Improving covered trail planning and development

(a) Visitor capacity The Secretary concerned shall determine the visitor capacity of a covered trail that is subject to subsection (e) or (f) of section 5 of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244)— (1) based on the desired conditions of the specific portion or segment of a covered trail rather than the entire covered trail; and (2) in accordance with applicable laws and agency policies, including the applicable comprehensive plan. (b) Economic impact assessment (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall identify 1 or more methods to assess the economic impact of covered trails on gateway communities. (2) Requirements In identifying methods under paragraph (1), the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the maximum extent practicable— (A) aggregate and extrapolate economic impact information from existing data, such as data from land units on which covered trails are located; (B) use State and county economic impact information; (C) partner with State and local governments; and (D) leverage the cooperative management systems of the covered trails and local and landscape-wide partnerships to obtain and process relevant information and report any relevant findings. (c) Advancing covered trail planning (1) Findings Congress finds that— (A) the designation of a covered trail is the onset of the long-term development and planning for the covered trail, rather than the conclusion of those activities; and (B) the cultivation of partnerships, the acquisition of land, including interests in land and land use agreements, the conduct of accessible and inclusive interpretation, and the development of recreational facilities, as appropriate for covered trails, are needed to advance the purposes of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) to meet the ever-expanding outdoor recreation needs of the United States. (2) Reports The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting jointly, shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives— (A) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report that describes the successes and challenges in developing and planning covered trails; and (B) not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report that assesses the desired conditions and use of facilities on each covered trail with respect to— (i) visitor usage of specific segments or sites of the covered trail, including the extent to which visitors use the covered trail in groups of not fewer than 10 individuals; (ii) proposed priority segments or sites for additional facilities or protection of additional land or resources identified by relevant cooperative management partners; and (iii) any activities that the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture determine are necessary to advance the development of and planning for the covered trail consistent with the partnership nature of covered trails. (3) Community engagement In preparing the reports under paragraph (2), the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult with— (A) communities located in the vicinity of the proposed segments and sites described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii); (B) federally recognized Indian Tribes; (C) any Federal and State agencies that manage land traversed by covered trails; and (D) Designated Operational Partners and other cooperative management partners of covered trails. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture— (1) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, such sums as are necessary— (A) to carry out subsection (a); (B) to identify the methods under subsection (b); and (C) to prepare the reports required under subsection (c); and (2) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, through programs determined to be appropriate by the Secretary and the Secretary, such sums as are necessary for the acquisition, construction, and development of facilities (including the acquisition of land or interests in land) for covered trails.