Call Your Senators, Save Federal Trail Funding

Update on 7/30/15: The U.S. Senate just passed its multi-year transportation bill. The threat of bad amendments to remove the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) and the Recreation Trails Program (RTP) never surfaced. We've heard that Senators received yours calls -- thank you for taking action for trails!

Our volunteer trail maintenance program, including this Backcountry Response Team work on Thompson Lake last year, depends on the Recreational Trails Program funding.

Right now, the U.S. Senate is considering a piece of transportation legislation that has the potential to impact trails here in Washington in a big way. We need you to take three minutes and contact Senators Cantwell and Murray and tell them how much this funding means to Washington's hikers.

The program at stake is the Recreational Trails Program. It provides funding that can be awarded to federal or state agencies as well as nonprofit organizations, like WTA, that provide volunteer trail maintenance on federal lands. The RTP funding is critical to our trail maintenance program’s success.

Take action for trails now:

Please call your senators, and:

1. Ask them to reject any amendment (including Senate Amendment 2280) that would remove the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding. (The Recreational Trails Program funding is a part of the TAP program.)
2. Remind them that the Recreational Trails Program is important to you and how you use trails here in Washington.

Never called your Senators before?

It's easy, and calling or meeting with your representatives is one of the most effective ways to be heard.

First, look up who your Senators are and get their contact information. (All you need is your zipcode.)

Make the call. You will sometimes be able to speak directly to your senator or representative, but more often you will speak to a staff person in the member's office, who will track how many people called about an issue.

Introduce yourself, tell them why you are calling and what issue you are calling about. For example:

Hi, my name is _____. I live in ____, and I am an avid hiker. I use the hiking trails around my house and the state all summer and fall. I'm calling to ensure that the Recreational Trails Program funding remains in the Transportation Alternatives Program. Please reject any amendment, including Senate Amendment 2280 that removes RTP from TAP. Thank you.

That's it! Thank you so much for taking the time to protect trails.