On the trail of funding alternatives.

Is funding an outstanding park or recreation project a piece of the puzzle or the puzzle itself?. For many public agencies, the biggest hurdle to building a new facility or enhancing existing resources is money.

Uncertain and diminished federal support for state and local park and recreation resources in recent years has intensified the need for park and recreation professionals to find new and unconventional funding sources. One such source available for development of pedestrian, bicycle, and rail-trail facilities as well as land conservation and historic preservation efforts is the transportation enhancement.

As part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, transportation enhancements provide states and local communities opportunities to build small-scale environmentally oriented transportation projects. Over the past six years, the enhancements program has funneled nearly $2.5 billion in federal assistance to state and local projects for rail-trail conversions, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, historic preservation, scenic improvements, and related activities.

While the enhancement set-aside is minute compared to other highway programs, ISTEA was the first federal transportation law that recognized walking and bicycling as transportation. The provision helps local communities and state agencies use federal funds to integrate the transportation system with the natural and built environment.

Where communities want trails, sidewalks, and bike paths, transportation enhancements provide the chance to build connections. One excellent example is the Katy Trail in Missouri, which ceased active operation as a railroad in 1986 and is now recognized by state park planners and local citizens for its potential as a long-distance recreation and transportation facility. Another is Florida's Pinellas Trail, which links parks, natural areas, schools, and employment centers from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. Still another outstanding enhancements project is the Mickelson Trail, which traverses South Dakota's Black Hills, skirting landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

With a new six-year transportation bill recently signed into law, funding levels for enhancements will significantly increase. How might this funding affect your program? To whom can you turn to decipher the new transportation bill? How do you find out if your project would qualify for enhancement funds?

The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC) is the best place to start for local and private sector partners being introduced to the federal aid highway program through transportation enhancement activities.

Since its founding by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Federal Highway Administration in 1996, NTEC has become a vital resource for hundreds of park planners, designers, and administrators.

As an information and technical assistance center, NTEC provides free services to ensure greater understanding and support of transportation enhancements programs among professionals, policymakers, and citizens.

NTEC provides current and accurate coverage of the transportation enhancements program. Its incisive spending analysis, policy guidance, and legislative updates are invaluable (and free) tools that inform the diverse communities that hold a stake in enhancing our nation's transportation system.

NTEC highlights include semiannual publication of "Summary of Nationwide Spending," a statistical analysis of enhancement program financial performance; technical briefs on the interpretation and implementation of federal statutes and guidelines such as "Impacts of New Federal Streamlining Measures"; in-depth policy and research activities; and publication of Connections, a quarterly newsletter.

In addition, NTEC offers technical assistance and referrals regarding transportation enhancement program functions, information on eligibility of park and recreation projects, and various techniques to make projects quicker and easier to complete.

Finally, the NTEC distributes reports and audio-visual materials published by the FHWA, publications from state departments of transportation, and proceedings of national conferences on enhancements.

Katherine Shriver manages the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.