RTP Full Funding Act of 2025
The RTP Full Funding Act of 2025 aims to change how the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is funded. It makes findings that RTP—financed from a federal tax on fuel used for nonhighway recreation and administered under the federal highway program—should be funded at a level that matches the tax contributions from nonhighway recreation (roughly $84 million per year, not the larger average annual nonhighway fuel tax amount that goes into the Highway Trust Fund). The bill would carry out RTP funding through the Transportation Alternatives program (TA) set aside in the federal highway program, rather than increasing overall highway funding or altering other highway programs. It also requires an accurate estimate of total nonhighway fuel taxes to be provided to Congress well in advance of any expiration dates for highway/transit funding. In short, the measure seeks to guarantee full, dedicated RTP funding by routing it through the TA program and tying it to nonhighway recreation tax collections, with reporting and funding-tracking requirements.
Key Points
- 1Funding philosophy and level for RTP
- 2- RTP should be funded at a level commensurate with tax contributions from nonhighway vehicle recreation, using the user-pay-user-benefit model, and at an annual amount around $84 million, rather than the larger Highway Trust Fund inflow from nonhighway recreation vehicles.
- 3Source and routing of funds
- 4- RTP funding should be carried out through funding made available under Section 133(h) of Title 23 (the Transportation Alternatives program) and should not reduce or affect other Federal highway programs.
- 5Tax revenue measurement and reporting
- 6- An accurate estimate of the total nonhighway fuel taxes collected is required, and FHWA must provide this estimate to Congress at least one year before funding for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs is anticipated to expire.
- 7Purpose and scope
- 8- The bill expresses findings about the value of RTP in funding trail infrastructure and its broad user base, including hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, and various off-road vehicle users, and emphasizes aligning RTP funding with tax contributions from nonhighway recreation.
- 9Status and sponsorship
- 10- Introduced in the Senate as S. 811 in the 119th Congress; sponsor includes Sen. Klobuchar and several cosponsors; referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.