Advanced Resource Solutions, Inc.

Advanced Resource Solutions, Inc.

Specializing in Land Use, Travel Management and Recreation Planning, Mediation and Environmental Compliance

Travel Management Overview

Travel Management is an emerging field within agency planning processes. With recent directives from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding route designation and the new rule from the USDA Forest Service requiring the National Forests to identify and designate routes and areas authorized for motor vehicle use, travel management planning (route designation) is moving forward as never before.

Travel management is more than just recreational off-highway vehicle planning. It incorporates the overall motorized and non-motorized commercial, administrative and recreational access to a planning area while protecting sensitive resources in accordance with statutory requirements. According to the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook:

“Comprehensive travel management planning should address all resource use aspects (such as recreational, traditional, casual, agricultural, commercial, and educational) and accompanying modes and conditions of travel on the public lands, not just motorized or off-highway vehicle activities.”¹

To meet their planning requirements, public agencies must comply with a myriad of federal and state laws and regulations, as well as case law established by court decisions. Just a few of the many federal laws and regulations with which agencies must comply include:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• Wilderness Act

• National Historic Preservation Act

• Antiquities Act of 1906, including Monument Proclamations

• Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

• Clean Air Act

• Clean Water Act

• Taylor Grazing Act

• Mining Act of 1872 (and subsequent mining acts)

• Agency-specific organic acts:

- Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) for the BLM

- National Forest Management Act (NFMA) for the USDA Forest Service

- National Park Service Organic Act

• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

• Public Land Health Standards

In complying with these requirements as part of their travel management planning, agencies must identify “designations” for both areas and routes. These designations typically fall into the categories of “open”, “closed” or “limited”.

• A designation of “open” typically means that the area or route is recommended as open to all uses without limitations on access (other than those limits that may be required by law, such as vehicle licensing requirements, speed limits, etc.).

• A designation of “closed” typically means that the area or route is recommended for permanent closure to all use. Physical closure for a route may include restoring the route to the degree possible to blend with surrounding landscape, as well as installation of physical barriers and signing at the original departure point, if necessary.

• A designation of “limit” typically means that the area or route is recommended for limited use by certain parties or entities, vehicle types, or seasons, etc. For example, a route may be limited to administrative use only or to motorized use during seasons when impacts to sensitive resources are minimized.

Route and area designations are designed to assist with the implementation of area-specific management goals and objectives and provides the public with a greater understanding of the areas and routes upon which they may freely travel, the areas and routes where their access may be limited or restricted, and the reasoning for these designations. These designations help to lead to greater visitor compliance and allows the agencies to develop informative maps and signage to assist the public.

or, jump to:

¹United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Land Use Planning Handbook. BLM Handbook H-1601-1, Rel. 1-1693, 03/11/05, Appendix C, page 17.