2. Recreational Trails Program

3. 1) Background 2) Funding 3) Types of Projects 4) Eligibility 5) Basic Requirements 6) Reimbursement

4. What is RTP? Recreational Trails Program is a Federal grants reimbursement program designed to help build and maintain trails RTP is currently funded through SAFETEA- LU Continuing Resolutions (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users)

5. Reauthorization of Transportation Bill? SAFETEA-LU expired on September 30, 2009. Extension #9 extended SAFETEA-LU through June 30, 2012. Currently, the Recreational Trails Program has been funded through 9 Continuing Resolutions since September 30, 2009, while Congress works on the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Bill.

6. New Matching Contributions Allowed According to Recreational Trails Program Guidance, Section 206(h)(1)(C) allows preapproval project planning and environmental compliance costs to be credited toward the non-Federal share of the cost of a project, limited to costs incurred less than 18 months prior to project approval. The costs incurred must be costs that would be allowable if the project had been approved.

7. Power-Driven Mobility Devices On March 15, 2011, Department of Justice (DOJ) revised rules went into effect allowing “other power-driven mobility devices” to be used by individuals with mobility disabilities on most trail systems. Access AmericanTrails.org for most recent and up-to-date information.

8. Administration & Oversight Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) administers and manages the RTP funds in Montana Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides program oversight at the Federal level

9. RTP Funding History 2005 $959,627 2006$1,081,918 2007$1,048,976 2008$1,022,591 2009$1,227,600 2010$1,500,001 2011$1,400,000 Total RTP Allocations:  1993-201113,126,581  685 projects in 19 years

10. Recreational Trails Program Matching Requirement: 20% of project costs Eligible Projects: urban trail development; basic front and backcountry trail maintenance; restoration of trail areas; development of trailside facilities; and educational and safety projects

11. Recreational Trails Program Eligible Applicants: Federal, State, county, city, sovereign Indian nations, private associations and clubs

12. Grant Categories: 1) Small Grant –Sponsors requesting $20,000 or less per grant application 2) Large Grant –Sponsors requesting $20,001 to $45,000 (Grant Ceiling is $45,000) 3) Big Grant: Grant Ceiling is $90,000 (applicant automatically drops into $45,000 category if unsuccessful) 4) Special Project (Set-Aside Account) – Projects of regional significance with various amounts (100,000-500,000)

13. RTP Fast Facts 1 Grant applicants are no longer required to post a legal notice initiating a 30-day public comment period to apply for an RTP grant Must not have current RTP grant over three years old ( FY 2013 grant round--no grant approved prior to FY 2010 and 2009 grant must be expended) RTP grants may not exceed 80% of the total of an individual project

14. RTP Fast Facts 2 Application deadline is August 1 annually Only one application is allowed per sponsor (organization) per year Funds are available for 2 ½ years after contract agreement is signed (typically October 15, 2015)

15. Reimbursement of RTP funds will only be approved for project expenditures incurred after the date of the signed project agreement between the project sponsor and FWP Timing

16. Environmental Review All projects must satisfy the Montana Environmental Policy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act Refer to RTP Guidelines for Recent Env. Review Changes

17. Environmental Review Update Federal and state agencies are required to coordinate with each other and each may ‘tier to’ or adopt by reference the other’s environmental review. Federal and state agencies also may cooperate in the preparation of a single environmental review that is legally sufficient and valid for both NEPA and MEPA. Refer to “EA Tiering Letter” on RTP website Env. Review Documents are valid for up to 3 years

18. Eligible Projects 1 Operation of trails-related environmental protection and safety education programs Trails information and ethics education Development of urban trail linkages near homes and work places (no sidewalks) Trail projects on routes legally designated or otherwise appropriately approved by the land managing agency Trails that are not currently under litigation in a court of law

19. Eligible Projects 2 Construction and maintenance of trails: Clearing/brushing on federal lands will only be allowed to the standard clearing widths identified in the appropriate federal agency trail guidelines On federal lands, grants will only be approved for trails legally designated by the appropriate federal agency that are included in recognized forest plans, resource area plans, or travel plans Broad scale maintenance will require specific trail identification and specific description of work to be accomplished Weed control related to a trail or trail projects

20. Eligible Projects 3 Restoration of areas damaged by trail use Development of trailside and trailhead facilities Providing features to assist disabled individuals Acquisition of easements and fee simple title of property for trails—RTP Project Sponsors must follow Federal Uniform Relocation Act

21. NO MORE TABS, BINDERS, PRINTING, or POST OFFICE!!!

22. Online Grant Management System (fundingmt.org)

23. Internet Website will still provide reporting forms and program updates

24. Steps for a RTP Application 1) Click on link to: www.fundingmt.org www.fundingmt.org 2) Register Online 3) Click on Reg. link 4) Submit Online Application

25. Fill out Registration Page Enter business names exactly as they appear on the Secretary of State’s website If you represent a F.S. District or Forest, enter “USFS-Gallatin National Forest—Livingston R.D.” Once your registration is approved, your user name and password will be emailed to you NOTE: Registration approval may take 1-2 days

26. Logging In to WebGrants System To Login: Enter User ID and password sent via email from webgrants@fundingmt. org and click “Login” webgrants@fundingmt. org Check junk email folders and spam filters for emails if not received

27. Who Should Register? The organization that will be the RTP Project Sponsor and expend funds and seek reimbursement payments

28. Main Menu Click on “Funding Opportunities”

29. Funding Opportunities Select the current funding opportunity: RTP 2013 Grants

30. Click on “Start a New Application”

31. Helpful Tips Have your Lat/Long Coordinates determined before you begin your application forms. You will have to click on all of the application forms and “Mark as Complete” before you can submit your appl. Click on “Add” to upload attachments. Click on “Edit” to add text or fill out forms.

32. Main Menu Navigation – Menu, Back, Print, +Add, xDelete, Edit, Save, Mark as Complete, Submit

33. Fill out General Information & Click Save

34. General Information Contact?? The Primary Contact listed or entered will be the person and organization that then has complete access to all of the application forms. If you are an engineering firm or a grant writer hired by the RTP Project Sponsor, you need to fill in the sponsor’s information and list them as the Primary Contact!!! Additional contacts will be able to alter application forms but not this form.

35. Merging Registered Users

36. Click on Application Form(s) Listed under Form Name & Follow Instructions

37. General Instructions To Attach Documents, you will go through a two-step process: 1) Click Save after you complete your form and then…2)The “Browse” button will appear for you to upload your attachments Be sure to use the Naming Conventions to ensure that we don’t have two different organizations listed

38. Project Information

39. Project Description Form This form requires the applicant to attach a project area map. This is a two-step process. You will fill out all of the required text boxes, click on “Save” and then you will see the “Upload” option for you to browse and upload your map.

40. General Narratives Section

41. Project Budget Details

42. Funding Strategy Narrative

43. Project Timeline

44. Uploading Support Letters Click on “Add” to open up the Browse tab to upload each support letter from your scanned document file. You have the ability to upload as many support letters as you desire

45. Additional Attachments (no limits) You will have the ability to upload as many attachments as you deem necessary. There is no size limit…it could be a 1.5 MB attachment or a 100MB attachment. Be aware that your uploading time might be slow for large MB attachments.

46. Printing your Application Click on either “Print to PDF” or click on “Print” tab prior to submission. It will display the entire application in a printable format and then you can either click on your printer tab or you can right click and select print.

47. Visit FWP website: Click on “Recreation” and “Grants”

48. RTP Contact Beth R. Shumate 406-444-4585 bshumate@mt.gov