IMBA Asking Congress to Fund RTCA at $12 Million

For Immediate Release
03-07-07
Contact: Mark Eller, Communications Director
markeller@imba.com
303-545-9011

The National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program brings communities together to build trail and greenway projects, restore rivers and wildlife habitat, preserve open space, and revitalize our public lands. As a highly efficient, field-based program, RTCA manages 300 field projects annually with a small staff of 66 people in 20 offices. The RTCA helps its program partners protect nearly 700 miles of rivers, create more than 1,300 miles of trails and serve more than 61,000 acres of open space in an average year.

Despite RTCA's proven success rate and overwhelming demand for their services, its budget has remained relatively stagnant for a decade, and virtually flat for the last five years. This month, mountain bikers and other cyclists will travel to Washington, D.C. for the National Bike Summit, and ask Congress to fund RTCA at $12 million in 2008.

Ask Congress to Fund RTCA at $12 Million

Last year, RTCA was funded at approximately $8.2 million. The administration has suggested a modest increase of $650,000 for fiscal year 2008. Increasing their budget by $3.8 million to $12 million will help reverse a decade of funding shortfalls, compensate for losses due to inflation and enable the program to respond to growing needs and opportunities in communities throughout the country.

IMBA and RTCA: Building Successful Trails Partnerships

IMBA and RTCA have partnered on a number of exciting trail projects around the country, including six in 2006. RTCA staff are experts in community-building and project coordination, fostering partnerships among federal, state, and local public and private interests. Many IMBA clubs work closely with their local RTCA office. More importantly, the RTCA staff consistently reaches out to IMBA clubs when they see that the interests of the mountain bike community are not being represented. Last year, RTCA assisted 195 biking projects, 57 rail-to-trail projects and helped connect 31 schools with trails.

RTCA Leverages Local Funding

RTCA leverages substantial local funding for every project they undertake. Rather than merely handing out grant money, they inspire communities through partnerships and capacity-building to raise their own funds. For every dollar invested in federal funds, local projects leverage more than four dollars in return. Read about an impressive new trail system in South Carolina that has benefited from RTCA assistance.

Download a brochure with the 2007 RTCA projects