NRTP Grants Awarded to WTA

Our volunteers are the best! And if there were any doubts about this, let it be known that WTA's trail maintenance program was the top-ranked grant application for this year's National Recreation Trails Program awards.

WTA applies for two grants from the National Recreation Trails Program (NRTP) each year. These funds--$150,000 in all--pay for a significant chunk of our trail maintenance program. Using volunteers, we're able to leverage those dollars four times over. 

While the future of NRTP remains somewhat unclear, we've just learned that we've been funded for this year, and we're looking forward to putting those dollars to good use maintaining trails, reestablishing tread, repairing damaged structures and logging out windfall.

NRTP is a program located within the federal transportation department. The House has approved a six-year reauthorization of the underlying transportation bill and includes significant funding for enhancement programs like NRTP. 

We've learned that the Senate is taking up the House bill, and is expected to move a six-year reauthorization through the Senate this year. They're using the House bill as a template for their legislation, which bodes well for NRTP and other enhancements items. On our recent trip to DC, we spoke with Senator Murray, who chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee that deals with transportation. We were very pleased when she indicated her strong support for NRTP.

NRTP is fundamental to the work that we and our many partners do to keep trails maintained for an ever-growing recreating public. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about federal funding for trails. You can reach me (Jonathan Guzzo) at 206.625.1367 or by email to jonathan@wta.org.