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RTP funding in jeapordy!!

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RTP funding in jeapordy!!

Postby navman » Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:07 pm

Many of you may have seen this posted on the MARTAB facebook page, but for those that haven't seen it please read and get the word out. This particular post was made by ECTA but the issue affects us all. Our trailer was bought with the use of RTP funds.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federal program currently managed in Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, is a major source of grant funding for trail projects. ECTA has been the recipient of this grant for boardwalk construction in Willowdale State Forest, trail repair materials for Bradley Palmer State Park, and trail improvements to New England Biolabs, Maplecroft and Sagamore Hill. This grant represents a significant portion of our annual trail repair budget.
The RTP is in jeopardy of being eliminated as part of a bill being proposed to the Senate.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is planning to offer an amendment (S. Amdt 1742) to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations act (S.1243) that would strip all funding from the Recreational Trail Program (RTP).
The Paul amendment would transfer all funding from the Transportation Alternatives Program to pay for bridge repairs. RTP is part of the Transportation Alternatives Program and would lose all its funding in FY 2014 if this amendment passes and the bill becomes law.
Since its inception RTP has provided money for thousands of state and local trail projects across the country. RTP provides funding directly to the states for recreational trails and trail-related facilities for all recreational trail users. It is funded with a portion of the gas taxes paid into the Highway Trust Fund by recreational off-highway vehicle users.
Amendment 1742 takes funding out of the hands of local governments and takes decision making away from States.
Now is the time to contact Senators Elizabeth Warren (202-224-4543) and Edward Markey (202-224-2742) and ask them to vote no on Senate Amendment 1742 to the 2014 Transportation Appropriations bill (S. 1243).
Mark
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Re: RTP funding in jeapordy!!

Postby Voodoo Chile » Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:01 am

any idea if someone will make one of those form generators (or can someone here do that) so we can email the senators? thanks for the heads up! :hello:
Jeff Cambray

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