Opelousas REG.-trail maint. Equip. ACQ.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) received a $114,498.00 formula grant award from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Recreational Trails Program (CFDA 20.219) on May 5, 2025. This funding supports the acquisition of heavy equipment necessary for the annual maintenance, renovation, repair, and improvement of motorized trails across Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Louisiana. The equipment procured through this award includes bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks, tractors, and tractor implements such as bushhogs, disks, grader blades, and ditching implements to facilitate trail maintenance operations.

The Recreational Trails Program funding enables DOTD to maintain and improve over 135 miles of motorized trails within the Opelousas region and over 493 miles of motorized trails statewide. Equipment purchases represent an eligible use under the program's provisions, which authorize funding for the purchase and lease of trail construction and maintenance equipment. The award supports DOTD's capacity to deliver sustainable trail infrastructure management across Louisiana's diverse recreational trail network while serving motorized trail users across state WMAs.

Project description

Scope: the major purpose of this request is to acquire heavyequipment to facilitate the annual maintenance, renovation, repair, and improvement of over 135 miles of motorized trails on WMA's within the opelousas region and over 493 miles of motorized trails on WMA's state wide. Such equipment can include but is not limited to bulldozer, excavator, dump truck, tractors, and tractor implements such as bushoggs, disks, grader blades, and ditching implements. Annually, regional budgets are approved for the acquisition of such equipment. Upon approval of such, equipment would be acquired with this funding to utilize for the above mentioned activities on motorized trails.