User Fee Demonstration Program
Tested on Byways
Who/What/Where:
Under federal legislation known as the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, several federal agencies undertook a recreation fee demonstration program on the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway and the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway in Utah.
How:
To accommodate the people who feel they have already paid for access to and use of the highway with their taxes, a provision was set that allows people, e.g., commuters, to drive the byway without a permit if they do not use the facilities, including restrooms.
For people who frequent National Parks and National Forests, a series of access passes, e.g., National Parks Pass, Golden Eagle Passport, Golden Age Passport, Golden Access Passport, offer extended access over time or to multiple sites.
The recreation fee demonstration program allows at least 80 percent of funds raised to be retained for local site enhancement. A limit of 15 percent (with some exceptions) of total fees may be used for administration, overhead, and indirect costs of the fee program. In 2000, the Forest Service issued a strategic plan identifying goals and objectives relevant to its fee demonstration program and the resulting revenues as a management tool. Attracting and expanding Forest Service partnerships with non-Forest Service parties is identified on the agency’s agenda.Funding Potential:
The $2 access fees collected for one state byway route (Utah State Route 150) that travels primarily through federal forestland and National Parkland produced $400,000 in one year. The fees collected for a second state byway (Utah State Route 92) that travels on a mix of federal forestland and private lands produced $600,000 in that same year. The fees have supported capital improvements on the byways.
Why Fee Programs for Byways:
• Create a revenue source directly linked to byway user/ byway resource user interest/activity
• Create a tracking mechanism for revenue directly linked to byway user interest/activity
• May offer opportunities for byways to partner with managers of federal lands located along the byway
Resources:
Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program – a Canadian demonstration program that allows private enterprises and non-profits to apply for funding
Minutes of 1998 Congressional hearing on fee demonstration programs
Mountainland Association of Governments
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This project was funded in part by a |
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