AK Recreational Trails Program Grant

The AK Recreational Trails Program Grant supports the development and repair of recreational trails in Alaska, offering 90/10 federal matching funds for both motorized and non-motorized projects. This initiative has funded over 480 projects in Alaska, enhancing outdoor recreation and promoting environmental protection.

The purpose
of the RTP is to develop and repair recreational trails and trail-related facilities in Alaska for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. Reimbursable grant funds are available for recreational trail development and repair, and environmental protection and safety/education programs relating to recreational trail use.
This program offers 90/10 federal matching funds on all projects for all applicants.
This program is unique in that, legislatively it is specified that 30% of the funds must be expended for projects that are strictly motorized, 30% will be spent on projects that are strictly non-motorized, while at the same time encouraging the development of projects that provide for multiple uses, 40 % must be spent on projects called diversified. Of the funds available for the RTP, a maximum of 5% may or may not be used for safety and education focused projects and it is up to the state to make this decision. This program was first funded in 1993 through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and was called the National Recreational Trails Fund. Since that time, this program has funded over 480 trail projects in Alaska, and over 21,000 trail-related projects nation-wide, including urban greenways, nature centers, and horse, hiking, mountain bike, and motorized trails, as well as snow and water routes.