Transportation and Access Planning is the BLM's comprehensive approach to the management of all types of travel routes across public lands and access to public lands.  This approach integrates the agency's resource and resource use programs into an interdisciplinary team focused on the development of a sustainable multi-modal travel network for access, development and enjoyment, while protecting sensitive resource across public lands.

The BLM Transportation and Access Planning process will analyze two general areas within the Tres Rios Field Office - Area 1 will consider BLM lands within Archuleta, La Plata and Montezuma counties.  Area 2 will consider BLM  lands within Dolores, San Miguel and Montrose counties.  The BLM will plan, analyze, and designate routes for long-term transportation and access needs such as:

    Recreational        Traditional use        Casual use        Commercial        Educational         Agricultural

Access to BLM lands includes all forms of transportation: hiking, equestrian, mechanized (human powered) and motorized (2-wheel, 4-wheel, e-bikes, OHV, etc).

Additional information regarding BLM travel management can be found at the following website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-programs/travel-and-transportation

The Transportation and Access Planning (TAP) process includes public engagement that will provide important feedback on the specific phase of the TAP process currently underway.

The BLM’s TAP decision-making process can be broken down into three phases: 

1) Inventory Verification

2) Scoping

3) NEPA Analysis 

Each of these phases typically incorporates a collaborative element where public input, review, or comment may be requested. The Inventory and Verification process for the Tres Rios Field Office was completed in 2017.  The scoping period for TAP1 was open from April 22 through May 22, 2019.  The Public Comment Period for the Preliminary Environmental Assessment ran from September 19 through October 21, 2019.