Trail Corridor Planning
Scope Tip
Be clear about what is meant by a trail corridor. A corridor identifies the broader area within which the specific trail alignment will be located; it does not establish the alignment itself. Clearly define the expected corridor width or area, required control points, and the level of desktop analysis and field investigation needed to establish the corridor.
Scope Item Definition
Identify and evaluate the general corridor within which a trail will ultimately be aligned. Trail corridor planning uses project goals, desired user experience, site conditions, management requirements, control points, and other project considerations to determine where the trail should be located before detailed field design and alignment.
When / Where It Applies
Trail corridor planning is an early step in the planning and design of a trail or trail system. It establishes the general location and corridor width within which the trail may ultimately be aligned, based on project goals, desired user experience, site conditions, management requirements, and other project considerations.
Corridor widths vary by project and may be influenced by land manager requirements, environmental review or permitting needs, available land, terrain, resources, and the level of flexibility needed for subsequent field design.
Trail corridor planning occurs before detailed field design, when the specific trail alignment is identified within the selected or approved corridor.
Scope Considerations
Depending on the project, the scope should consider and clearly define:
Planning area and the trail connections, destinations, or other objectives the corridor should address.
Number and approximate width or extent of corridors or alternatives to be evaluated.
Intended trail users, experiences, trail types, and applicable design criteria.
Required desktop analysis, GIS analysis, mapping, or other corridor evaluation.
Required field investigation or ground-truthing.
Known or anticipated control points, including opportunities, constraints, destinations, crossings, access points, and other locations the corridor should connect with or avoid.
Physical, environmental, regulatory, land ownership, access, and other factors to be evaluated.
Criteria for comparing and refining corridor alternatives.
Required coordination with landowners, agencies, stakeholders, or other project partners.
Required level of cost, constructability, permitting, or other implementation analysis.
Required corridor recommendations, mapping, GIS data, and other deliverables.
Owner-Provided Information
The owner should provide the following, if available and applicable:
Existing plans, studies, reports, assessments, or previous corridor work.
Available mapping, GIS data, surveys, aerial imagery, topographic data, or property information.
Information on existing trails, roads, facilities, infrastructure, access points, destinations, and land uses.
Known control points, opportunities, constraints, or areas to avoid.
Known land ownership, easements, agreements, or jurisdictional boundaries.
Known environmental, cultural, regulatory, permitting, or resource constraints.
Applicable agency or land-manager plans, policies, standards, or design criteria.
Previous stakeholder, agency, landowner, or public engagement and relevant findings.
Deliverables
Depending on the scope, deliverables may include:
Trail corridor map(s) showing the location and width of the proposed corridor(s).
Identification of significant positive and negative control points.
Alternative corridor maps and evaluation, when applicable.
Recommended or preferred trail corridor(s).
GIS/spatial data for identified corridors.
Documentation of the level of field investigation completed and identification of proposed corridors or plan elements that have not been field-verified.
Documentation of significant considerations or tradeoffs that informed corridor selection.
Recommended next steps for field design, additional studies, permitting, environmental review, or approvals.
Pricing & Payment Considerations
The solicitation should clearly define the anticipated level of effort and pricing considerations, including:
Size and complexity of the project area.
Approximate trail mileage or extent of the proposed trail system.
Number of corridors or alternatives to be developed and evaluated.
Information and GIS/spatial data provided by the owner versus information the contractor is expected to obtain or develop.
Expected GIS/spatial analysis and mapping.
Number of site visits or anticipated field days.
Level of field reconnaissance or ground-truthing required.
Mobilization and travel requirements, including whether travel time and expenses should be included in the proposed price or reimbursed separately.
Meetings, presentations, and coordination requirements.
Whether specialized resource or technical studies are included or will be provided separately.
Pricing may be structured as a lump sum or time and materials with a not-to-exceed amount, depending on how clearly the required level of effort can be defined.
Common Scope & Contracting Issues
Not clearly defining the expected corridor width or who is responsible for determining it.
Using corridor and alignment interchangeably without defining the expected level of design.
Expecting corridor planning to establish a construction-ready trail alignment.
Not identifying known positive and negative control points or who is responsible for identifying them.
Not defining the number of corridor alternatives to be developed or evaluated.
Not distinguishing between desktop/GIS analysis and required field investigation.
Not defining the criteria or process for selecting a preferred corridor when alternatives are being considered.
Not accounting for land manager, permitting, or environmental review requirements that may affect corridor location or width.
Assuming environmental, cultural, engineering, or other specialized technical studies are included without specifically identifying them.
Assuming corridor mileage will equal final constructed trail mileage. As the specific trail alignment is developed within the corridor, turns, grade changes, control points, and terrain can increase the actual trail length. A final alignment may be approximately 5–7% longer than the corridor-level estimate, depending on site conditions and design.