• Home
• Trails
• What's Hot
• Advocacy
• Calendar
• Training
• Resources
• Business Directory
• Join Us
• Store
• About Us
• Symposium

Coalition for Recreational Trails

Read about the CRT Annual Achievement Awards and see winners from past years

The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations. Its members work together to build awareness and understanding of the Recreational Trails Program, which returns federal gasoline taxes paid by off-highway recreationists to the states for trail development and maintenance. CRT was formed in 1992 following the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (lSTEA) to ensure that the National Recreational Trails Fund (now known as the Recreational Trails Program or RTP) established by that legislation received adequate funding.

During the six years of ISTEA, CRT worked to ensure that program was continued and strengthened as part of the ISTEA reauthorization process. Following the 1998 passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and the 2005 approval of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), both of which significantly increased RTP program funding, CRT's efforts have been focused on supporting its continued, effective implementation and its extension and enhancement through the next round of transportation legislation.

As a member of the Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT), American Trails urges organizations of every size and interest to become a Supporter of the Recreational Trails Program. Letters will be sent on an ongoing basis to Congress members and key members of the Administration. To date, 492 organizations have signed on to the first support letter (sent to key Congress members). CRT would like to have over 500 organizations sign-on as Supporters. Every state and every trail activity benefits from the Recreational Trails Program, and we need your support! Please pass the word on through your networks.

On February 11, 2011, CRT sent a letter to Representatives Mica, Representatives Rahall, Duncan, and DeFazio of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee "to support the reauthorization of the RTP as a discrete program in new surface transportation legislation." (Download letter in pdf format, 147 kb).

On July 14, 2010 CRT also sent a letter to US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood supporting RTP funding (download letter in pdf format, 168 kb).

The July 14, 2010 letter includes support from hundreds of trail and recreation organizations and asks Secretary LaHood to "join Americans across the country in supporting the Recreational Trails Program as part of the new federal transportation bill." The letter emphasizes that "trails are an investment in the future of our communities and our public lands, while connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to the environment." (Download letter in pdf format, 168 kb).

NATIONAL MEMBERS of Coalition for Recreational Trails

Adventure Cycling Association
America Bikes
American Council of Snowmobile Associations
American Hiking Society
American Horse Council
American Motorcyclist Association
American Recreation Coalition
American Trails
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
Back Country Horsemen of America
Bikes Belong
BlueRibbon Coalition
The Corps Network
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource
International Association of Snowmobile Administrators
International Mountain Bicycling Association
International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
The League of American Bicyclists
Motorcycle Industry Council
National Association of Recreation Resource Planners
National Association of State Trail Administrators
National Bicycle Greenway
National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
National Recreation and Park Association
Partnership for the National Trails System
Professional Trail Builders Association
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
SnowSports Industries America
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
Student Conservation Association
Tread Lightlyl
United Four Wheel Drive Associations

For more informtaion, contact Catherine A. Ahern, American Recreation Coalition and Coalition for Recreational Trails - 202-682-9530; Fax 202-682-9529 - cahern@funoutdoors.com

Support the Recreational Trails Program! Join our efforts with the Coalition for Recreational Trails to get RTP funding included in the next transportation bill and sign on to the letter supporting RTP. Will your state's trails program survive? See Concerns about the future of the Recreational Trails Program.

Sign on to the letter supporting RTP! and see the letter in PDF format

Read more about Reauthorization of federal transportation funds and programs like RTP and see a description of the RTP program

Nationwide trails community works for reauthorization of the Recreational Trails Program