Recreational Trails Program ( RTP ) - How We Can Help Keep Trails Open

Keeping trails open is something we all care about...some of us to a greater extent than others. (not saying it's right or wrong...it just "is what it is".) For those of you like me and my family, we work extra hard being involved, in order to make up for the folks who may think it's a good cause, but for whatever reason, not take action. I'd love to get you involved too, to help us pick up the slack. RTP Remains in Jeopardy! The Recreational Trails Program (RTP), arguably the most important government program ever created to benefit motorized recreation (as well as non-motorized recreation) faces a big hurdle in transportation reauthorization legislation. As you may or may not yet know, the RTP funds the development and maintenance of thousands of miles of motorized and non-motorized trails, but without our help and support, the RTP may be eliminated. Please click the link below to send a pre-written email to your own Senators, encouraging them to act. It literally takes 3 seconds, if you have auto-populate turned on, or 15 seconds if not. https://secure3.convio.net/arra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=341&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=tgdewf64p8.app334a Transportation reauthorization legislation, known as MAP-21, that passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee late last year is being brought up for a vote soon, possibly as early as this week. MAP-21 threatens the very existence of RTP by eliminating the program’s dedicated funding. I would ask you take action with me, to make sure that YOUR Senators understand how important RTP is to you and to urge them to amend the bill to protect the Recreational Trails Program. Please click the link below to send a pre-written email to your own Senators, encouraging them to act. It literally takes 3 seconds, if you have auto-populate turned on, or 15 seconds if not. https://secure3.convio.net/arra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=341&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=tgdewf64p8.app334a This is an old Press Release, but I am going to start following their posts, and keep you guys up to date as well, by reading the info, and disseminating it for you. Keep subscribed to this post, and/or join their website directly at http://www.arra-access.com/site/PageServer?pagename=arra_about . Also, please click the Social Media Facebook/Twitter "Share" button below if you'd like to post this on your wall or page, to get YOUR friends involved.Here's the ARRA Press Release, to bring you up to date about the Recreational Trails Program: Contact: Larry Smith, 202-336-5116 Tuesday, January 24, 2012 National Motorized Recreation Groups to Convene in Washington, D.C. in Support of Recreational Trails Program Americans for Responsible Recreational Access Schedules Key Hill Visits Washington, D.C. - Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) will host key leaders from the motorized recreation community January 31 through February 1 in Washington, D.C. A crucial purpose of the gathering is to show continued support for the Recreational Trails Program. In advance of the meeting, 12 motorized recreation organizations sent a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica last week urging him to “…retain the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) with dedicated funding in transportation reauthorization legislation.” ARRA’s Executive Director, Larry Smith said, “The RTP is vitally important to the entire recreation community and is the most important government program ever enacted for motorized recreationists. As such, we thought it important to make sure Chairman Mica and other key transportation leaders continue to hear from the national OHV groups on this issue. We will have a great group in town and we are all pulling in the same direction.” Smith continued, “Millions of motorized recreation enthusiasts and a billion dollar industry will be represented at our Hill visits at the end of the month.” Representatives from American Council of Snowmobile Associations, American Motorcyclist Association, BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Industry Council, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Off-Road Business Association, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, Specialty Equipment Market Association, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Tread Lightly!, and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations have been invited to attend. “In the grand scheme of things the RTP is a very inexpensive program that all trail users, motorized or non-motorized, benefit from, and that provides real, positive economic impact in many rural communities. Further, the program is based on the user-pay user-benefit philosophy as funding is derived from the taxes motorized recreationists pay at the pump when they fuel up their off-highway vehicles. We hope Congress chooses to continue to provide dedicated funding for RTP. We are certainly going to do all we can to let Members know how important RTP is to the motorized community.” Based in Washington, D.C., Americans for Responsible Recreational Access represents the interests of millions of Americans who enjoy the great outdoors and who believe public lands and waterways should remain open for recreational pursuits. Check out its web site at www.arra-access.com.