USFS Standard Trail Plans and Specifications
The Standard Trail Plans and Specifications reflect current Forest Service trail management efforts and the agency’s Trails Data Dictionary for constructed features and tasks.
Project Cost Estimation
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
Resources for Project Cost Estimation
Documents and Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
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Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Project Cost Estimation
Making the Case for Tourism-Oriented Mountain Bike and Adaptive Recreation
This presentation provides an overview of an economic impact analysis for an accessible tourism-oriented mountain bike trail network in Tennessee’s State Park system.
Trail Construction Costs, Risks, and Tips for Success
This webinar will provide a foundation to assist with trail construction cost estimating.
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
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…
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
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
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
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…
Skill Library
Project Planning and Design
Trail Sustainability Principles
Define Purpose, Need, and Feasibility of Project
Stakeholder Engagement
Land Use Plan Alignment
Corridor Planning
Trail Specifications
Conceptual Trail Plan Development
Field Design: Trail Alignment Identification and Marking
Project Cost Estimation
Trail Plan Development
Compliance and Permitting
Implementation Plan
Interpretation
Trail Inventory and Assessment
Operations and Maintenance Plan Development
Custom Trainings
There are 72 trainers on TrailSkills
with Project Cost Estimation experience
Hire Workers
There are 254 workers on TrailSkills
with Project Cost Estimation experience
Danielle Berry
Taylorsville, CA
Stewardship Project Manager
Sierra Institute for Community and Environment
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Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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