Travel and Transportation Management Planning Schedules and 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.govMarch 13, 2015In Reply Refer To:8342 (250) PEMS TRANSMISSION 03/16/2015Instruction Memorandum No. 2015-060Expires:  09/30/2018To:                   All State DirectorsAttn:  Travel and Transportation State LeadsFrom:               Acting, Deputy Assistant Director, Resources and PlanningSubject:           Travel and Transportation Management Planning Schedules and 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision Strategy                               DD:  04/17/2015Program Area: RecreationPurpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) requests state directors to update travel and transportation management (TTM) planning schedules, and review and comment on the 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision strategy document.Policy/Action: State directors should update their respective state TTM planning schedule using the new TTM Planning Schedule Spreadsheet (Attachment 1) format to reflect the most current information available on each state's strategy to complete travel management planning and the current status of TTM accomplishments.  States are given wide discretion to develop a TTM strategy and planning schedule based on each state's particular priorities with consideration given to regional and national priorities.  In particular, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State TTM leads should be directed to consult with their state engineers to develop a strategy to address TTM planning related to Federal Land Transportation Program roads.  The new TTM planning schedule is to be completed by each BLM State, titled with the appropriate BLM State name and uploaded to the State Travel and Transportation Management Planning Timelines 2015 folder in the Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management (CTTM) Sharepoint site at the following link: 2015 BLM State TTM Planning Schedule. For your reference, a link has been included to access the 2014 BLM State TTM Planning Schedule folder.In addition, the state directors should review the 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision document (Attachment 2). Future data requests will continue to provide a Bureau-wide 5-year strategy for TTM planning beyond the current document’s stated 2020 horizon.  Submit updates to the TTM Strategy by using the attached comment form (Attachment 3), paying particular attention to sections of the document that reference each BLM State's TTM status, planning timelines and key issues.The specific number of travel management plans a state will attempt to complete by 2020 should be directly related to that state's TTM Planning Schedule Spreadsheet (see paragraph above).  In addition to the spreadsheet, state directors should follow the TTMP Project Tracking Instructions (Attachment 4) which outline the process for completing a detailed project tracking form and linking it to the TTM Planning Schedule Spreadsheet.Timeframe:  The updated state TTM planning schedules are to be loaded onto the Comprehensive TTM Sharepoint site (see link above) by April 17, 2015.  Comments on the 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Vision document are to be sent to Dennis Byrd at dbyrd@blm.gov .Budget Impact:  This planned workload was included as part of the FY 2015 base Recreation (L1220) budget.Background: Dating back to Executive Orders issued by Presidents Nixon and Carter, the BLM has historically used a piecemeal approach to travel and transportation planning and management.  Specifically, the BLM has established off-highway vehicle (OHV) area designations through land use plans, and managed its transportation infrastructure under the engineering program.  A new manual section (MS-1626) and handbook (H-8342) that provide detailed guidance related to TTM planning were issued in 2011 and 2012 respectively.In 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued Report GAO-09-509, "Federal Lands: Enhanced Planning Could Assist Agencies in Managing Increased Use of Off-Highway Vehicles", which addressed OHV management on U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and BLM lands. The report noted that though the BLM had a recreation strategy in place that addressed TTM, it lacked specific guidance on travel management plan preparation, implementation timelines and performance measures.  This IM resolves one report recommendation by developing and maintaining a TTM strategy and planning schedules. In 2010, the BLM States were first required to develop a TTM planning schedule to establish specific timeframes within which travel management plans are to be developed.  In 2013 and 2014, BLM States were required to update their initial TTM planning schedules.Manual/ Handbook Sections Affected:  This IM affects guidance contained in BLM Manual Section 1626 and Handbook 8342.Coordination:  This guidance was coordinated among the Washington Office, Recreation and Visitor Services Division (WO-250) and Branch of Engineering and Asset Management Policy (WO-854); and the BLM State Office Travel and Transportation Management leads.Contact: If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Dennis Byrd, Outdoor Recreation Planner, by email at dbyrd@blm.gov or by telephone at 202-912-7252, or Andy Tenney, Division Chief, Recreation and Visitor Services, by email at atenney@blm.gov or by telephone at 202-912-7094.Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated by:Shelley J. Smith                                                          Robert M. WilliamsActing, Deputy Assistant Director                             Division of IRM Governance,WO-860Resources and Planning 4 Attachments:1 - TTM Planning Schedule -Spreadsheet(1 p)2 - 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Strategy Document (27 pp)3 - 2020 Travel and Transportation Management Strategy - Comment Sheet (1 p)4 - TTM Project Tracking Instructions (1p)