This section describes potential impacts to access and travel management from managing other resources or resource uses. The CTTM program operates as a support program, rather than a resource in and of itself, because it supports other management activities in the Planning Area. The CTTM program addresses planning for OHV activities and other motorized vehicle use, and the travel needs for all BLM-administered resource management programs for such activities as mineral extraction, livestock grazing, habitat enhancement projects, and recreation. The program responds to a need to maintain an adequate transportation system to provide access to and use of public land resources. Travel designations for motorized travel (open, limited, closed) include off-road vehicles.

For the purposes of this analysis, adverse impacts to travel and transportation management are those that restrict travel (e.g., managing areas as closed or limited to motorized travel, or road closures). In general, adverse impacts to CTTM are greater when areas are closed to motorized travel than when travel is limited. Management limiting motorized travel to designated roads and trails is more restrictive than limiting travel to existing roads and trails and would therefore result in greater adverse impacts to CTTM. Limiting travel to designated roads and trails only allows motorized vehicle use in areas defined with specific signage or areas identified in travel management plans. Beneficial impacts result from management that increases the number or quality of roads and trails, or that provides opportunities for access on- or off-road using motorized, mechanized, equestrian, or foot travel. Beneficial impacts also include improvements to travel that reduce potential health and safety concerns associated with travel and transportation use in the Planning Area.

This section does not address the adverse or beneficial impacts of travel and transportation management on other resources and resource uses. While impacts from travel and transportation management to other program areas do occur and are considered as part of travel management planning, in this RMP, these types of impacts are described under the resource or resource use affected by this management. For example, Section 4.4.6 Wildlife addresses the impacts to elk of seasonal closures in elk parturition habitat, while this section addresses the impacts of this restriction to access and travel across BLM-administered lands.

Direct impacts to CTTM include actions that restrict or enhance road or trail use in the Planning Area. Direct impacts include closures or rerouting of trails and roads due to safety concerns such as shooting ranges and H2S-related health concerns. Indirect impacts result from management that limits, restricts, or enhances development or activities that require travel and transportation use and access (e.g., ROW development, recreation, withdrawals).