The Rails to Trails Conservancy and the BTA are calling for action today to help ensure active transportation programs are adequately funded. Call your US congressperson and ask her to sign the Michaud-Petri letter requesting $690 million to fund the Recreation Trails Program (RTP).

The Springwater Corridor received funding from the Recreation Trails Program.

On June 22, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee released a draft of the next multi-year federal surface transportation bill. However, the bill does not assign dollar amounts to any bill priorities.

The T&I Committee leadership is currently accepting input on how funding should be assigned among different programs. Representatives Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) are circulating a "dear colleague" letter that requests $690 million over six years to fund the Recreation Trails Program (RTP). After congressional signatures are affixed, the letter is forwarded to the committee.

We must act today, Friday, July 17. Please ask your representative to sign this letter now.

Find out who your congressperson is now. If you already know who your congressperson is, locate the office phone number or call the Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to be connected directly to your representative's office. Once connected, please ask:

As a constituent, I am calling to ask that Rep. [Last] please sign on to the Michaud-Petri "dear colleague" letter, assigning specific funding amounts to the Recreation Trails Program. Do you know if Rep. [Last] will be signing the letter? [If they don't know...] Can I leave my contact information to hear back about Rep. [Last]'s decision?

What is the RTP?

The RTP provides federal funding for recreational trails and trail-related facilities in every state. RTP-funded projects favor trails in need of restoration or maintenance, particularly those that might have environmentally damaging features, such as an erosive stream crossing. The program serves an important role by providing federal funds to support local communities' needs and priorities.
Some of Oregon's RTP-funded trails include the Springwater Corridor, the Banks-Vernonia Trail, and the Fanno Creek Trail. For more information on the RTP and Oregon trails, see the Coalition for Recreational Trails Web site.

Please take a minute now and ask your congressional representative to support the RTP using the instructions above. Thank you.

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