East Mountain Trails & Bikeways Master Plan - Bernalillo County

Chapter V. Phasing & Implementation
Completion and adoption of the East Mountain
Trails and Bikeways Master Plan represents only
the beginning of a process that will result in the
creation of a fully functional trails and bikeways
system. The implementation process envisioned
by the Master Plan will take place over the next
two to three decades. The level of coordination
among different agencies during this Master Plan
will be key to full implementation over the long
term. The ongoing involvement of the East
Mountain community through the East Mountain
Coalition of Neighborhood and Landowner
Associations, other user groups, and community
stakeholders are also critically important.
Bernalillo County emphasizes and recognizes
the land management authority and
jurisdiction of the United State Forest
Service/Sandia Ranger District on its lands.
Many desired trail improvements throughout
the East Mountains are outside of the
County’s scope to implement.
Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation
Department (BCPR) and Bernalillo County Public
Works Division (BCPW) will be the primary
agencies responsible for implementing the East
Mountain Trails and Bikeways Master Plan
outside of the Cibola National Forest. Staff from
these two agencies normally involved in trail
projects will handle short-term implementation
(< 3 years). Short-term implementation funding
will come from the County’s “Five-Percent Set
Aside” ordinance, East Mountain Park impact
fees, and any specific capital outlay
appropriations obtained by a legislator
representing the East Mountains. Excluding trail
projects associated with subdivision and/or
special use permit land use approvals, County
staff cannot undertake more than a couple of trail
corridor projects within three years of plan
adoption because of staffing and funding
limitations.
The East Mountain Coalition of Neighborhoods
and Landowners will be involved in the shortterm
and long-term implementation of this plan.
Though further coordination will be an on-going
process, the County has reached general
agreement with the Coalition about their longterm
assistance in:
1. Supporting the adoption of the EM Trails
Plan before the County Planning
Commission and the Board of County
Commissioners.
2. Promoting trail awareness and
maintenance by volunteering on National
Trails Day (first Saturday of June),
possibly in conjunction with trail
development and stewardship activities
on County Open Space properties that
will be undertaken with Talking Talons
Youth Leadership, Inc..
3. Establishing a permanent trails subcommittee
to work with the County and
developers.
4. Participating in securing trail easements.
5. Helping to develop promotional
information for distribution to the media,
residents, etc.
6. Participating in periodic revisions of trail
corridor development priorities.
Involving the East Mountain Coalition in plan
implementation will be aided tremendously by the
National Park Service RTCA technical assistance
grant for 2005. This effort will help the Coalition
establish themselves as a plan partner and
gradually increase their organizational capacities
relative to plan implementation.
During the on-going implementation process,
priorities may shift from those outlined in this
chapter depending on the opportunities that
emerge through future development and open
space acquisition processes. As priority projects
are decided upon, the County will identify funding
sources and partners at the Federal, State and
EAST MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS MASTER PLAN Page 59