Joint Legislative Council prefatory note: This bill was prepared for the Joint
Legislative Council's Special Committee on Enhancing Recreational Trails for
Non-Motorized Use. The bill:

Funding. Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to expend funds
in a nonmotorized trail maintenance and use program. The funding mechanism consists
of segregated funds from the conservation fund and is a continuing appropriation,
allowing DNR to retain and expend in future fiscal years any funds that are not expended
in the current fiscal year. The amount placed in the appropriation for each fiscal year is
either $10 million or 1% of the amount of the motor fuel tax collected in the prior fiscal
year, whichever is less.

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Nonmotorized Trails Maintenance and Use Program. Creates the nonmotorized
trails maintenance and use program in DNR. Funding for the program is described
above. The DNR is directed to implement the program by promulgating rules necessary
for the program and for distributing the funds for trail maintenance and use. The funds
are distributed: (1) directly to state agencies; and (2) to local units of government and to
nonprofit organizations for nonmotorized trails.

Trails are an important part of Wisconsin's effort to increase transportation options
to state residents and have a major impact on the state's multi-billion dollar tourism
industry, attracting many visitors from outside of the state. Improved trails may
decrease overall traffic congestion by giving commuters another option when traveling.
Increased commuter trail use may also reduce overall travel time and fuel consumption.

One of the issues that is common to all trails is the ongoing need for maintenance.
Without maintenance, or with insufficient maintenance, trails may become unusable. At
a minimum, when trails are eroded, rutted, overgrown, or otherwise deteriorate, trail use
is likely to decrease significantly.

The Warren Knowles - Gaylord Nelson stewardship program provides a
significant source of funds for acquisition of land for trail corridors, and funding for initial
development of trails, but without funding for maintenance, a purpose for which the
funds are not currently available. With respect to maintenance, the special committee
identified a disparity between trails used for motorized and nonmotorized activities.
Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles each have a source of funding for trail maintenance
in the registration fees paid for the vehicles, and from motor vehicle fuel tax transfers.
There is no comparable source of revenue for maintenance of nonmotorized trails.
Although the state has a trail pass, it is required for the use of only a limited number of
trails, and does not produce enough revenue for more than a very basic trail maintenance
program.

With the current economic conditions, nonmotorized trails are becoming
increasingly significant as a method of transportation that can be used for getting to
work, school, recreation, and shopping. These trails provide many benefits, such as
reducing the use of nonrenewable resources; giving the trail user an opportunity to
reduce personal transportation costs compared to driving a motor vehicle; reducing
traffic congestion, noise and air pollution; and delaying the need for future road and
bridge projects. These economic benefits are likely to increase over time. Nonmotorized
trails also provide social benefits as people travel the trails together and gather at
destinations. With regard to tourism, one of the state's major industries and attractions,
resident and nonresident users of these trails increase revenue for the state and local
economies. Finally, the use of trails for nonmotorized activities may provide health
benefits, and potential reduced health care costs, by increasing the availability of various
methods to exercise, and encouraging lifelong exercise that is a benefit to individuals as
well as the entire state.

The special committee identified an urgent need for a consistent, dependable, and
sufficient funding source for trail maintenance that relates to the transportation benefits
of the nonmotorized trails. The committee identified the motor vehicle fuel tax revenues
which are deposited in the transportation fund as an appropriate source of nonmotorized
trail funding. Some of the use of nonmotorized trails may be a substitute for the use of
gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. By using motor vehicle tax revenues for trail
maintenance, the trails can be improved and the advantages of the trails as a substitute
for motor vehicle transport can be enhanced. In general, this funding mechanism will
ensure the continued viability of nonmotorized trails in this state.

According to information provided to the special committee, the current costs of
nonmotorized recreation and transportation-trail maintenance equals or exceeds the
funding amount provided for in the bill and these costs will only climb with increased trail
usage and with ongoing and future increased construction of trails.

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In addition to the need for trail maintenance, it is important that trails for
nonmotorized uses be publicized, so that potential users can find the trails and trail
access points, learn the facilities that are accessible from the trail, and plan activities on
the nonmotorized trail. Thus, the bill includes a provision for education and public
information about nonmotorized trails.

Additional information is contained in the Notes to individual Sections of the bill.