State of New Hampshire

Department of Resources & Economic Development

172 Pembroke Road/PO Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302

Contact: Chris Gamache, Chief, Bureau of Trails, 271-3254

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation’s Bureau of Trails announces that it is forced to cancel the 2012 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant round due to the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA) making "technical corrections" to its funding formula. The FHWA notified the Bureau last week that it had made recalculations to the federal funding formula for the years 2009-2012 and as a result $678 thousand dollars was taken back from the New Hampshire trail program. All of the 2012 funds, $677 thousand dollars, have been rescinded.

"This is a major disappointment to New Hampshire’s trail community and trail projects that were planned for 2012," stated Bureau of Trails Chief Chris Gamache. RTP funding is the only source available to non-motorized trails in New Hampshire and a major component of the motorized trail system also. There were 55 organizations that were awarded grants in 2011 and the 2012 grant round was underway with a grant deadline in mid-January. "We are completely stunned at the sudden email from FHWA and this loss of funding," said Gamache.

The FHWA administration made the announcement to the Bureau of Trails via email last week. "We are working with New Hampshire’s Congressional Delegation to determine how this formula change was made and the timing of the rescission of our trails funds," commented Gamache.

The Recreational Trails Program is a federal grant program which is funded by gas tax of off-highway vehicle use nationally. The funds taken back from NH do not impact projects approved and funding in 2011, but all projects planned for 2012.