Recreational Trails Program

Recreational Trails Program Funding Availability

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Grants and Community Recreation Program.  The RTP provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses.

Eligible projects may include:

• Maintenance and restoration of existing recreational trails.
• Development and rehabilitation of trail side and trailhead facilities and trail linkages for recreational trails.
• Construction of new recreational trails.
• Acquisition of easements or fee simple title to property for recreational trails or recreational trail corridors.

Funds Available:

• The Annual Apportionment to the Maine RTP is $1,442,741.
• Of this amount Maine DOT allocates $938,000 to the program.  This amount funds administration of the program and grants to local and state partners for eligible trail projects.
• Again this year we will entertain applications in the Motorized, Non-Motorized and Diverse Trail use categories up to $50,000 and in the large scale project category up to $120,000.
• RTP can fund upwards of 80% of eligible project costs.

Grant Documents Available at Maine.gov

The current application, application guidance and program guidance documents have been uploaded to the Maine Grants and Community Recreation, RTP website.  Look for the basic documents in the right hand column on the web page.  Be sure to read all of the application guidance document to understand all of the background work and materials that go into building a successful application. Virtual trail application workshops will be scheduled in the near future. For more information about this opportunity, please contact State Trail Administrator Douglas Beck.