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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 105�
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500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 -40_ �
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Scott Richards May 16, 1996
City Planner
5775 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 555
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Dear Mr. Richards,
I am writing in response to your preapplication for funding through the National Recreation Trail Fund
that you submitted to the DNR. For your information, we received one hundred and thirteen
applications totaling requests for approximately three million dollars! This far exceeds the $250,000
available for funding projects in 1997.
As provided by Congress, these funds are available for all motorized and non motorized trail uses. The
$250,000 will be distributed as follows:
• Thirty percent will be for non - motorized trail uses,
• Forty percent for shared motorized and non - motorized trails (can include motorized for one
season and non - motorized for another season), and
• Thirty percent will be for motorized trail uses.
Attached you will find the application form that, once completed by you, will be used to
evaluate your project. The deadline for submittal is August 2, 1996 (note date change).
As required by Congress, the Minnesota Recreation Trail Users Association (MRTUA) is serving as our
advisor in distributing approximately $250,000 for trail projects through this fund. MRTUA consists of
representatives of hike, bike, cross - country ski, snowmobile, off - road motorcycle, all terrain vehicle,
and off road 4x4 truck, and horse trail interest organizations. In consideration of the large package of
pre - applications that we had received, we asked that they develop a set of recommendations to guide
applicants on their relative chance for selection and to assist us in evaluating projects.
• All preapplicants who submitted projects for all terrain vehicles, off highway motorcycles, and
off road 4x4 trucks are encouraged to submit applications for their projects. There were very
few applications in these categories.
• For snowmobile projects, first priority will be given to trail enhancements and maintenance of
existing facilities (overcoming safety problems is a plus). Second priority will be given to trail
linkages to existing systems.
• For all non - motorized uses (horse, bike, ski, and hike), first priority will be given to trail
maintenance, repair and enhancement of existing trails. Second priority will be given to trail
linkages of less than a mile long. MRTUA does not recommend any funding for new non -
motorized trails.
I hope that this information will assist you as you decide to proceed with your request for funding
through the National Recreation Trail Fund. If I can be of any further assistance do not hesitate to call
me at (612) 296 -6048.
Sincerely,
Dan Collins
Supervisor, Recreation Services
DNR Information: 612 - 296 -6157, 1- 800 - 766 -6000 • TTY: 612 -296 -5484, 1- 800 - 657 -3929
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NATIONAL RECREATIONAL TRAIL FUNDING ACT
APPLICATION
May 16, 1996
Introduction
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 created a national program
to provide financial assistance for the development and maintenance of recreational trails
and trail - related projects. The Act provides funding from the Federal Highway Trust Fund
in acknowledgment of off-road recreational fuel use and taxes collected at gas stations.
$250,000 is available to Minnesota for trail reimbursement projects in 1996.
Project proposals must result in at least $5,000 of reimbursement and no more than
$50 nn0 o f r &r n b ursernent. -
Acceptance of this grant will require the recipient to enter into a contract with the State of
Minnesota. Procedures for procurement will be guided by State requirements as well as
those by the Federal Highway Administration.
The Minnesota Departmenfof Natural Resources (DNR) has been designated by the
Governor to oversee distribution of these funds. The DNR will be advised in the
distribution of these funds by the state's trail advisory council, the Minnesota Recreational
Trail Users Association (MRTUA).
Process to be Followed
Thirty percent of the grant funds will be made available for motorized trail related projects,
thirty percent will be made available for non - motorized projects, and forty percent will be
reserved for 'projects with application for motorized and non - motorized trail uses. To be
considered in the joint category, it is not necessary to mix motorized and non - motorized
interests during the same season; it also includes trails projects that over the course of a
year have application for motorized and non - motorized interests.
Successful applicants will be informed of their grants in November, 1996.
Projects must be completed by December 31, 1999. Upon completion, a certification will
be required to assure compliance to the provisions of the reimbursement grant.
Permissible Uses
Motorized and non - motorized trail projects located totally within Minnesota are eligible for
funding.
• Construction of permanent trails on federal (with limitations), state, county,
municipal or private lands.
• Development of urban trail linkages near homes and workplaces.
• Maintenance of existing recreational trails, including snow grooming and
maintenance.
• Restoration of areas damaged by recreational trail use.
National Recreation Trail Fundigt Act
APPLICATION
All applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., August 2, 1996.
Please deliver 8 copies of the application to:
Department of Natural Resources
Recreation Services Section
Trails and Waterways Unit
500 Lafayette Road
St.Paul, Minnesota 55155 -4052
General Information: Date:
Applicant:
Trail Organization Project Partner (if there is one)
Project:
Mailing Address:
City: State: Zip Code:
Contact Person:
Title: Daytime Phone: ( )
. Project Information: _
Total Project Amount Local Match Source of Matching Funds
Cost Requested
Are other non -local funds If yes, give Source of Non -local Funds
proposed for this project? amount
Yes No
Checklist: Est. date of completion
Project Description
Project Location Map(s)
(Reproducible) Proposals must specifically and
Response to each Requirement directly address each requirement and
Response to Each Evaluation evaluation criterion to qualify and
Criterion receive points.
Check all project u uses that apply: Pages in each proposal should be
Walking/Hiking oect ► numbered with this page as number 1.
Bicycling Proposals are limited to eight pages
Horseback riding excluding maps, drawings, and/or
Cross country skiing photos.
Snowmobiling ► All pages must be 8 h by 11 inches
ATV riding and not be dependant on color or be
Off highway motorcycling otherwise unreproducible because
4x4 trucking _ your proposal is likely to be
Other (specify) photocopied.
page - 1
• •
• Development of permanent trail -side and trail -head facilities (e.g., drainage,
crossings, stabilization, parking signage, controls, shelters, and water, sanitary &
access facilities).
• Provision of features that facilitate access and use of trails by persons with
disabilities.
• Land acquisition from willing sellers when consistent with the State Trail Plan.
• Environmental awareness and safety education programs relating to the use of
recreational trails
Non - permissible Uses
• Condemnation of any kind of interest in property.
• Construction of trails within federally designated wilderness areas (with some
exceptions).
• Upgrading, expanding, or otherwise facilitating motorized use or access to trails
predominantly used by non - motorized trail users on which motorized use is either
prohibited or has not occurred.
1996 Priorities
As required by Congress, the Minnesota Recreational Trail Users Association (MRTUA) is
serving as our advisor in distributing approximately $250,000 for trail projects through the
National Recreational Trail Fund and has developed the following priorities.
• Any permissible all terrain vehicle, off highway motorcycle, and off road 4x4 truck
projects.
• For snowmobile projects, first priority will be given to trail enhancements and
maintenance of existing facilities (overcoming safety problems is a plus). Second
priority will be given to trail linkages to existing systems.
• For all non - motorized uses (horse, bike, ski, and hike), first priority will be given to
trail maintenance, repair and enhancement of existing trails. Second priority will be
given to trail linkages of less than a mile long.
Requirements
Each application must address each of the following requirements number by number
(e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.):
1. A project description sufficient to understand the project. Indicate prominently
whether this is PRIMARILY a maintenance request, an enhancement to an existing
trail, new development, acquisition, etc.
2. Clearly defined goals for the project (with a delineation of which user groups
would benefit from the project).
3. Costs associated with the project (with estimates, to the extent possible, of
individual components)
4. Evidence of local/area support (e.g.,council resolutions, minutes of public
meetings, letters of support, etc.)
5. Availability /access to 50% "hard match" for eligible elements of the project
proposal. Matching funds must not be from other federal sources or from the
DNR's Grant -In -Aid Trail Assistance Program.
•
•
6. Identification of the sponsoring unit of government. This unit of government will
be legally responsible for the project.
7. Acknowledgment that neither this funding source nor the "hard match" can
be used for in -house labor services and/or to meet existing payroll (only
contract services, materials and supplies are reimbursable).
8. Evidence of applicant capability (e.g., ability to carry out project, and for
development projects, to operate, maintain, and protect trail and facilities when
completed). For development projects, please submit a 5 year operations and
maintenance cost estimate, and the projected source of these funds.
Evaluation. Criteria
All applications must address the following criteria letter by letter (e.g., A, B, C, etc.).
Failure to provide this information may result in the disqualification of the application :
A. Public need for and benefit of project: safety concerns, urgency of action,
potential to lose the opportunity, number of people who would benefit from the
project when compared to cost. Why should this project be funded? How many
people could be expected to use the trail over the course of a year as a result of
funding the project?
B. Context of the project in a wider plan: demonstrated compatibility with
local /area/state trail plans and the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation
Plan (DNR), and compatibility with plans guiding management of effected public
lands etc.. For proposed facilities, what relationship does the proposed
development/acquisition have to other outdoor recreation facilities and trails.
C. Site and project quality: consideration of the needs of the intended trail user
group(s); aesthetic quality of the trail location; appropriateness of the trail for the
intended or existing uses; clarity, detail, and quality of project plan /design; quality of
existing development (if any) on site or in corridor; attention to safety, accessibility
and health considerations.
D. Attention to the potential environmental impact of the project and efforts to
mitigate adverse effects: Possible areas of consideration include but are not
limited to: noise, odors, dust, surface erosion, fish and wildlife populations, damage
to wetlands, or other ecologically sensitive natural resources or
historical/archeological remains.
E. Impact on adjoining landowners in the vicinity of the project: Identify adverse
impacts that might be realized as a result of completing the project, and how the
projects design attempts to mitigate adverse impacts. How might the project
improve conditions for adjacent landowners.
Deadline
All applications must be received no later than August 2, 1996.
Please deliver eight copies of the application to:
Department of Natural Resources
Recreation Services Section
Trails and Waterways Unit
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 -4052