Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter:
Trey Cooksey
Action
Texas Statewide Recreational Trails Grants Funding
Recommended Approval of Trail Construction, Renovation, and Acquisition Projects
May 22, 2019
I. Executive Summary: With this item, the staff seeks to award federal funds allocated under the National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) grants for trail construction, renovation and acquisition projects. This item obligates federal National Recreational Trails Funds 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 recreational off-highway vehicles (OHV) 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 considers state population and sales of fuel for off-road recreational vehicles. Nationwide, the program was appropriated $85 million for federal fiscal year (FY) 2019; Texas’ share of these funds is $3,954,874 plus an additional $303,491 of carryover funds from last year making the total $4,258,365. Seven percent of the state’s annual apportionment ($279,638) is utilized to cover costs to administer the program, leaving $3,978,727 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. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been utilizing the re-allocated funding to fund trail improvements in state parks. The result is a total of $4,678,727 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. Fifty-five projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting $9,651,516 in funds. Projects were evaluated and scored by the Texas Trails Advisory Committee. Recommendations are to fund 22 of the projects totaling $3,817,376 of federal funding assistance.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act that created this fund stipulates that states must have a trails advisory committee made up of various trail user group representatives to be eligible to receive the federal funds. The purpose of the trails advisory committee is to provide guidance in the distribution of these funds. The nine-member Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee met in March 2019 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 upon 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 designated as 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 22 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $3,817,376 and state park trail improvements in the amount of $700,000 is approved."
Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A
| Score | Sponsor | Project Name | County | Total Cost | Funds Recommended | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition, Inc. | Escondido Draw Recreation Area | Crockett | $ 498,700.00 | $ 399,000.00 | Four miles of new OHV trails, resurface of trailhead roads with asphalt, endangered species resource survey, trail rider educational program, bathrooms, fencing, and project management |
| 54 | Texas Trails Education and Motorized Management -TXTEAMM | Texas OHV Safety Education Program | Medina | $ 79,800.00 | $ 63,900.00 | OHV safety education program, instructors travel and associated expenses |
| 53 | Clarksville | Northeast Texas Trail Clarksville | Red River | $ 250,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 5.8-mile rails-to-trails conversion, bridge repair, and signage |
| 53 | Rio Bravo Adventure Park | Rio Bravo Adventure Park Improvements -Phase 1 | Harris | $ 496,900.00 | $ 397,500.00 | Renovate 8 miles of trail, drainage culverts, bridge, fencing, transformer for electrical service, lighting, and rental of trail maintenance equipment |
| 52 | Chaparral Rails to Trails, Inc. | Northeast Texas Trail (Wolfe City Section) | Hunt | $ 250,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 1.06-mile rails-to-trails conversion including clearing, grading, embankment work, asphalt overlay, safety bollards, and road crossings |
| 52 | El Paso | San Felipe Park OHV Trails | El Paso | $ 500,000.00 | $ 400,000.00 | Ten new miles of 5-footwide OHV trail, youth rider’s .25- mile trail, new ADA-compliant restrooms, picnic shelters, signage, and fencing |
| 52 | National Park Service Lake Meredith National Recreation Area | Harbor Bay Trail Improvement and Maintenance Project | Hutchinson | $ 157,100.00 | $ 112,500.00 | Renovate 5.25-mile natural surface multi-use trail |
| 51 | Annona | Northeast Texas Trail (Annona Section) | Red River | $ 250,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 3.8-mile rails-to-trails conversion including clearing, grading, safety bollards, and road crossings |
| 51 | Pines and Prairies Land Trust | Trail Restoration at the Colorado River Refuge (CRR) | Bastrop | $ 22,226.00 | $ 17,776.00 | Reroute of 240 feet of trail near trailhead with erosion controls, fencing, trash cans, and kiosk maps |
| 50 | Avery | Northeast Texas Trail (Avery Section) | Red River | $ 218,000.00 | $ 174,400.00 | New 4.01-mile rails-to-trails conversion including clearing, grading, bridge repair and railings, safety bollards, and road crossings |
| 50 | Jacksboro | Twin Lakes Moto Trail | Jack | $ 291,700.00 | $ 218,600.00 | Construct a new 5-mile trail for motorized use with controlled entry gate, parking lot, and equipment rental |
| 49 | Northeast Texas Trail Coalition | Northeast Texas Trail (Clarksville to Hwy 82) | Lamar | $ 250,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 1.9-mile rails-to-trails conversion including clearing, grading, bridge repair and railings, safety bollards, and road crossings |
| 49 | Red River County | Northeast Texas Trail (Red River County Section) | Red River | $ 250,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 3.63-mile rails-to-trails conversion including the clearing, grading, bridge repair and railings, safety bollards, signage, and road crossings |
| 49 | Trinity Trail Preservation Association | Trinity Trail Culvert Remediation | Collin | $ 63,600.00 | $ 48,400.00 | Clear silt from 11 culverts with upstream and downstream drainage remediation, and replace two pairs of culverts with a low-water crossing articulated concrete mat |
| 48 | Memorial Park Conservancy | Memorial Park North West Trail Rehabilitation FY19 | Harris | $ 79,900.00 | $ 66,200.00 | Renovation of 1.1 miles of natural surface trail, including the elevation and crowning of multi-use trails, footbridge replacement, and improvements to stormwater management |
| 48 | Turnback Canyon Trail Conservancy | Turnback Canyon Trail - Phase 1A | Travis | $ 61,549.00 | $ 49,300.00 | Two new miles of natural surface multi-use trail, trail bridges, benches, pet waste stations, and trail markers |
| 47 | Houston Audubon Society | Winters Bayou Bird Sanctuary Loop Trail | San Jacinto | $ 83,600.00 | $ 48,600.00 | New 900-foot trail, renovate 1 mile of trail, 500 feet of boardwalk, and a trail bridge |
| 46 | Levelland | Lobo Lake Trail | Hockley | $ 76,500.00 | $ 61,200.00 | Renovate and expand .3-mile multi-use concrete trail with benches, and trash receptacles |
| 45 | Hill Country Conservancy | Violet Crown Trail Phase 3 | Travis | $ 393,200.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 3-mile multi-use natural surface trail |
| 45 | Trophy Club | Trophy Club Park | Denton | $ 200,000.00 | $ 160,000.00 | Renovate .9 miles of asphalt road surface and replacement of three pavilions |
| 44 | Kyle | Spring Branch Segment of Plum Creek Trail | Hays | $ 400,000.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 1.25-mile segment of 8 feet wide multi-use concrete trail. |
| 44 | Port Lavaca | Bayfront Park Trail | Calhoun | $ 732,800.00 | $ 200,000.00 | New 1-mile walking trail with solar lighting, benches, a water fountain, bike rack amenities, and connection to existing amenities |
| 43 | Greenbelt Alliance of Denton County | Denton Greenbelt Renovations | Denton | $ 187,900.00 | $ 0.00 | Renovate 11 miles of trail, signage, covered picnic table, hitching rails, pavilion, trail tools |
| 42 | Allen | Rowlett Trail Connection 2019 | Collin | $ 348,600.00 | $ 0.00 | New 2,000 feet of 12-foot-wide concrete, multi-use hike/bike trail with a pedestrian bridge, and elevated walkway |
| 41 | New Boston | Scout Lake Trailhead | Bowie | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 0.33-mile asphalt trail, boardwalk, picnic tables, trash cans, pavilion, and bathrooms |
| 41 | San Marcos River Foundation | Purgatory Creek Public Trail | Hays | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 2-mile natural surface multi-use trail with three hardened segments under bridges |
| 36 | Floresville | River Park Trail | Wilson | $ 165,800.00 | $ 0.00 | New 5,560 feet of multi-use trail loop with benches, shade structure, and picnic tables |
| 35 | Corrigan | City of Corrigan - West Park | Polk | $ 230,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 5,500 feet of multi-use asphalt trail with commercial trash receptacles, park benches, and way-finding signage |
| 35 | Del Rio | Carranza Park Trail Renovation Project | Val Verde | $ 240,000.00 | $ 0.00 | Renovate .25-mile multi-use trail, ADA-compliant picnic tables, bike racks, dog waste systems, thermoplastic receptacles, trail signage, and solar path lighting |
| 33 | Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy | Willow Trail | Harris | $ 270,500.00 | $ 0.00 | New .3-mile multi-use concrete trail with benches, signs, trash receptacles, bike racks, and trailhead |
| 32 | Carthage | Carthage City Trail | Panola | $ 322,400.00 | $ 0.00 | New 5,510 feet of multi-purpose concrete looped trail with trail benches and interpretive signage |
| 29 | Cedar Park | Lakeline Park Trail - Phase 1 | Williamson | $ 916,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.13-mile concrete trail |
| 29 | Krum | Eastside Park Trail System Improvements - Phase 1 | Denton | $ 395,400.00 | $ 0.00 | New 0.38-mile multi-use concrete trail connecting to an existing trail, erosion control materials, shade trees, resource surveys, and engineering |
| 28 | Texarkana | Cowhorn Creek Trail | Bowie | $ 223,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1,600 feet of asphalt multi-use trail with interactive recreational equipment, lighting, benches, and landscaping |
| 27 | Dalworthington Gardens | Gardens Park - Phase II | Tarrant | $ 135,900.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1,900 feet of trail with drainage and culvert replacement, ADA picnic station, informational kiosk, trail bench stations, exercise stations, and additional ADA parking |
| 26 | Marble Falls | Parkview Park Hike and Bike Trail | Burnet | $ 256,400.00 | $ 0.00 | New .625-mile decomposed granite trail with signs, trail heads, restroom, exercise stations, boundary markers, and lighting |
| 26 | Palestine | City Lakes Trails -Phase 1 | Anderson | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | Renovate .941-mile natural surface trail to 6-foot-wide decomposed granite surface, trail edging, trash receptacles, benches, and signage |
| 25 | Lewisville Parks and Recreation | Valley Vista Nature Park and Trails | Denton | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New .5-mile decomposed granite trail with benches, bike racks, signage, and a bird blind |
| 25 | North Texas Rural Rail Transportation District | Wichita Valley Daylight Trail Improvements | Wichita | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | Renovate 6.55 miles of trail with decomposed granite, culvert replacement, and drainage improvement |
| 25 | Poteet | Poteet Municipal Park Phase II | Atascosa | $ 71,600.00 | $ 0.00 | New .57-mile multi-use decomposed granite trail with benches, bike racks, trash receptacles and trail map signage |
| 24 | Seabrook | Galveston Bay Trail Connection | Harris | $ 201,800.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.4-mile decomposed granite trail, two pedestrian bridges, signs, benches, garbage cans, and parking |
| 23 | Temple | Friar's Creek Trail Extension | Bell | $ 123,300.00 | $ 0.00 | New .4-mile concrete trail, benches, signage, pet waste stations, trash receptacles, and drinking fountains |
| 22 | Justin | Garrett Trail | Denton | $ 253,600.00 | $0.00 | New 2,530 feet of multi-use concrete trail |
| 22 | Rollingwood | Trail Connections | Travis | $ 255,600.00 | $ 0.00 | New 792 feet of concrete trail and 792 feet of crushed stone trail, retaining walls, and landscaping |
| 20 | Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority | Lake Mackenzie OHV Trail System Improvements | Briscoe | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | Renovate 35-mile OHV trail system, construct a new restroom, surface access road, and purchase of trail tools and safety equipment |
| 20 | Paso del Norte Community Foundation | Playa Drain Trail | El Paso | $ 679,500.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.93-mile asphalt trail with concrete curbing |
| 19 | Cibolo | Town Creek Trail--Phase 1 | Guadalupe | $ 911,100.00 | $ 0.00 | New .65-mile concrete trail |
| 17 | Colleyville | Bedford to Nature Center | Tarrant | $ 1,747,600.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1-mile trail and sidewalk |
| 17 | Lago Vista | Cedar Breaks Park | Travis | $ 445,100.00 | $ 0.00 | New 0.6-mile decomposed granite trail, new 0.3-mile concrete trail, benches, picnic stations, trash cans, pet waste stations, scent garden, solar lighting, restrooms, parking, and bike racks |
| 16 | Galveston County Parks and Cultural Services | Bayside Regional Park Trail | Galveston | $ 266,570.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.75-mile multi-use decomposed granite trail with lighting, benches, bike racks, trash cans, and pet waste stations |
| 16 | Jersey Village | Jersey Meadow Trail | Harris | $ 236,500.00 | $ 0.00 | New .622-mile multi-use concrete trail connecting to a current trail system |
| 16 | Viridian Municipal Management District | Viridian-River Legacy Connector Trail | Tarrant | $ 664,400.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.3-mile concrete trail with informational kiosks, signage, benches, and waste receptacles |
| 15 | Sam Houston Trails Coalition | Richards-Raven Trail - Phase IV | Walker | $ 250,000.00 | $ 0.00 | New 16.32-mile equestrian trail with necessary bridges, culverts, water control structures, and signage, and trailhead with informational kiosk |
| 12 | League City | Hometown Heroes Park 5K Loop Trail | Galveston | $1,022,900.00 | $ 0.00 | New 1.25-mile decomposed granite trail with reinforced concrete curb borders, bike racks, shaded bench, drinking fountain, signage, and trees |
| 11 | Seguin | Seguin Recreational Trail Safety Project | Guadalupe | $ 43,677.00 | $ 0.00 | Purchase and installation of 12 trail cameras |
| Total Requests = $9,651,516 | ||||||
| ** Bold = Motorized Trail Request | ||||||
| Total Recommended = $3,817,376 | ||||||