Many citizens have expressed concern about pork projects in the economic stimulus bill which will do little, if anything, to jump start the economy. One example, frequently pointed out from a draft Senate Appropriations Report, was for $25 million funding for ATV trail maintenance:
$25,000,000 is for recreation maintenance, especially for rehabilitation of off-road vehicle routes, and $20,000,000 is for trail maintenance and restoration
Being a low-techie, I am against spending the money for ATV trail maintenance. As someone who volunteers to maintain a hiking trail in my area, I see no reason why ATV and ORV groups cannot volunteer to maintain their own trails. Even if they want to request federal money, I cannot understand the logic of why it belongs in the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Some people claim that new/improved ATV trails will help protect other natural areas by providing more legal places for people to ride ATVs. However, there are other ways of keeping ATVs off of sensitive hiking-only areas. In addition to enforcement of No Off Road Vehicle policies, illegal ATV use can be discouraged:
- When maintaining hiking trails, leave some boulders and fallen trees on the ground (that people can step over) to serve are significant obstacles for ATVs.
- When sawing through a large tree, cut a gap that people can hike through but is too narrow for ATVs to fit through.
Language referencing off-road trails has apparently been removed from the final bill signed by President Obama. However, I suppose some of the money could still be used for hi-tech off road vehicle trails:
H. R. 1—53
CONSTRUCTION
For an additional amount for ‘‘Construction’’, for activities on
all Bureau of Land Management lands including construction,
reconstruction, decommissioning and repair of roads, bridges, trails,
property, and facilities and for energy efficient retrofits of existing
facilities, $180,000,000.NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
For an additional amount for ‘‘Operation of the National Park
System’’, for deferred maintenance of facilities and trails and for
other critical repair and rehabilitation projects, $146,000,000.
What do you think of the 2009 Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act?