PEAK PUTTERS

NATIONAL - RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM: Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has unveiled the Bush Administration's new plan to "Refocus, Reform and Renew" the nation's approach to the highway and transit systems. In her comments made on July 29, 2008, in Atlanta, she specifically targeted the Recreational Trails Program (RTP): "Our plan also will reform the nation's transportation programs. We consolidate the 102 various transportation programs that have sprouted up over the past two decades. These programs dilute the effects of federal funding by forcing state and local officials to fund projects such as recreational trails, while projects that would make a difference for commuters languish." These comments are particularly disturbing because every year a portion of the gasoline excise taxes collected from off-road vehicles, adding up to millions of dollars, is received by individual states under the RTP program. This money is used to award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for various trail projects. The loss of this program could be devastating to the recreation community and quality of recreational trails. Read Secretary Peters' comments at www.dot.gov/affairs/peters072908.htm