Trail Funding Set to Triple: Recreational Trails Program Gets Full Share of User-Paid Fuel Taxes

The RTP Full Funding Act of 2025 is a straightforward piece of legislation that aims to fix a long-standing math problem in federal spending. Right now, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) gets about $84 million annually to build and maintain trails across the country. The catch? The people who use those trails—think snowmobilers, ATV riders, dirt bikers, and others using non-highway recreational vehicles—pay fuel taxes that generate closer to $281 million every year. This bill says: If users are paying $281 million, the program they fund should get $281 million, closing that $197 million funding gap.

The 'User-Pay, User-Benefit' Principle Gets a Boost

This isn't about creating a new tax; it’s about making sure the money already collected goes where it was intended. The RTP is designed as a "user-pay-user-benefit" system, which means the people using the trails fund the trails. But for years, the bulk of those fuel tax dollars have been collected and then essentially absorbed into the larger Highway Trust Fund, only to trickle back at a fraction of the total. This bill (SEC. 2) essentially forces the full return of those specific user taxes back to the RTP, finally delivering on that promise.

For the average person, this means a massive upgrade to the trails they use every weekend. If you’re a mountain biker in Colorado, a hiker in Appalachia, or a family using a local multi-use path, more money means better maintenance, fewer closures, and more miles of accessible trails. For the small businesses that rely on outdoor tourism—the local gear shops, the coffee stands near trailheads, the guides—this is a significant investment in their infrastructure.

The Mechanics of the Money Move

The bill doesn't just demand the money; it sets up a mechanism to ensure it happens. It requires the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to calculate exactly how much money is collected from those non-highway fuel taxes and report that figure to Congress. This report has to happen at least a year before the current federal highway funding runs out. The goal is to set the new, higher funding level for the RTP based on that accurate, reported number. Crucially, the bill specifies that this funding increase must happen without disrupting the existing funding structure for other federal highway programs (SEC. 2).

While this sounds like a win-win, there's a small but important detail to watch: money is finite. Even though the bill is specific about not messing with other highway programs, redirecting $197 million that was previously available to the general Highway Trust Fund is still a redirection. That money might not have been earmarked for a specific highway project, but it was part of the general pool. The practical challenge here is ensuring the FHWA’s calculation of “non-highway fuel taxes collected” is transparent and accurate, avoiding any ambiguity that could delay or reduce the intended funding increase. Ultimately, though, this bill is good news for anyone who owns a pair of hiking boots, a bike, or an ATV, ensuring their tax dollars actually fund the recreation they love.