The Secretary of the Interior is directed to encourage States to consider, in their comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plans and proposals for financial assistance for State and local projects submitted pursuant to chapter 2003 of title 54, needs and opportunities for establishing park, forest, and other recreation and historic trails on lands owned or administered by States, and recreation and historic trails on lands in or near urban areas. The Secretary is also directed to encourage States to consider, in their comprehensive statewide historic preservation plans and proposals for financial assistance for State, local, and private projects submitted pursuant to division A of subtitle III of title 54, needs and opportunities for establishing historic trails. He is further directed, in accordance with the authority contained in chapter 2003 of title 54),[1] to encourage States, political subdivisions, and private interests, including nonprofit organizations, to establish such trails.

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is directed, in administering the program of comprehensive urban planning and assistance under section 701 [2] of the Housing Act of 1954, to encourage the planning of recreation trails in connection with the recreation and transportation planning for metropolitan and other urban areas. He is further directed, in administering the urban open-space program under title VII of the Housing Act of 1961 [42 U.S.C. 1500 et seq.], to encourage such recreation trails.

The Secretary of Agriculture is directed, in accordance with authority vested in him, to encourage States and local agencies and private interests to establish such trails.

The Secretary of Transportation, the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, and the Secretary of the Interior, in administering the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 [45 U.S.C. 801 et seq.], shall encourage State and local agencies and private interests to establish appropriate trails using the provisions of such programs. Consistent with the purposes of that Act, and in furtherance of the national policy to preserve established railroad rights-of-way for future reactivation of rail service, to protect rail transportation corridors, and to encourage energy efficient transportation use, in the case of interim use of any established railroad rights-of-way pursuant to donation, transfer, lease, sale, or otherwise in a manner consistent with this chapter, if such interim use is subject to restoration or reconstruction for railroad purposes, such interim use shall not be treated, for purposes of any law or rule of law, as an abandonment of the use of such rights-of-way for railroad purposes. If a State, political subdivision, or qualified private organization is prepared to assume full responsibility for management of such rights-of-way and for any legal liability arising out of such transfer or use, and for the payment of any and all taxes that may be levied or assessed against such rights-of-way, then the Board shall impose such terms and conditions as a requirement of any transfer or conveyance for interim use in a manner consistent with this chapter, and shall not permit abandonment or discontinuance inconsistent or disruptive of such use.

Such trails may be designated and suitably marked as parts of the nationwide system of trails by the States, their political subdivisions, or other appropriate administering agencies with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior.

(Pub. L. 90–543, § 8, Oct. 2, 1968, 82 Stat. 925; Pub. L. 95–625, title V, § 551(22), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3516; Pub. L. 98–11, title II, § 208, Mar. 28, 1983, 97 Stat. 48; Pub. L. 104–88, title III, § 317(1), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 949; Pub. L. 113–287, § 5(d)(24), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3266.)