(ANCHORAGE, Alaska) —The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is launching the Alaska Trails and Local Access System (ATLAS), a new initiative that will unify the department’s efforts to improve trail access, connectivity, and outdoor recreation opportunities across Alaska.

As part of Administrative Order 361, responsibility for administering the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) transferred from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to DOT&PF on October 1, 2025. Under the ATLAS initiative, the program will now be administered as the Multi-Use Trails Program.

Following the transition, DOT&PF continued the open application cycle already underway and worked with the newly formed Alaska Recreational Trails Advisory Committee (ARTAC) to evaluate project proposals from communities and organizations across the state. ARTAC reviewed and scored applications using established program criteria, ensuring a transparent and competitive process.

Based on ARTAC’s recommendations, DOT&PF is awarding more than $2.2 million in federal funding to 15 projects across Alaska. Fourteen projects will receive full funding, and one project—the Petersville Trails and Rescue Center (Groundbreaking Phase III)—will receive partial funding. The selected projects include motorized, non-motorized, diversified, and safety and education trail projects that will improve recreational access, enhance public safety, support local economies, and maintain critical trail infrastructure.

“ATLAS represents a new chapter in how Alaska supports trails, outdoor recreation, and community connectivity,” said Commissioner Ryan Anderson.  “These investments will help improve and maintain trail systems across the state while creating opportunities for Alaskans and visitors to safely access and enjoy Alaska’s outdoors.”

The FY2026 awards include:

Safety and Education Projects

• Buskin River Safety and Education Project
• Silver King State Recreation Area Groundwater Education Project

Motorized Projects

• 35 Mile ORV Riding Park (Phase III)
• New Tucker Sno-Cat for Grooming
• Petersville Trails and Rescue Center (Ground Breaking Phase III)

Non-Motorized Projects

• Kake Community Nature Trail
• Lunch Creek Loop Trail (Phase I)
• Chilkat State Park Trail Repair Program
• Eagle River Nature Center Trail Support and Equipment Improvements
• Chena Lake Recreation Area River Park Trails Reroute (Phase II)
• Tonsina Point Trail Improvements
• Sitka Trail Repair (Phase I)

Diversified Projects

• Bethel City Sub-YK Trail
• Tundra Mats
• Chugach National Forest Trail Brushing
• Shoup Bay Trail Phase V
• Wolverine Trail Bridge – Iditarod National Historic Trail

All award recipients are required to provide a minimum 10 percent non-federal match, leveraging additional local investment in Alaska’s trail systems and expanding the impact of federal funding.

The FY2026 awards support projects in communities throughout Alaska, including Southeast Alaska, Southcentral Alaska, Southwest Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula, Interior Alaska, and the Valdez-Cordova region. The investments will support trail maintenance, accessibility improvements, safety enhancements, education initiatives, and infrastructure upgrades that benefit residents and visitors alike.

The Multi-Use Trails Program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and administered by DOT&PF through the ATLAS initiative.

For more information about ATLAS and the Multi-Use Trails Program, visit Multi-Use Trails Program - Alaska DOT&PF or contact Rebecca Garrett at rebecca.garrett@alaska.gov.

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The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving.”