Skill Definition

Estimate the cost of project construction, maintenance and related oversight, permitting and planning (including tools, consumables, volunteer and staff time, contractors and consultants, equipment, materials)

Entry Level Performance

  • Demonstrate understanding of line items included in a project cost estimate

Full Performance Level

  • Determine an estimated project cost for labor, materials, oversight, and equipment based on the concept design and field design
  • Create an accurate cost estimate for the project that includes current rates for trail construction (based on trail specifications), structures, and features, as determined by the concept design and field design.

Expert Level Performance

  • Provide recommendations on the strategy for drafting, soliciting and evaluating contract proposals, balancing cost and other proposal elements
  • Demonstrate understanding of the current ‘market rates’ in the region to minimize divergence between the cost estimate and the contract proposals
  • Effectively organize and communicate cost estimates, strategies to control and sequence a project towards implementation including guidance on grant or fundraising activities that may support project implementation.

Resources for Project Cost Estimation

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Documents and Media for Project Cost Estimation


Trail Skills Training Library

Recorded Trainings for Project Cost Estimation

Trail Construction Cost Realities
Trail Construction Cost Realities

This webinar will deliver a simple, cost estimating tool and provide a list of the key factors associated with trail construction costs. The methodology presented in the webinar applies to ALL trail construction projects, though the examples shown…


Further Education

Training Programs for Project Cost Estimation

Trail Sustainability Institute
Trail Sustainability Institute

The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) is NWTA’s internal training classes for everything related to trail building. We want to make sure our trail builders are knowledgeable in not only how to build/maintain fun trails, but ensure those trails…

IMBA Trail Solutions Advanced Trail Building School
IMBA Trail Solutions Advanced Trail Building School

Partner with IMBA Trail Solutions and create with confidence. By deploying a complete range of skills–including visioning, detailed design, professional construction, and training for stewardship–our comprehensive approach saves resources.

Trails Certificate
Trails Certificate

Gain insight into best practices related to the design, construction and maintenance of trails. Learn about and apply techniques that can enhance, rehabilitate and protect trails and greenways. Participants will also learn about trail…

Sustainable Trails Development
Sustainable Trails Development

The Sustainable Trails curriculum welcomes students from various fields who are interested in trails development, programming and management, as well as design.

PCTA Trail Skills Course
PCTA Trail Skills Course

Because wildfires, wind storms, floods, gravity, and vegetation growth are constant threats to the PCT, the annual maintenance and reconstruction of the trail is a never-ending and monumental undertaking. Such work, historically carried out by…

Advancing Trails Webinar Series
Advancing Trails Webinar Series

American Trails brings agencies, trail builders, planners, architects, advocates, and volunteers the latest in state-of-the-art information on all aspects of trails and greenways. Our webinars focus on a variety of trail topics, usually applicable…

Custom Trainings

There are 62 trainers on TrailSkills
with Project Cost Estimation experience

Hire Workers

There are 209 workers on TrailSkills
with Project Cost Estimation experience

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Trail Skills Collaborators
Federal Highway Administration USDA Forest Service National Park Service Bureau of Land Management
American Trails Professional TrailBuilders Association Partnership for the National Trails System Northern Vermont University Northwest Arkansas Community College Eppley Institute Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals Washington Trails Association