Project Feasibility Study

Written By Professional Trailbuilders

Scope Tip

A feasibility study should help determine whether and how a project should move forward—not prematurely advance a single solution. Clearly define the questions the study needs to answer and the decisions it is intended to inform.

Scope Item Definition

Establish the purpose and need for a proposed trail project and evaluate its feasibility based on existing plans and management direction, available data, site conditions, resources, opportunities and constraints, costs, permitting requirements, and implementation considerations.

When / Where It Applies

Typically early in a project when:

  • The project need or desired outcome is known, but the appropriate solution has not yet been determined.

  • Multiple potential trail concepts, locations, or approaches are being considered.

  • The owner needs information before committing funding to more detailed planning, design, or construction.

  • Existing management direction, site conditions, environmental or cultural resources, land ownership, access, cost, permitting, or other constraints may affect project feasibility.

  • The owner needs to determine whether and how a proposed project should move forward.

Scope Considerations

Depending on the project, the scope should consider and clearly define:

  • Planning area and proposed project or project concept to be evaluated.

  • Questions the feasibility study is intended to answer and decisions it will inform.

  • Alternatives, corridors, sites, or concepts to be evaluated.

  • Required level of field investigation or ground-truthing.

  • Physical, environmental, regulatory, land ownership, access, and other constraints or opportunities to be evaluated.

  • Intended trail users, experiences, trail types, and applicable design criteria.

  • Required GIS, mapping, spatial analysis, or other technical analysis.

  • Whether preliminary cost, permitting, constructability, operations, or maintenance considerations should be evaluated.

  • Required stakeholder, agency, landowner, or other coordination.

  • Criteria for comparing alternatives and determining feasibility.

  • Required findings, recommendations, mapping, and other deliverables.

  • Applicable land-use plans, management direction, policies, or other planning requirements the project must align with.

Owner-Provided Information

The owner should provide the following, if available and applicable:

  • Existing plans, studies, reports, assessments, or previous feasibility work.

  • Available mapping, GIS data, surveys, aerial imagery, or property information.

  • Information on existing trails, facilities, infrastructure, access, and land uses.

  • 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.

  • Available project funding, schedule, or other known implementation constraints.

Deliverables

Depending on the project, deliverables may include:

  • Purpose and need narrative. 

  • Existing conditions and background summary.

  • Opportunities and constraints analysis and/or map.

  • Summary of applicable management plan and policy considerations.

  • Preliminary project concept or potential corridors, if included in the scope.

  • Preliminary feasibility-level cost estimate or cost range.

  • Permitting and compliance considerations.

  • Identification of data gaps or additional studies needed.

  • Feasibility findings and recommended next steps.

Pricing & Payment Considerations

The solicitation should clearly define the anticipated level of effort and pricing considerations, including:

  • Geographic area to be evaluated.

  • Number of alternatives or concepts to be evaluated, if applicable.

  • Information and data provided by the owner versus information the contractor is expected to obtain.

  • Expected GIS/spatial analysis.

  • Number of site visits or anticipated field days.

  • Mobilization and travel requirements, including whether travel time and expenses should be included in the proposed price or reimbursed separately.

  • Meeting and coordination requirements.

  • Level of cost estimating required.

  • 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 questions the feasibility work is expected to answer.

  • Not distinguishing between information the owner will provide and information the contractor is expected to collect or obtain.

  • Leaving the geographic study area, number of alternatives, or expected level of field investigation undefined.

  • Expecting detailed field design or construction-ready recommendations from a feasibility-level scope.

  • Requiring a definitive construction cost before sufficient planning or design has occurred.

  • Not identifying known management plans, previous decisions, resource constraints, or permitting requirements.

  • Assuming environmental, cultural, engineering, or other specialized technical studies are included without specifically identifying them.

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