Shapiro Administration Study Finds Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Connector Generates $23.5 Million in Revenue Over Two-Year Period
HARRISBURG- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) State Forester Seth Cassell Monday announced final economic data from a monitoring study for the Northcentral Regional All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trail (NRAT) Connector – formerly known as the Northcentral ATV Regional Trail Connector pilot – in the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The trail generated an estimated revenue of $10.4 million in 2022 and $13.1 million in 2023 for Potter and Tioga counties, according to a Penn State analysis.
DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry implemented a comprehensive monitoring program to evaluate NRAT’s social, environmental, and economic impact.
“The Northcentral Regional ATV Trail Connector brought positive economic impact to Potter and Tioga counties, boosting revenue for businesses and bringing new visitors to a beautiful area in the Commonwealth,” State Forester Seth Cassell said. “This pilot and the information DCNR has learned from studying the provisional ATV trail system is instructive in helping us with our goal of implementing sustainable, equitable, and future-oriented recreation opportunities on state forests.”
The Penn State evaluation showed estimated total spending in Potter and Tioga counties by nonlocal ATV passholders to include the following:
| Spending type | 2022 | 2023 |
| Lodging | $1,985788 | $3,092,557 |
| Restaurants/meals | $2,210,471 | $3,691,295 |
| Food and beverages from a store | $1,086,251 | $1,886,472 |
| Gas and auto services | $1,982,942 | $2,726,504 |
| ATV Rentals | $12,281 | $122,994 |
| ATV Equipment, supplies, and services | $2,396,086 | $618,761 |
| Other spending | $788,314 | $973,447 |
| Totals | $10,462,133 | $13,112,029 |
Local businesses surveyed for the study reported that 28 percent of their revenue was from ATV riders, spending approximately $124 per visit. Businesses also reported that about 35 percent of their summer customer base was a result of the pilot.
Operational costs for the pilot where $2.4 million to create, maintain and administer the program for its first three years. Nearly $430,000 in revenue was generated from the 10,799 passes sold during the first three years of the pilot.
“Although our study was during the initial phase of Pilot Connector, the economic benefits to the businesses and the public were impressive,” said Michael Jacobson, a professor of Forest Resources in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Penn State. “This implies going forward one can expect additional and multiplicative economic impacts from our additional ATV riding opportunities as the program grows. It was great to see the DCNR trying to balance the importance of economic benefits with their mandate to conserve forest and natural resources in this region.”
NRAT passholders reported making about nine trips to the region, where they spent an average of three nights each trip. More than 75 percent of passholders shared that they visited the area because of the pilot, with 18 percent reporting that the ATV trail system brought them to Potter or Tioga counties to recreate the first time.
Detailed information regarding monitoring can be found in this report.
NRAT, formerly known as the Northcentral ATV Regional Trail Connector Pilot, was created in response to growing ATV purchases, registrations, and public demand for increased legal riding opportunities.
The Fiscal Code in the 2023-24 state budget instructed DCNR to continue operating the regional system for 2024 and 2025, as an interim administrative measure prior to the establishment of a multi-jurisdictional authority.
The 2024 NRAT route included 793 total miles comprised of township roads, state forest roads and trails, and PennDOT-administered roads.
Visit DCNR’s website for more information about ATV riding opportunities in state forests and check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands.
