Project Planning and Design

Project Planning and Design Skills Include:

Trail Sustainability Principles

Understand and apply principles of trail sustainability to all components of project planning and design

Define Purpose, Need, and Feasibility of Project

Use primary data (e.g., stakeholder outreach, trail use data, trail counters) and secondary data (e.g., planning documents, natural and cultural resource survey information, and site-specific resource limitations including soils, hydrology, geology, slope) to define the purpose of the proposed project, the need that it will meet, and its feasibility

Stakeholder Engagement

Identify stakeholders from interested individuals, agencies, and organizations to inform an outreach strategy and engage stakeholders in a transparent, authentic, and meaningful way

Land Use Plan Alignment

Identify elements of the general management, forest, or comprehensive resource management plans as they relate to the trail project

Corridor Planning

Collect, analyze and integrate spatial data and field collected data to identify potential areas (broad corridors) that meet the project purpose and need, and establish potential areas of avoidance

Trail Specifications

Identify trail specifications (i.e. tread surface, trail width, trail corridor height, grades, cross slope, turning radius, obstacles/protrusions, and structures) that match the project purpose, need, and resources

Conceptual Trail Plan Development

Integrate and assess the data collected during the trail planning process (i.e. trail use, stakeholder input, land use plans, spatial data/analysis and field data) to develop a conceptual trail plan that identifies trail corridor, site-specific trail specifications and matches the project need, purpose and resources

Field Design: Trail Alignment Identification and Marking

Delineate the trail alignment, width, height, grade and structures appropriate to the intended trail use in the field with field flagging and GPS

Project Cost Estimation

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)

Trail Plan Development

Transfer field-delineated trail design (location, alignment, structures), along with construction process, materials, notes, and special conditions into a trail planning document that will guide the trail development process

Compliance and Permitting

Ensure compliance with applicable permitting requirements at the federal level (National Environmental Protection Act/NEPA, Section 106 of the Antiquities Act, the Historic Preservation Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/NPDES, US Army Corps of Engineers) and state, regional, county and local level (Erosion & Sediment Control/E&SC, Stormwater Pollution Prevention/SWPP, and other regulations related to wildlife, natural heritage, archeological/cultural resources, and environmental resource protection)

Implementation Plan

Accurately interpret specifications, construction process notes, and construction documents to develop an implementation plan based on available labor and funding

Interpretation

Identify specific interpretive and educational opportunities on trails to contextualize the visitor experience (e.g., history, habitats, scenery, flora/fauna), and make recommendations for interpretive method

Trail Inventory and Assessment

Inventory and assess existing trails and their conditions, identifying causes of trail degradation (e.g., water, grades, soil conditions, users, and/or use patterns) and the appropriate actions to address the deficiencies

Operations and Maintenance Plan Development

Transfer field data, spatial data, and land management plan information into an operations and maintenance plan that will direct ongoing trail management including: maintenance specifications, seasonal maintenance schedule, operational protocols, and risk management protocols

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Resources for Project Planning and Design

Documents and Media • Video Trainings • Training Programs • Calendar
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Documents and Media for Project Planning and Design

Sustainable Trail Bridge Design

Designing trail bridges based on trail-specific Trail Management Objectives (TMOs) is essential for providing the desired trail experience, for ensuring user safety, and for maximizing bridge longevity.

Trail Skills College Course Curriculum

To help our volunteers succeed in their trail work, PCTA collaborated with many partners to develop a Trail Skills College curriculum.

Signs, Trails, and Wayside Exhibits

This sourcebook is a comprehensive, visual guide to planning, designing, and fabricating effective wayside exhibits, information signs, and trails. Over 400 photographs from interpretive sites around the world illustrate effective techniques for…

Trail Fundamentals and Trail Management Objectives

This publication provides comprehensive guidance and instructions for applying Trail Fundamentals and Trail Management Objectives. This recently published version includes the original 2008 content, along with updated photos and formatting.

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.

Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails

This guidebook was written to help designers and managers apply FSORAG and FSTAG to their work and to pro- vide guidance for integrating accessibility into outdoor recreation site and trail projects.

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Trail Skills Training Library

Recorded Trainings for Project Planning and Design

Mapping What Matters: Using Ripple Effects Mapping to Reveal the Full Story of Trails Work

In this webinar, you'll see Ripple Effects Management (REM) in action through two real examples used to help demonstrate the value of their work to funders and policymakers, and more.

From Concept to Construction: Building a Long-Distance Adaptive Trail

This webinar shares the story of how Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina came to pursue an adaptive trail design, the construction techniques and lessons learned along the way, and how they are continuing to advance the project through outreach…

Prescription Trails Leveraging the Science of Trail Therapy

Exploring the link between mental health and the outdoors, this webinar will dive into the latest research on how movement through natural environments—from nearby nature in urban centers to remote backcountry—builds resilience and helps trail users…

International Standardization of Trail and Route Ratings for More Accessible Off-Road Cycling

This webinar introduces the International Trail Rating System (ITRS) methodology and its practical applications for non-motorized, multi-use and bike only trails as well as routes on both natural and paved surfaces, from urban greenways to remote…

Projecting the Economic Impact of Future Trails: DIY Forecasting Tools for Communities

This webinar focuses on practical, do-it-yourself ways to project the future economic significance and impact of new, expanded, or enhanced trail systems— even when little to no trail user data exists.

IMBA’s Trail Development Process: Building Community-Driven Trails

International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) experts will guide you through an overview of the seven critical steps of the Trail Development Process, from initial access and community engagement to long-term stewardship.

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Further Education