U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and James Risch (R-ID) have introduced an amendment (2616) to increase funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) to the transportation reauthorization bill being considered by the Senate. The amendment is bolstered by a report issued by the Federal Highway Administration last week that concludes that OHV enthusiasts currently pay about $281 million annually in fuel taxes when they fill up ATVs, dirt bikes, ROVs (side-by-sides), 4X4 trucks used off-highway, and snowmobiles. RTP – based on the user pay/user benefit philosophy is currently funded at about $84 million annually. Amendment 2616 would reduce this inequity by raising RTP funding to about $130 million per year for the next five years.
2021-08-07