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Snowmobile leaders in Iowa are upset about a March 8 decision by the
Iowa Transportation Commission to delay action on grant requests for
the motorized portion of the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
Among other motorized recreational projects, the 4-3 vote puts on hold
the ISSA and Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s (IDNR) grant
request for additional snow grooming equipment. They now must re-
apply for the funding by May 13.
“We’re not lying down this,” said ISSA President Terry Durby. “This
has been another wake-up call for snowmobilers in Iowa.”
Particularly frustrating to motorized recreationalists is the fact that the
federal fuel taxes they pay on the fuel used in their off-road machines
help finance the federal grant program in the first place, according to the
RTP website.
“The RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and
represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from non-
highway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by
snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-
highway light trucks,” it reads.
In Iowa, the federal program is administered by the Iowa Department of
Transportation, and according to its guidelines, 30 percent of the money
is earmarked for motorized projects, 30 percent for non-motorized and
40 percent for multi-use trails.
During this latest grant cycle, the commission had in excess of $1.3
million to allocate. Seventy percent of that pool was approved by the
commission for hiking and biking projects, while the remaining 30
percent (the motorized allotment) will be carried over to the next grant
cycle.
Commission Chair Thomas Hart of Davenport and IDOT Trails
Coordinator Steve Bowman did not respond to emailed requests for
explanations on the commission’s decision. In a published newspaper
article, Hart said he supported the delay to allow additional grant requests
from off-road groups.
Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager for the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), said he is aware of the
situation in Iowa but directed additional requests for information to Janice
Thompson, Transportation Specialist with the Iowa Division of the
FHWA.
“Our role is to assure the (IDOT) is administering this program
according to regulation and will monitor the process to assure 30 percent
is allocated to motorized and 30 percent to non-motorized projects,”
Thompson said.
Because of the delay, David Downing, snowmobile program coordinator
for the IDNR, indicated he won’t know until this summer if additional
grooming equipment can be purchased for Iowa.
Iowa Transportation Commission to delay action on grant requests for
the motorized portion of the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
Among other motorized recreational projects, the 4-3 vote puts on hold
the ISSA and Iowa Department of Natural Resource’s (IDNR) grant
request for additional snow grooming equipment. They now must re-
apply for the funding by May 13.
“We’re not lying down this,” said ISSA President Terry Durby. “This
has been another wake-up call for snowmobilers in Iowa.”
Particularly frustrating to motorized recreationalists is the fact that the
federal fuel taxes they pay on the fuel used in their off-road machines
help finance the federal grant program in the first place, according to the
RTP website.
“The RTP funds come from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and
represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from non-
highway recreational fuel use: fuel used for off-highway recreation by
snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-
highway light trucks,” it reads.
In Iowa, the federal program is administered by the Iowa Department of
Transportation, and according to its guidelines, 30 percent of the money
is earmarked for motorized projects, 30 percent for non-motorized and
40 percent for multi-use trails.
During this latest grant cycle, the commission had in excess of $1.3
million to allocate. Seventy percent of that pool was approved by the
commission for hiking and biking projects, while the remaining 30
percent (the motorized allotment) will be carried over to the next grant
cycle.
Commission Chair Thomas Hart of Davenport and IDOT Trails
Coordinator Steve Bowman did not respond to emailed requests for
explanations on the commission’s decision. In a published newspaper
article, Hart said he supported the delay to allow additional grant requests
from off-road groups.
Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager for the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), said he is aware of the
situation in Iowa but directed additional requests for information to Janice
Thompson, Transportation Specialist with the Iowa Division of the
FHWA.
“Our role is to assure the (IDOT) is administering this program
according to regulation and will monitor the process to assure 30 percent
is allocated to motorized and 30 percent to non-motorized projects,”
Thompson said.
Because of the delay, David Downing, snowmobile program coordinator
for the IDNR, indicated he won’t know until this summer if additional
grooming equipment can be purchased for Iowa.