SUPPORT THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM!

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Blue Ribbon Coalition

SUPPORT THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM!

Target For Final Action Is April 30

Last month, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the surface transportation reauthorization bill (S. 1072) by a vote of 76-21. The bill increases funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) from $50 million to $60 million annually for the next six years. While this is very good news, the BlueRibbon Coalition and the Coalition for Recreational Trails are continuing to work for an even larger share of the $286 million in federal gasoline taxes that are paid every year on fuel used in non-highway recreation.

The legislative action has now moved over to the U.S. House of Representatives. The House?s transportation bill (H.R. 3550), which is currently under consideration, provides for substantially more RTP funding than the Senate bill ? starting at $70 million annually and increasing to $150 million by the legislation?s fifth year. The trails community needs to express its strong support for RTP funding in H.R. 3550. Time is short ? the target for final action on the new transportation bill is April 30th.

Members of Congress need to hear from individual trail users supporting increased RTP funding. To send a prepared message to your House Representatives as an individual trail user, go to:

http://capwiz.com/share/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=53182 76

Be Sure To Act Today!

CLUBS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS!

If your local group or club is interested in trails, consider adopting a resolution supporting increased RTP funding. An example of such a resolution, written by the Coalition for Recreational Trails, is attached with this email.

* Feel free to edit the resolution as needed;

* Vote or otherwise officially approve the resolution;

* Send the finished introduction and resolution to your House

Representatives. A prepared message has been readied for this purpose at:

http://capwiz.com/share/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=53183 51

[You can also print out this message and send it by regular mail]

* In the introduction, add mention of specific local program success stories or future trail needs, if applicable;

* Insert the name of your organization as indicated in the introduction and the last paragraph of the resolution;

* Make additions and changes to the message as needed, so that it matches the one your club or organization adopted.

For more information on the RTP project, go to:

http://www.delalbright.com/RTP/rtp_enter.htm

or

http://www.americantrails.org/awards/RTPawards.html

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