FOREST SERVICE MANUAL

COLVILLE, WASHINGTON

 

TITLE FSM 7700 - TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

          Colville Supplement No. 7700-95-2

 

Effective May 10, 1995

 

 

 

POSTING NOTICE.  Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year.  Post by document name.  Remove entire document, if one exists, and replace with this supplement. The last Colville Supplement to this handbook was Supplement No. 95-1.

 

 

                                                                                          Superseded    New

Document Name                                                             (Number of Sheets)

 

31.11                                                                                  1                  3

 

 

 

 

 

Digest:

 

7731.11 - Updates direction on strategy for management of newly constructed roads.

 

 

 

/s/ Edward L. Schultz

EDWARD L. SCHULTZ

Forest Supervisor

 

TITLE FSM 7700 - TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

COLVILLE SUPPLEMENT 7700-95-2

EFFECTIVE 05/10/95

 

CHAPTER 30 - STRATEGIES

 

7731.11 - Strategies

 

The operational status of the Forest road system states that roads open to public travel will not increase over time.  (Forest Plan pages 4-30).  The plan stipulates a maximum of 849 miles open to passenger cars and 2500 miles open to high clearance vehicles.  The plan also states (pages 4-56) that new single purpose traffic service level D roads will be closed after the resource activity is completed unless the environmental assessment requires keeping them open.

 

          The Road Management Objective (RMO) will be used to document the decision why roads are open or closed.  Effective traffic management depends on defensible RO's.  Road closures will be accomplished by physically blocking the road.  All roads closed with a gate or guardrail barrier must be covered under the Forest Travel Map or an individual CFR closure.

 

          The following process will be used in order to track the roads:

               1.  The Development Engineer will notify Road Management when the road has been constructed and accepted.

               2.  Road Management will add the road to the Transportation Management System (TMS) as existing.

               3.  The District Ranger will be responsible for closing each road when the road or the unit is accepted to prevent establishing public use unless approved by the Forest Supervisor.  Road closure devices will be installed under the timber sale road construction plans and specifications or under C5.43 (Blocking the Road) or with collected coop funds.

               4.  The District Ranger or their representative will notify Road Management when the Road has been closed.

               5.  Road Management will update the TMS within 30 days showing the road(s) closed and in level 1 maintenance.

               6.  Road Management will be responsible for an updated and accurate TMS at the end of each calendar year.

 

               The Forest Service has established and uses five basic strategies for managing traffic:  ENCOURAGE, ACCEPT, DISCOURAGE, ELIMINATE, AND PROHIBIT.  There are a number of techniques that can be prescribed to implement these strategies.

 

               The strategy to ELIMINATE traffic is accomplished by physically blocking the road.  Under this strategy all use of four wheel vehicles 40 inches wide or wider is eliminated.  If the public can't use the road, the Forest Service can't use it.  Barriers include the use of permanent guardrails, logs or boulders, earthen mounds, or using trees and brush to camouflage the entrance.  This strategy dose not include gates.  Maintenance level 1 is required.  A regulator Road Closed sign will not be required and there will be no enforcement of the closure.  The road may be used by ATV's.

 

               The strategy to PROHIBIT requires a regulator order written and posted.  Use is only allowed which is exempt from the order, 36 CFR, Section 261.50(e) or a written permit signed by the District Ranger or his acting. This strategy allows for the use of a gate or removable guardrail barricades.  These closures require a regulatory Road Closed sign mounted on them.  A Travel Management sign should be installed adjacent to the closure informing the public why the road is closed.  When closure devices are not installed at a junction, a sign should be placed at the junction stating road closed ______ miles ahead.  All gates must be locked open or locked closed.

 

               Existing roads that have deteriorated over the years and show little or no use, and are not needed now or in the immediate future (five years) should be scheduled for closure after Road Closure signing has been posted for the required time (See, 7709.59-92-1).  Subtle techniques are preferred over regulatory or obvious barricades.  The RMO will document the decision to close, the type closure, and the reason for the closure.  The cost for each closure will be borne by the benefiting function.  Road maintenance is not normally the benefiting function.

 

               Existing road that are no longer needed for administrative use but show some public use may require public input prior to closing them.