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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMONTANA TRAILS FACT SHEETHB 604Establishing funding for trail maintenance and education WHY TRAILS ARE GOOD FOR MONTANA PUBLIC HEALTH •60% of Montanans are overweight or obese (MT Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) •For every $1 spent on buildingwalking and biking paths inMontana, we could save closeto $3 in medical expenses (MT Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) •Establishes funding for trailmaintenance and bicycle/pedestrian education •MDT compiles an inventory ofshared use trails and developsa maintenance plan for shareduse trails •MDT conducts a public forumannually regarding shared-usetrails •Currently there is NO fundingfor trails maintenance oreducation •Trails are reaching a state ofdisrepair •Trail maintenance costsbetween $3,000 and $7,000 permile per year •Trails benefit the economy,environment, and health •Regular maintenance extendsthe life of trails •Construction of new trails maystop if there is not a means tomaintain them ECONOMIC VITALITY •Bicycle tourists contributean estimated $377 Million toMontana’s economy (Institute of Tourism and Recreation Research) •Trails are the most desiredcommunity amenity thathomeowners seek whenbuying a home (National Association of Home Builders, 2008) PUBLIC SAFETY •Dedicated bicycle andpedestrian paths helpchildren get to and fromschool safely and helpreduce childhood trafficfatalities •Reduces conflicts andcrashes with motor vehicles QUALITY OF LIFE •Walking is the most popularrecreation activity in Montana (MT Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) •75% of Montanans use pathsand trails for hiking, walking,jogging, and bicycling (MT Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) KEY FEATURES OF HB 604 WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT 80% maintenance of shared-use trails (allocated to MDT District)20% bicycle/pedestrian safety and education HB 604Establishing funding for trail maintenance and education HOW FUNDING WILL BE GENERATED AND ALLOCATED $2 opt-out fee on all Montana vehicle registrations 90% MDTright-of-way This program would be funded by a $2 opt-out fee on all Montana light-vehicle registrations. It is not a new tax: the “opt-out” fee is entirely voluntary. Of the funds generated, 20% will go toward bicycle and pedestrian education and 80% will be used for trail maintenance. From the trail maintenance fund, 90% will be allocated toward MDT right-of-way trails and 10% will be allocated toward non-MDT right-of-way trails. The maintenance funds will be distributed by the MDT district in which the revenue is generated (see map below). 10% non-MDT right-of-way MDT FINANCIAL DISTRICTS Whitesh Kalispell Missoula Cut Bank Havre Dillon Butte Bozeman Helena Great Falls Lewistown Billings Wolf Point Sidney Glendive Miles City 4 5 3 2 1