Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Presenter: Trey Cooksey
Action
Texas Statewide Recreational Trails Grants Funding
Recommended Approval of Trail Construction, Renovation, and Acquisition Projects
May 27, 2021
I. Executive Summary: With this item, the staff seeks approval from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) to award federal funds allocated under the National Recreational Trails Fund (NRTF) grants for trail construction, renovation, and acquisition projects. This approval obligates federal National Recreational Trails Fund money to eligible trail projects based upon the recommendations of the Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee.
II. Discussion: The NRTF is funded by a portion of the federal gas tax generated by gasoline purchases to utilize recreational off-highway vehicles (OHV), such as off-road motorcycles and four-wheelers. The purpose of the NRTF is to provide funding for projects that create new and maintain existing motorized and non-motorized recreational trails. These federal funds are administered by the Federal Highway Administration and distributed to states via a formula that considers state population and sales of fuel for off-road recreational vehicles. Nationwide, $85 million was appropriated for the program for federal Fiscal Year 2021; Texas’ share of these funds is $3,954,874. Seven percent of the state’s annual apportionment ($279,638) is utilized to cover costs to administer the program, leaving $3,675,236 to fund projects. Several projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and four projects were cancelled, creating another $700,000 available for re-allocation this year. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been utilizing the re-allocated funding to fund trail improvements in state parks. The result is a total of $4,375,236 of federal funding available to fund eligible trail construction projects.
The program has an annual deadline of February 1st for local sponsors to submit trail funding proposals. Fifty-six projects were submitted for funding consideration requesting $10,654,100 in funds. Projects were evaluated and scored by the Texas Trails Advisory Committee. Recommendations are to fund 18 of the projects, totaling $2,843,300 of federal funding assistance.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (which created this funding) stipulates that states must have a trails advisory committee made up of various trail user-group representatives to be eligible to receive the federal funds. The purpose of the trails advisory committee is to provide guidance in the distribution of these funds. The nine-member Texas Statewide Trails Advisory Committee met via conference call in March 2021 to review the submitted trail project applications and develop a list of recommended projects for funding. Each project was reviewed by the advisory committee and scored based on the quality of the project, its cost effectiveness, its impact on recreational trail opportunities, and the geographic distribution of funds. Exhibit A contains the list of submitted projects, with funds requested, project descriptions, project scoring, and advisory committee funding recommendations.
An NRTF requirement is that 30 percent of the funds be spent on motorized recreational trail projects, 30 percent on non-motorized trail projects, and the remaining 40 percent be designated as discretionary. Because few public park entities in Texas provide opportunities for motorized trail riding, it is typically difficult to generate enough motorized trail proposals to meet the 30 percent motorized trail mandate. As such, the grant funding limit for motorized proposals is $400,000 per project versus $200,000 for non-motorized proposals.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
"Funding for 18 projects recommended in Exhibit A in the amount of $2,843,300 and state park trail improvements in the amount of $700,000 is approved."
Attachment – 1
Commission Agenda Item No. 12
Exhibit A
Ranking of 2021 Recreational Trails Grant Proposals
| Score | Sponsor Name | Project Name | Project County | Federal Funds Requested | Federal Funds Recommended | Project Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Calhoun County | Boggy Bayou Nature Park Walking Trail | Calhoun County | $49,000.00 | $49,000.00 | Trailhead gates, observation platforms, picnic tables, restroom, signs, bollards, and parking lot. |
| 54 | Texas Bicycle Coalition, dba Bike Texas | Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference (TTAT) | Travis County | $40,100.00 | $40,100.00 | Funding would support the educational Texas Trails and Active Transportation Conference, which brings together planners, engineers, trail builders, and policymakers to learn about best practices in creation and maintenance of trails in Texas. |
| 54 | Texas Motorized Trails Coalition | TMTC Escondido Draw Recreation Area 2021 Projects | Crockett County | $274,400.00 | $274,400.00 | Renovation of approximately 20 miles of OHV trail with signage, benches, picnic tables, fencing, and environmental surveys. |
| 54 | Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept | Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Trails Phase 2 | Palo Pinto County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 6 miles of natural surface multi-use trail (for activities such as hiking/equestrian/mountain biking). |
| 53 | Gulf Coast Bird Observatory | Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Trailhead Parking Expansion and Signage Project | Brazoria County | $12,800.00 | $12,800.00 | Expansion of trailhead parking lot using crushed limestone, and installation of interpretive signage and kiosk. |
| 53 | Texas Trails Education and Motorized Management | Texas Trails Education and Motorized Management (TXTEAMM) | Medina County | $107,800.00 | $107,800.00 | Funding for programming that provides statewide ATV/OHV safety education training for youth and adults. |
| 52 | Amarillo | City of Amarillo 9th Street Trails | Potter County | $180,400.00 | $180,400.00 | Construction of parking lot, trailhead, and signage. |
| 52 | Sam Houston Trails Coalition, Inc. | Sam Houston Trails Coalition - Richards-Raven Trail Phase IV | Montgomery County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 16 miles of natural surface equestrian trail with bridges, culverts, water control structures, and signage. |
| 51 | Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority | Renovation and Extension of Coleto Creek Park Nature Trail | Guadalupe County | $101,900.00 | $101,900.00 | Construction of .4 of a mile and renovation of .6 of a mile of accessible multi-use nature trail, including stabilized decomposed granite surfacing, wildlife observation blinds, benches, waste receptacles, pet waste stations, and signage. |
| 51 | Lubbock | Dunbar Lake Bike Trail: Trailhead & Signage Project | Lubbock County | $76,900.00 | $76,900.00 | Construction of a trailhead kiosk, trail markers, water station, and bike racks along existing trail. |
| 51 | Travis County | Reimers Ranch Mountain Bike Flow Trails | Travis County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 1.7 miles of natural surface mountain bike flow trail with picnic tables, signage, and waste receptacles. |
| 50 | Farmersville | City of Farmersville North East Texas Trail - Section 0.00 | Collin County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 1.9 miles of crushed rock multi-use accessible rail corridor trail. |
| 50 | Farmersville Chamber of Commerce | Farmersville Chamber of Commerce North East Texas Trail - Section 100 | Collin County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 2.3 miles of crushed rock multi-use accessible rail corridor trail. |
| 50 | Farmersville Community Dev. Corp. | Farmersville 4B North East Texas Trail - Section 220 | Collin County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 1.9 miles of crushed rock multi-use accessible rail corridor trail. |
| 50 | Hunt County | Hunt County North East Texas Trail - Section 320 | Hunt County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 1.9 miles of crushed rock surface rail trail. |
| 48 | Graham | Firemen's Park Trail Improvements | Young County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately 1.4 miles of all-weather or pervious pavement rubber trail, renovation of approximately 225 linear feet of existing concrete trail, and construction of multi-use trails with signage |
| 47 | Overton | Overton - City Lakes Trail | Rusk County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Construction of approximately .75 miles of asphalt and decomposed granite multi-use trail with benches and waste receptacles. |
| 47 | Texas State University | Lakeside Trail Restoration Project - Spring Lake | Hays County | $200,000.00 | $200,000.00 | Renovation of approximately .2 of a mile of accessible trail with boardwalk and permeable pavers. |
| Score | Sponsor Name | Project Name | Project County | Federal Funds Requested | Federal Funds Recommended | Project Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation | Texas 4-H Center Trail System | Brown County | $180,300.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 2.5 miles of natural surface trail with benches and trailside restroom. |
| 45 | Johnson County Children's Advocacy Center | Our Forever Home Recreational Trail | Johnson County | $30,300.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .3 of a mile of stabilized decomposed granite trail with educational signage. |
| 45 | The Trail Foundation | Festival Beach Trail Improvement Project | Travis County | $97,600.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of approximately .7 of a mile of trail with stabilized decomposed granite surfacing, drainage improvements, and erosion control work. |
| 44 | Allen | Eugene McDermott Park Trail | Collin County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .8 of a mile of concrete hike and bike trail with trailhead. |
| 44 | Cameron County | Olmito Nature Park Trail (Phase I) | Cameron County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .45 of a mile of decomposed granite trail with concrete curbs, trailhead, signage, and benches. |
| 44 | Dallas | Holcomb Park Trail Project | Dallas County | $153,500.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .5 of a mile of concrete trail. |
| 44 | Turnback Canyon Trail Conservancy | Turnback Canyon Trail Conservancy Phase III | Travis County | $41,400.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1.5 of a mile of natural surface trail with signage, dog waste stations, and benches. |
| 44 | Tyler | W. E. Winters Park Trail | Smith County | $198,800.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of approximately .7 miles of concrete multi-use trail with benches, water fountains, signage, bike racks, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant access ramps. |
| 41 | Carthage | Carthage City Trail - Phase II | Panola County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 1 mile of multi-use decomposed granite trail with benches, signage, and drainage. |
| 39 | Edinburg | Ebony Hills Trail | Hidalgo County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 1.5 miles of asphalt multi-use ADA-compliant trail. |
| 39 | Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy | Willow Trail | Harris County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of .3 of a mile of concrete multi-use trail with benches, signage, waste receptacles, bike racks, and trailheads. |
| 38 | Angleton | Lakeside Park Multi-Use Trail | Brazoria County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1 mile of concrete trail with benches, signs, bike racks, and trailheads. |
| 38 | Ecology Action of Texas | Montopolis Arboretum Trail | Travis County | $134,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1 mile and renovation of 3 miles of natural surface trail. |
| 38 | New Braunfels | West Alligator Creek Trail (WACT) | Comal County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .7 of a mile of concrete multi-use trail with benches, signs, and bike racks. |
| 38 | Rowlett | Rowlett Lakeside North Trail | Dallas County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of .8 of a mile of stabilized decomposed granite multi-use trail with waste receptacles, benches, signage, and trailhead. |
| 36 | Hwy 380 Municipal Management District No 1 | Union Park Multi-Use Trails Network Project | Denton County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 4.25 miles of aggregate and natural surface multi-use trails with signage, mountain bike skills features, kiosk, and benches. |
| 35 | Alpine | Kokernot Park Trail Improvements | Brewster County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of approximately .5 of a mile of asphalt trail with exercise stations and educational signage. |
| 34 | Village of Vinton | Multi-use trail near Vinton TX to connect to the Paso del Norte Trail | El Paso County | $96,100.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .5 of a mile of natural surface trail with signage, lighting, crosswalks, bike repair station, benches, and trailhead. |
| 33 | Galveston County | Bayside Regional Park Trail | Galveston County | $199,600.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1.75 miles of concrete trail with benches, bike racks, waste receptacles, and pet waste stations. |
| 30 | Corpus Christi | Holly Trail at Oakview Drive Grant Project | Nueces County | $158,700.00 | $0.00 | Renovation of .5 of a mile of concrete trail with bollards, signage, benches, waste receptacles, and pet waste stations. |
| 28 | Laredo | Wetland Boardwalk at Chacon Lake | Webb County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .1 of a mile of concrete multi-use boardwalk. |
| 28 | Lorena Economic Dev Corp | Lorena Historic Trail | McLennan County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 1 mile of decomposed granite trail and signage. |
| 28 | Mercedes | Hike & Bike Trail to Estero Llano Grande State Park (Phase 1) | Hidalgo County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 2.4 miles of asphalt trail. |
| 25 | Tres Lagos Public Improvement District | Tres Lagos PID Trail System | Hidalgo County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 1 mile of concrete multi-use trail with benches, signage, bicycle racks, waste receptacles, pet waste stations, water fountain, lighting, and trailhead. |
| 24 | Mission | City of Mission Trails Land Acquisition | Hidalgo County | $160,000.00 | $0.00 | Acquisition of 5.3 acres to be used as a recreational trail site. |
| 23 | Big Sandy | Recreational Trails Park | Upshur County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .75 of a mile of concrete trail with parking, lighting, exercise stations, and observation platform. |
| 18 | El Paso | San Felipe OHV and Square Dance Linear Park | El Paso County | $400,000.00 | $0.00 | Site 1: Construction of 1 mile of natural surface OHV trail with ATV training site, fencing, signage, bathrooms, and unloading ramps. Site 2: Construction of approximately 1 mile of non-motorized accessible multi-use asphalt trail with trailhead and parking. |
| 18 | Timber Lane Utility District | Cypress Creek to Spring Creek Greenways Connector | Harris County | $219,700.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .7 of a mile of concrete trail with benches. |
| 17 | El Paso | Playa Drain Trail: Whittier Drive to Elvin Way | El Paso County | $140,300.00 | $0.00 | Installation of bollard lighting along approximately .7 of a mile of recently constructed trail. |
| 17 | Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation | Old Textile Mill Trail - Phase 1b | Burnet County | $195,900.00 | $0.00 | Construction of .2 of a mile of concrete trail with bridge and drainage work. |
| 16 | Del Rio | Crestline Park Recreational Trail | Val Verde County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .25 of a mile of accessible, multi-use asphalt trail. |
| 16 | Harlingen | Lon C. Hill Irrigation Corridor Trail Connection | Cameron County | $250,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1.1 miles of stabilized, decomposed granite multi-use trail. |
| 14 | Celina | Old Celina Park Trail | Collin County | $149,800.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .3 of a mile of concrete trail with drainage, benches, and waste receptacles. |
| 14 | Palacios | Main Street Park Sidewalk | Matagorda County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of .6 of a mile of concrete multi-use trail with lighting, culverts, and ADA ramps. |
| 12 | Buda | Garlic Creek Trail SUP | Hays County | $400,500.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately 1.5 miles of concrete shared-use path. |
| 11 | Harris County MUD 290 | MUD 290 Recreational Trail | Harris County | $200,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .6 of a mile of concrete multi-use trail with a bridge, signage, and pet waste stations. |
| 10 | Harris County Precinct 2 | Armand Bayou Trail Extension to Bliss Meadows Park | Harris County | $400,000.00 | $0.00 | Construction of 1 mile of concrete multi-use trail. |
| 9 | League City | Gilmore Elementary - Claremont Connector Trail | Galveston County | $604,300.00 | $0.00 | Construction of approximately .2 of a mile of concrete accessible trail and a bridge. |
Total Requests = $10,654,100
Total Recommended = $2,843,300
*Projects in bold indicate motorized project requests