Bill Targets $200M+ Boost for Recreational Trails from Existing Fuel Taxes

The RTP Full Funding Act of 2025 tackles a long-standing funding issue for the nation's recreational trails. At its core, this bill aims to ensure that the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) receives the full amount of federal fuel taxes collected specifically from nonhighway recreational vehicles, like ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles. Currently, the program gets about $84 million annually, despite estimates showing these users contribute around $281 million each year to the Highway Trust Fund through these taxes. The bill seeks to close this gap.

Mind the Gap: Your Trail Fuel Taxes vs. Trail Funding

The bill highlights a key principle: the RTP is supposed to operate on a "user-pay-user-benefit" model. This means the taxes paid by people using off-road vehicles for recreation should directly fund the trails they use. However, the findings laid out in the bill state that only a fraction of the estimated $281 million collected actually makes it back to the RTP. This legislation argues that the program, which supports building and maintaining trails for diverse users across the country, isn't getting its fair share based on the contributions from its user base.

More Funds, More Trails? The Potential Impact

According to the bill's findings, fully funding the RTP could significantly boost trail infrastructure. The text points to the program's contributions not just to recreation, but also to transportation alternatives, local economic development (think tourism and gear shops), public health by encouraging outdoor activity, and access to public lands. The goal is to fund the program at a level that matches the tax revenue generated by nonhighway recreation, potentially unlocking over $200 million in additional annual funds for state-managed trail projects, without taking away from other federal highway programs.

Getting the Math Right: How the Bill Aims for Full Funding

To fix the funding shortfall, the bill proposes a straightforward accountability measure. It directs the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide Congress with an accurate estimate of the total nonhighway recreational fuel taxes collected. This report would be required at least a year before the broader federal highway and transit funding authorizations expire, giving lawmakers the precise data needed to allocate the full amount generated by users back into the Recreational Trails Program under section 133(h) of title 23, United States Code.