RTP committees award roughly $2 million in grants; vote complicated by sworn‑in quorum rules

The state’s recreational trails committees approved awards for the 2025 grant cycle after a joint motorized/nonmotorized convening May 23, with the nonmotorized panel recommending roughly $2,046,135 to 22 projects and the combined program reporting about $2,000,000 in total awards across categories.

Program staff told the council the full portfolio leverages the grant dollars: $2,000,000 in award funds are expected to support nearly $5.8 million in total project value statewide. Committee members highlighted heavy demand on the nonmotorized side (about $5 million in requests this year) and far fewer motorized applications (about $682,000 requested).

Discussion focused on how to make limited RTP funding more efficient: members urged closer coordination when organizations apply to both motorized and nonmotorized tracks so duplicate administrative costs can be shared; Southern Utah University’s near‑identical motorized and nonmotorized applications were cited as an example. Staff said committees may explore changes that encourage combined budgeting or shared overhead to put more dollars on the ground.

The meeting’s formal roll call on the recommendation was disrupted when several OHV advisory council members reported they had not completed a new oath-of-office requirement and therefore could not vote. Legal counsel advised that only sworn members may vote on motions affecting the OHV advisory council; staff paused the roll call while officials confirmed which members were authorized. Council staff later reported that both committees had already made the same recommendations in earlier internal meetings, and that the combined meeting’s action would proceed administratively.

Committee chairs described the motorized awards: four of five motorized applications were funded, including a Grand County BLM trail maintenance project and program support for the Utah Avalanche Center and Southern Utah University trail crews. Nonmotorized awards included multiuse trail maintenance, two paved pathway projects, climbing access and maintenance contracts, winter grooming initiatives, a Weber River dam‑removal/stream restoration project, and outreach/ambassador programs.

Members also raised timing and process questions for future cycles: public commenters and council members urged earlier spring award dates so grantees can begin seasonal work sooner; volunteers asked that accrued volunteer hours be allowed to count toward later contracts for the same project. Staff noted federal approvals (for RTP subgrants routed through UDOT and FHWA requirements) constrain some timing, but said they would discuss schedule changes and report back.

What changed: the council voted on several administrative items during the meeting (see “Votes at a glance”), and staff and committee chairs said they would return with proposals to increase coordination between motorized and nonmotorized applicants, consider a weighted scoring approach to prioritize scarce funds, and review the grant calendar to reduce the lag between award and field work.

Why it matters: RTP grants are a major non‑infrastructure funding source for trails, education, safety and equipment in Utah; the program’s distribution decisions affect trail maintenance, public‑land access, and how limited state and federal dollars are leveraged across the state. Limited funding on the motorized side and long federal approvals were identified as recurring problems that constrain outcomes.

Next steps: Staff said they would compile suggested calendar changes, explore whether administrative costs across dual applications can be shared, and clarify voting‑eligibility procedures so future roll calls are not delayed by oath‑of‑office issues.