The Honorable Robert Menendez ATTN: Eric Kollig 528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
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The Honorable Robert Menendez ATTN: Eric Kollig 528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 March 1, 2012 Dear Senator, We are writing to request your support for the Klobuchar/Burr/Shaheen/Risch amendment #1661 to MAP-21, which restores dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). This amendment makes the Senate bill consistent with language that is already in the House bill. In addition, this amendment is consistent with the traditional purpose of the Recreational Trails Program – to direct the gas tax revenues generated by the users of off-highway recreational vehicles , including snowmobiles, ATVs, off-highway motorcycles, and four-wheel drive vehicles to a program to provide infrastructure for their activities. Under SAFETEA-LU, the Recreational Trails Program was a mere 0.22% of the overall Federal-aid Highway Program, but represents a vital funding source that has built and maintained thousands of miles of trails – for motorized and nonmotorized users alike – in every state for close to 20 years. These trails bring not only enjoyment to many types of users, but also critical economic benefits to local communities. In many rural areas in particular, tourism is a vital part of the economy and trails are part of the infrastructure that supports this lifeline. A study by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University for the North Carolina Department of Transportation found that a one-time investment of $6.7 million in federal, state, and local funds for new trails created 1,400 jobs and pays back $60 million a year . And these critical economic benefits of trails go far beyond tourism. For example, the Billings Chamber of Commerce has branded their community “Montana’s Trailhead,” because “talented people move to Billings in large part because of our trail system that creates the quality of life they are expecting,” according to Chamber CEO John Brewer. Billings certainly is attractive – Fortune magazine named Billings the number one small city in attracting business, and the private sector there has taken note. According to Brewer, “in Billings – and I think throughout the country – there has been a paradigm shift. Trails are no longer viewed as community amenities; they’re truly viewed as essential infrastructure for business recruitment .” As obesity rates reach record highs in our nation, now is also the time for Congress to show leadership in dedicating funding to a program whose primary purpose is to build and maintain infrastructure that empowers people to access the outdoors and be active. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active Community Environments Initiative recognizes the catalyzing role that safe and accessible recreation facilities, like those built through the Recreational Trail Program, play in improving public health. The Klobuchar/Burr/Shaheen/Risch amendment actually provides the RTP with only a portion of the funding that has been historically generated by the user fees (gas tax revenues) of off-highway recreational vehicles . This is a program that pays for itself and provides tremendous benefits. Therefore, we urge you to support the Klobuchar/Burr/Shaheen/Risch amendment (#1661). Sincerely, National Organizations Adventure Cycling International Mountain Biking Association Alliance for Bicycling and Walking International Snowmobile Manufacturers Alliance for Community Trees Association America Bikes League of American Bicyclists America Walks League of Conservation Voters American Conservation Experience Masters of Foxhounds Association American Council of Snowmobile Associations Motorcycle Industry Council American Cultural Resources Association National Bicycle Dealers Association American Discovery Trail Society National Center for Bicycling and Walking American Endurance Ride Conference National Coast Trail Association American Hiking Society National Complete Streets Coalition American Horse Council National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation American Public Health Association Council American Recreation Coalition National Recreation and Park Association American Rivers National Wildlife Federation American Society of Landscape Architects North American Trail Ride Conference American Trails Outdoor Alliance American YouthWorks Pedal America Americans for Responsible Recreational Access PermaTrak America's State Parks Professional Trailbuilders Association Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Professionals Raleigh America Back Country Horsemen of America Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association Bicycle Technologies International Ride America for Safe Routes BlueRibbon Coalition Safe Routes to School National Partnership Camelbak Shimano American Corporation Choose Outdoors SockGuy City Parks Alliance Sportsmen Ride Right Coalition for Recreational Trails SRAM Diamondback Bicycles Student Conservation Association Dirt Rag Magazine The Corps Network Equine Land Conservation Resource The Wilderness Society eXperticity Trailsnet.com Institute for Transportation Development and Trust for Public Land Policy Yeti Cycles Regional Organizations Appalachian Mountain Club (CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV) The Arkansas River Coalition (AR, CO, KS, OK) East Coast Greenway Alliance (CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, SC, VA) Four Corners School of Outdoor Education (AZ, CO, NM, UT) Granite State Carriage Association (CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT) Landscape Architects & Planners, Inc. (OH, IL, IN, MI) Mississippi River Trail, Inc. (AR, IL, IA, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, TN, WI) North Country Trail Hikers Chapter of the North Country Trail Association (MI, MN, NY, ND, OH, PA, WI) Northern Forest Canoe Trail (ME, NH, NY, VT) Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association (ID, OR, WA) Pine Mountain Trail Conference, Inc. (KY, VA) Piscataqua Hounds (ME, NH) Snowlands Network (CA, NV) Southwest Conservation Corps (AZ, CO, NM) Summer Feet Cycling (New England, UT) Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway (CA, NV) Trail Spinners (DE, MD, PA) Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (CT, MA) Upper Valley Trails Alliance (NH, VT) Volcanic Legacy Community Partnership (CA, OR) West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation (ID, MT, WY) Wild South (AL, NC, SC, GA, TN, VA, MS, LA, FL) State Organizations Northern Area Alaska State Parks Citizens Colorado High School Cycling League (CO) Advisory Board (AK) Bike Walk Connecticut (CT) Alabama Hiking Trail Society (AL) Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CT) Alabama Innovation Engine (AL) Delaware Council on Greenways & Trails (DE) Fresh Air Family (AL) Delaware Equine Council – Trails Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists (AZ) Committee (DE) California Trails and Greenways Foundation (CA) Florida East Coast Greenway (FL) Cycle California! Magazine (CA) Florida Trail Association (FL) Ecology Action (CA) Idaho Conservation League (ID) TransForm (CA) Idaho Pedestrian & Bicycle Alliance (ID) Idaho Pedestrian and Bicycle Alliance (ID) New Hampshire Horse Council (NH) Mountain Bike Idaho (ID) Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (NJ) Illinois Trail Riders (IL) New Jersey Trails Council (NJ) Greenways Foundation of Indiana (IN) New Mexico State Parks (NM) Health by Design (IN) Nevada Outdoor School (NV) Bay State Trail Riders Association (MA) Parks & Trails New York (NY) Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MA) Bicycle Transportation Alliance (OR) WalkBoston (MA) Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OR) Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PA) Trail (ME) JAYCEE Education & Library Foundation of Maine Island Trail Association (ME) Rhode Island (RI) Natural Resources Council of Maine (ME) South Carolina Horsemen’s Council (SC) Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance (MI) Cumberland Trail Conference (TN) Motor City Tour Company, LLC (MI) Texas Endurance Riders Association (TX) Bike Alliance of Minnesota (MN) Texas Recreation and Park Society (TX) Ozark Trail Association (MO) Utah Conservation Corps (UT) Show-Me Missouri Back Country Virginia Bicycling Federation (VA) Horsemen (MO) Virginia Horse Council (VA) Montana Conservation Corps (MT) Back Country Horsemen of Washington (WA) Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (NC) Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (WA) North Carolina Horse Council (NC) Glacial Drumlin Horse Trail Association (WI) Nebraska Trails Council (NE) Wisconsin Off-Highway Vehicle Association (WI) New Hampshire Arabian Horse Association (NH) Local Organizations Blanche Dean Chapter of the Alabama The Public Park Authority of the Cities of Wildflower Society (AL) Lincoln and Talladega (AL) Dothan Leisure Services (AL) Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Land Trust of North Alabama (AL) Authority (AL) Limestone County Park and Recreation Phat Tire Bike Shop (AR) Board (AL) Absolute Bikes (AZ) Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association (AL) TRACKS (AZ) Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Yavapai Trails Association (AZ) Development Commission (AL) AdventureBuddies (CA) Amigos de los Rios (CA) Bay Area Bicycle Coalition (CA) Alchemist (CO) Bay Area Ridge Trail (CA) Avid4 Adventure (CO) Bellfree Contractors, Inc. (CA) BetterRide, Inc. (CO) Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay (CA) Boulder Bike Tours (CO) Bike San Gabriel Valley (CA) Cycles of Life (CO) Cycling Camps San Diego (CA) Everest Realty (CO) East Bay Area Trails Council (CA) Giant Cycling World (CO) East Bay Bicycle Coalition (CA) Headwaters Trails Alliance (CO) Family Cycling Center (CA) Mile Hi Rafting (CO) Fresno County Economic Opportunities Natureshape