | Timber Lane Utility District | Cypress Creek Hike and Bike Trail | Harris | $278,300.00 | $200,000.00 | New .33 miles & renovated .32 miles of 10' wide concrete multi use trail |
| 44 | Eagle Pass | Community Trails Network | Maverick | $345,323.00 | $200,000.00 | New .76 mile multi-use, ADA compliant concrete trail, bridge, informational kiosks, picnic benches, bike racks, dog waste systems, trash cans, smart crosswalk system, signage, solar bollard lighting and ADA compliant detectable warning signs. |
| 43 | Allen | Rowlett Trail Connection | Collin | $440,000.00 | $0.00 | New .26 mile 12' wide multi-use concrete hike/bike trail with a pedestrian bridge and park benches. |
| 43 | Chandler | Chandler - Winchester Park Trail (II) | Henderson | $231,269.00 | $0.00 | New .81 mile 6' wide multi-use concrete trail |
| 42 | Alba | ALBA - City Park Walking Trail | Wood | $59,382.00 | $0.00 | New .28 mile 6' wide multi-use HMAC trail |
| 42 | Copperas Cove | City Park Recreational Trail - Phase I | Coryell | $279,300.00 | $0.00 | New .57 mile 8' wide multi-use concrete trail with benches, trash receptacles, water fountain and fitness stations. |
| 39 | Buda | City of Buda-Garlic Creek Trail | Hays | $336,400.00 | $0.00 | New 1.52 mile 6' wide concrete trail. |
| 39 | Marble Falls | Parkview Park Hike and Bike Trail | Burnet | $239,400.00 | $0.00 | New .63 mile 10' wide decomposed granite, non-motorized trail with signs, trail heads, restroom, boundary markers, and lighting. |
| 39 | Sachse | Sachse Highline Hike and Bike Trail | Dallas | $359,316.00 | $0.00 | New 1 mile 10' wide multi-use concrete trail with bridge, benches, signs, and trailhead. |
| 39 | Stephen F. Austin State University | Stephen F. Austin State University Trail Renovation | Nacogdoches | $209,900.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of .4 mile trail with new aggregate surface and bridge construction. |
| 38 | Jacksboro | Twin Lakes Trail | Jack | $123,600.00 | $0.00 | New 1 mile walking/jogging trail with workout stations, picnic tables, and pedestrian bridge. |
| 37 | Kenedy | Escondido Creek Parkway | Karnes | $260,900.00 | $0.00 | Construction of trail amenities. Excavation, Trees, Dog facilities, bike racks, low water crossings, pedestrian bridges and other park amenities |
| 37 | Liberty Hill | Liberty Hill Cross Town Trail | Williamson | $278,500.00 | $0.00 | New 1.62 mile multi-use decomposed granite trail with benches & signs. |
| 36 | Little Elm | Crestridge Connector Trail | Denton | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | New .11 mile 10-foot wide reinforced concrete, multi-use trail with trailhead and steel truss pedestrian bridge. |
| 35 | Carthage | Carthage City Trail - Phase II | Panola | $367,500.00 | $0.00 | New 1 mile 6' wide multi-purpose concrete looped trail with benches, native plantings and interpretive signage. |
| 34 | Troup | Walking Trail 2018 | Smith | $251,769.00 | $0.00 | New 1.67 mile 6' wide trail with benches, trash, & (3) trail heads. |
| 34 | Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy | Willow Trail | Harris | $289,500.00 | $0.00 | New .3 mile 10' wide concrete multi-use trail with benches, signs, trash receptacles, bike racks, and trailhead. |
| 33 | Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary | Heard- Sycamore Trail | Collin | $131,700.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of the Existing .64 mile trail. Culverts, retaining walls, concrete block creek crossing. |
| 30 | Everman | Renovation of Pittman Park Trail | Tarrant | $204,000.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of 5270 feet of asphalt walking trail to concrete and adding an additional 10 feet of track to bring it to 1 mile in length. Renovation of parking lot approximately 105' x 255'. |
| 30 | Granbury | Granbury Disk Golf Trail | Hood | $299,700.00 | $0.00 | New .86 mile 6'-wide multi-use concrete trail with bridge, benches, and signage. |
| 29 | Big Spring | Comanche Trail Park Recreational Trail Renovation | Howard | $230,300.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of .21 mile multi-use pedestrian trail with new ADA concrete pathway with signage, xeriscape, lighting, & safety railing. |
| 29 | Tarrant Regional Water District | Ten Mile Bridge Trailhead at Marine Creek Lake | Tarrant | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | New trailhead facility with .25 mile concrete trail, restroom, parking, lighting, & other amenities for access to west side of 6-mile loop trail. |
| 28 | Catholic Diocese of Brownsville (Plaza Amistad) | Wellness Hike & Bike Trail | Hidalgo | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | New .75 mile 8 foot wide multi-use concrete trail with benches, bike racks, signs, ADA bathrooms and water fountains |
| 28 | Clarksville City | Clarksville City Trail | Gregg | $134,300.00 | $0.00 | New .47 mile trail with exercise stations and benches |
| 27 | Barker-Cypress Municipal Utility District | Barker-Cypress MUD Trail | Harris | $758,800.00 | $0.00 | New 1.82 mile 6' wide multi-use concrete trail along drainage channel, Erosion Control, Engineering and Design, Topographic Survey & Research. |
| 27 | Comanche County Historical Society and Museum, Inc. | Vampire Bridge Nature Trail | Comanche | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | New .5 mile trail on the grounds of town museum, repairs existing historical bridges. |
| 27 | Exploration Green Conservancy | Exploration Green Trail Preparation and Trails Support Equipment | Harris | $421,000.00 | $0.00 | Preparation work for shared-use trail, trailside equipment, access/parking to trail system at park main entrance |
| 27 | Houston Wilderness | Connecting for Restoration, Recreation and Access through the Urban Core Project | Harris | $271,600.00 | $0.00 | New .16 mile boardwalk utilizing the Student Conservation Association Lone Star Conservation Corps Team |
| 27 | University of Texas Permian Basin | Mallard Run | Ector | $50,000.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of .5 miles of 10' wide asphalt/caliche trail with benches, signs, bollards, & fencing. |
| 27 | Woodlands Township | College Park Side Path Connection | Montgomery | $307,200.00 | $0.00 | New .4 mile 8' wide concrete surface trail with ADA ramps and culvert. |
| 26 | Hondo | Nature Trail Restrooms | Medina | $71,700.00 | $0.00 | Addition of Restroom Facility |
| 25 | Waller Creek Conservancy | Waterloo Park Trails & Trailhead | Travis | $1,962,128.00 | $0.00 | New/Renovation of 1.5 mile mixed surface trail system & trail amenities at Waterloo Park as part of the development of the larger Waller Creek Trail. |
| 24 | Dalworthington Gardens | Gardens Park Phase II | Tarrant | $133,900.00 | $0.00 | New .31 mile 6' wide concrete trail, with drainage and culvert replacement, exercise stations, ADA picnic station, informational kiosk, trail bench stations and additional parking. |
| 24 | Kingsville | Dick Kleberg Park Recreational Trail | Kleberg | $232,540.00 | $0.00 | New 0.63 mile 8' wide crushed granite trail with signs and culverts. |
| 24 | Palestine | City Lakes Trails Phase 1 | Anderson | $180,300.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of .94 miles of natural surface trail with 6' wide decomposed granite, with trail edging, garbage receptacles, benches and signage. |
| 23 | Elsa | Elsa Linear Park Trails | Hidalgo | $1,030,600.00 | $0.00 | New 1.52 mile 10' wide multi-use stabilized-aggregate trails with .76 miles of 6' concrete trails forming dual trails along half the total length |
| 21 | Greater Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority | North Houston Bike Park Dirt Trails | Harris | $364,900.00 | $0.00 | New .47 mile dirt trail loop with wooden obstacles, bike racks, trash receptacles, benches, signage, bike cleaning stations and bike repair stations. |
| 21 | Greater Southeast Management District | MacGregor Park Trail Connectors and Rehabilitation | Harris | $154,600.00 | $0.00 | Construction and renovation of .22 miles of decomposed granite trail connectors with trail signage |
| 21 | Harlingen | Arroyo West Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail Extension | Cameron | $1,400,000.00 | $0.00 | New 2 mile, 10' wide asphalt multi-purpose trail with bridges, a trail heads, benches, bike racks, water fountains, informational signage, distance markings and existing parking. |
| 20 | Kirby | Hike and Bike Trail Amenities | Bexar | $45,000.00 | $0.00 | Benches, trash cans and water fountain for Hike and Bike Trail. |
| 20 | Lone Star College CyFair | CyFair Community Recreational Trail | Harris | $42,200.00 | $0.00 | New .10 mile, 5' wide multi-use concrete trail with benches, signs and trailheads |
| 20 | Texarkana | Cowhorn Creek Trail - Section 2 | Bowie | $247,800.00 | $0.00 | New .3 mile 10' wide asphalt multi-use trail with ADA features, benches, lighting, viewing platform, & bike rack. |
| 18 | Hidalgo County | Hidalgo County Hoehn Trail | Hidalgo | $295,492.00 | $0.00 | New 1.33 mile multi-purpose trail with benches, trash receptacles, trees and drinking fountains |
| 17 | Melissa | Country Ridge Trail | Collin | $527,900.00 | $0.00 | New .48 mile 12' wide reinforced concrete, multi-use trail with trail map kiosk, 1/4 mile markers, picnic tables, parking and bollards at trail entries. |
| 15 | Palmview | Palmview Recreational Trails Project | Hidalgo | $277,000.00 | $0.00 | New .57 miles of 10' wide permeable asphalt trails with benches, shade shelter & parking. |
| 12 | Trail of the Lakes Municipal Utility District | Trail of the Lakes- Trails | Harris | $549,800.00 | $0.00 | New .79 mile 6' wide multi-use concrete loop trails with observation deck, lighting, benches, signage, & trash receptacles. |
| 12 | Tres Lagos Public Improvement District | Tres Lagos Trails Phase I | Hidalgo | $556,348.00 | $0.00 | New 2.35 mile asphalt multi-use trail (incl. equestrian) with benches, water stations, signage, & bike racks. |
| 11 | Lancaster ISD | City of Lancaster and LISD Elsie Robertson Middle School Trail | Dallas | $2,118,900.00 | $0.00 | New 8' Wide .75 mile trail with parking, security lighting, bike racks, benches. |
| 0 | Paso del Norte Health Foundation | Playa Drain Trail | El Paso | $250,100.00 | $0.00 | Trail amenities. Entry columns, wayfinding, mile markers, interpretive signage, bollards and landscaping. |
| 0 | Temple | Friars Creek Nature Trail Extension | Bell | $120,000.00 | $0.00 | New .31 mile concrete trail extension with signs, benches, & other amenities. |
** Bold = Motorized Request Total Requests = $11,173,732
Total Recommended = $3,380,780