Motorized Travel Management

In November 2005, the final rule covering public motorized travel on National Forests and Grasslands was announced.  The rule requires each National Forest and Grassland to designate where the public can operate motor vehicles.  The rule was developed in reaction to the Forest Service Chief’s identification of unmanaged recreation as a key threat to the health of the nation’s National Forests and Grasslands. When implemented, a free-of-charge map will be provided that displays the designated system. General use off the system will then be considered prohibited.

National Process

When complete, each National Forest and Grassland should have a unique public motorized system based on:

• local interests
• high quality, sustainable recreation opportunities
• natural resources
• transportation management budgets

- Introductory video to National Forest System Roads (streaming Windows Media Video:WMV)

There is a clearly defined, consistent process that will be used across the nation to implement this rule.

- National Route Designation Process (PDF - 48kb)

Current Status of Public Motorized Travel Planning on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be published and available for public input and comments in August 2010. The document will be posted and available on this webpage at that time.

  Tentative Timeline for Travel Management Rule Implementation

Tentative Date	Steps in the Process
November 2005	Travel Management Rule directs all National Forests and National Grasslands to designate a system of roads, trails and areas for public motor vehicle use
2005-2007	Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests hosts 26 public collaboration meetings to gather ideas and input
February 2008	Publish the Modified Proposed Action and request public comments
September 2008 — June 2009	Develop alternative transportation proposals that address those issues identified in the public comments
March 2010	Publish Draft Environmental Impact Statement and request public comments
April — July 2010	Analyze the public comments
August 2010	Publish Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision
December 2010	Publish Motor Vehicle Use Map

Transportation Analysis Process (TAP):   A report documenting an analysis of the roads located on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests has been completed and is available here. This report is quite large (54 MB) so we've tried to make it easier to view by breaking it into chapters:

• Final TAP Report   (PDF, 54MB — full report)

•   TAP Report listed by Chapter
• Cover/Signatures   (PDF, 282kb)
• Table of Contents   (PDF, 25kb)
• Introduction   (PDF, 39kb)
• General Description of TAP (PDF, 52kb)
• Step 1 — Setting Up the Analysis   (PDF, 44kb)
• Step 2 — Describing the Situation   (PDF, 15MB)
• Step 3 — Identifying Issues   (PDF, 15MB)
• Step 4 — Assessing Benefits, Problems, and Risks   (PDF, 408kb)
• Step 5 — Describing Opportunities and Setting Priorities   (PDF, 151kb)
• Step 6 — Reporting   (PDF, 17MB)
• Appendix A   (PDF, 1MB)

News Releases

• Update on Forest Service Motorized Travel Planning - Jul 11, 2008
• The Travel Management Rule — Fact and Fiction - Mar 31, 2008
• Forest Service Revises Road Proposal - Feb 15, 2008
• Forest Service Revises Road Proposal - Jan 8, 2008
• Help Develop a Socially, Economically, and Environmentally Sustainable Motorized Public Transportation System on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests - Oct 20, 2007
• Forest Services Proposes a Motorized Route System on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests - Oct 17, 2007
• Interview with the Leader of the Travel Management Planning Process on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests: Mr. Chris Bielecki - Feb 20, 2007
• Travel Management Planning Update on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests - Feb 20, 2007

Notice of Intent

• Federal Register NOI

Proposed Action

• A Summary of the Proposed Action   (PDF, 124KB)
• The Modified Proposed Action, 2/12/08  (PDF, 179KB)

Reports

• Scoping Report 2008-07-23
• Socioeconomics Specialist Report 2009-11-30

Maps

A-S public transportation system maps:   these maps represent the current management for our system and also the starting point for our public designation process. Planning is focused on changes to this system.

The top two maps are the current maps in our travel management database:
  —   Current system managed roads for public travel ML 2-5
  —   Entire current system of roads including closed roads ML 1-5

USDA Forest Service - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Last Modified:  Thursday, 10 December 2009 at 13:31:06 EST