Master Plan
Scope Tip
Clearly define which planning and design scope items are included in the Master Plan and the expected level of detail for each. A Master Plan may bring together feasibility, stakeholder engagement, corridor planning, conceptual design, field design, permitting, and other components, and may apply to an entire land management unit, a trail system, or an individual trail. The term “Master Plan” alone is not enough to define the scope.
Scope Item Definition
Develop a comprehensive plan that brings together multiple planning, design, assessment, and implementation components to guide the development or improvement of trails within a defined planning area.
A Master Plan is typically a combination of multiple scope items rather than a single type of work or standardized deliverable. Its scope, complexity, and level of detail should reflect the planning area, project needs, and intended outcomes of the plan.
When / Where It Applies
A Master Plan may be appropriate when multiple planning, design, and assessment components need to be integrated into a coordinated plan for a land management unit, trail system, or individual trail. It may address an existing trail system, development of new trails, or a combination of existing and proposed trails.
The scale of the planning area and the level of detail are separate considerations. A large system-level plan may remain largely conceptual, while a plan for a smaller area may include detailed assessment of existing trails or advance proposed trails through field design, permitting, construction documents, cost estimating, or other implementation steps.
Scope Considerations
Depending on the project, the scope should consider and clearly define:
Geographic planning area and overall purpose of the Master Plan.
Decisions and outcomes the plan is intended to support.
Planning, design, assessment, and other scope items included and the level of detail required for each.
Existing trails, facilities, infrastructure, land uses, and other conditions to be evaluated.
Proposed trails, connections, facilities, or other improvements to be considered.
Intended trail users, experiences, trail types, and applicable design criteria.
Required field investigation, mapping, GIS analysis, assessment, or other data collection.
Applicable land ownership, jurisdictional, environmental, permitting, or resource considerations.
Required cost estimating, prioritization, phasing, or implementation planning.
Required coordination, review, and approval processes.
Final plan, mapping, GIS data, and other required deliverables.
Depending on the project, a Master Plan may incorporate:
Feasibility Study
Stakeholder Engagement
Trail Corridor Planning
Trail Specifications / Design Criteria
Conceptual Trail Plan
Field Trail Design + Alignment
Construction Documents
Project Cost Estimating
Permitting + Compliance Documentation
Assessment of Existing Trails or Trail Systems
Implementation or Phasing Planning
Other project-specific planning, design, assessment, or management components
Not every Master Plan will include all of these components or develop them to the same level of detail. The appropriate combination and level of development should be based on what the plan needs to accomplish and what happens next, such as additional planning or design, permitting and approvals, funding, procurement or bidding, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, or other implementation.
Owner-Provided Information
The owner should provide the information applicable to the individual scope items included in the Master Plan. Refer to the Owner-Provided Information identified under each applicable scope item for more detailed guidance.
At the Master Plan level, the owner should also provide the following, if available and applicable:
Existing plans, studies, reports, assessments, mapping, GIS data, and other available project information.
Project goals, planning area, intended outcomes, and known project requirements or constraints.
Existing trail, facility, and infrastructure information.
Known land ownership, jurisdictional, environmental, permitting, or resource considerations.
Applicable agency standards, policies, planning requirements, or management direction.
Previous stakeholder or public engagement and relevant findings.
Known funding, schedule, phasing, or implementation considerations.
Completed Work / Deliverables
Master Plan deliverables should reflect the individual scope items included and the required level of development for each.
Depending on the scope, deliverables may include:
Findings, recommendations, and documentation resulting from the included planning, design, and assessment scope items.
Proposed trail systems, corridors, conceptual plans, or field-designed alignments, as applicable.
Recommendations for existing trails, proposed trails, or other trail system improvements.
Trail specifications or design criteria.
Maps, GIS data, drawings, graphics, and supporting documentation.
Cost estimates, permitting or compliance documentation, construction documents, or implementation recommendations where included.
Priorities, phasing, sequencing, or recommended next steps.
Final Master Plan integrating the applicable components into a coordinated plan.
The solicitation should identify required formats for the final plan, maps, GIS data, drawings, and other project files.
Pricing & Payment Considerations
Master Plan services are commonly priced as a lump sum or time-and-materials with a not-to-exceed amount, depending on the scope and level of uncertainty.
Level of effort may be affected by:
Size and complexity of the planning area.
Planning, design, and assessment components included.
Number of alternatives or concepts to be evaluated.
Amount of owner-provided information and additional data collection required.
GIS, mapping, field investigation, and assessment needs.
Stakeholder and public engagement.
Level of design development.
Permitting or compliance support.
Cost estimating and implementation planning.
Meetings, presentations, review cycles, and revisions.
Required final deliverables.
For multi-phase projects, payment may also be tied to defined phases, milestones, or deliverables.
Common Scope & Contracting Issues
Requesting a “Master Plan” without defining the individual scope items included.
Assuming the term “Master Plan” represents a standardized level of analysis, design, assessment, or documentation.
Not clearly defining the planning area, intended outcomes, or decisions the plan needs to support.
Not clearly identifying whether the plan addresses existing trails, proposed trails, or both.
Not distinguishing between conceptual planning and work intended to advance specific trails toward permitting, bidding, or construction.
Not defining the expected level of field investigation, ground-truthing, or assessment of existing trails.
Unclear expectations for stakeholder engagement, alternatives analysis, or review and approval cycles.
Not defining required maps, GIS data, cost estimates, implementation recommendations, or other deliverables.
Not identifying permitting, environmental, land ownership, or other known constraints early enough in the planning process.
Expecting additional planning, design, or assessment services beyond the defined Master Plan scope.