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Approximately 70,000 miles of federally- owned public roads serving recreational traffic fall under the purview of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Federal Lands Highway Program (i.e., Park Roads and Parkways, Forest Highways, Public Lands Highways, and Refuge Roads). To adequately support planning and management efforts for the preservation and use of Federal lands, land managers must have a clear understanding of the transportation and visitor circulation patterns within their jurisdiction. Traffic data is often collected to support decision-making; however, distinct recreational traffic and roadway characteristics and the multitude of responsible agencies often challenge these efforts. The challenge of collecting recreational traffic data is exacerbated by a lack of consistent guidance. Existing national guidelines for traffic monitoring practices lack sufficient direction and detail for recreational travel.
In an effort to improve/lend consistency to traffic monitoring in recreational areas, the Coordinated Technology Implementation Program tasked the Office of Federal Lands Highway-Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with conducting an assessment of the nationwide practices for recreational traffic data collection. This work was performed by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and Chaparral Systems, Inc., under contract to Battelle, through three primary tasks:
A comprehensive literature review was conducted at the onset of this investigation with a focus on traffic data collection in recreational areas. Primary sources of literature included the online Transportation Research Information System (TRIS); other related Internet sites; various conference compendiums (e.g., Transportation Research Board's Annual Meeting); and the TTI and Texas A&M University library collections.
Not surprisingly, researchers observed a disproportionate focus on traffic monitoring in urban rather than recreational areas in the published literature. Much of the literature found to address recreational traffic monitoring considered: (1) the use of recreational and/or seasonal factor groups, (2) methods to support determination of recreational and/or seasonal factor groups, and (3) the likely errors associated with factoring or annualizing short-term counts on roadways with high-variability traffic.
As a second task in this investigation, a targeted survey of 10 State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) (Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) and three metropolitan planning organizations (Metropolitan Transportation Commission - San Francisco Bay Area, Metroplan Orlando, and Southwest Missouri Council of Governments) was conducted to identify current practices in collecting traffic data at and near recreational areas. Survey participants were selected based on: (1) the ability to provide geographic diversity, (2) the likely presence of recreational travel, and (3) the research team's familiarity with State and local agency staff.
Survey participants were asked to respond to the following series of questions:
To supplement information gathered through the literature review and targeted survey, a recreational traffic monitoring workshop was conducted. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together State and Federal agencies to discuss current and preferred practices for monitoring traffic in recreational areas and to identify opportunities for improving traffic monitoring to and within Federal lands. The same information was originally intended to be collected as part of a domestic scan tour to various States, but a gathering under a workshop proved to be a more efficient opportunity for information exchange.
The workshop was held on June 3, 2009, in Lakewood, Colorado with 27 on-site and 3 remote participants. The workshop's agenda was comprised of presentations regarding traffic monitoring in recreational areas as performed by five distinct Federal land agencies (Office of Federal Lands, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service), six State agencies (Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming DOTs), and one Provincial agency (Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation). Opportunities for general questions and discussion were provided following the presentations made by representatives from the various agencies. A smaller group of approximately 15 workshop attendees was convened for an additional half day on June 4, 2009, to discuss workshop outcomes and brainstorm future directives.
Bill Grants Federal Requirements Seminar 
An introductory webinar to assist local and tribal agencies with applying for transportation funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
