East Mountain Trails & Bikeways Master Plan - Bernalillo County

Priorities were based on:
• relative need currently, (e.g. emphasis and
interest from community meetings or
relatively large number of recreational users
that would benefit from facility immediately)
• relative cross functionality, (e.g. crossing
would serve both school kids and recreation
enthusiasts)
• potential for completing a circuit or link, (e.g.
creating an access trail and trailhead to an
existing Forest Service trail)
• ease of implementation, (e.g. private land
owners already interested in working with
County to conveying easement, or facility
already partly built)
• likelihood of being implemented through the
development process, (e.g. parcel where trail
corridor is located is likely to come before the
county for site plan review, or rural road
facility is likely to be upgraded under County
paving schedule)
The Technical Appendix contains a preliminary
effort to identify multiple and specific
improvements within most of each of the
generalized segments. Generalized costs are
also identified.
After plan adoption, the County will work with the
East Mountain Coalition of Neighborhoods and
Landowners and other agencies and
departments to secure funding for the “high” and
“medium to high” segments.
Section B. Funding Sources &
Strategies
There are several funding sources and strategies
open to the County in the implementation
process. For the purposes of the plan, they have
been divided into four categories, Federal, State,
Local and Private Sector/volunteer. Full
implementation of the Master Plan will require a
combination from all of these sources.
1. Federal Programs &
Opportunities
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
administers the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA-21), which expired in
2002 and has not been renewed by Congress,
(currently extended through May of 2005).
This Act allows use of federal highway funds
for non-motorized transportation projects.
Bicycle, trail or sidewalk projects may be
included in a larger roadway project or may
compete with other roadway projects for
funding in the categories listed below under the
existing TEA-21 legislation. The proposed
successor to TEA-21 may include other funding
opportunities and constraints. Except for the
Recreational Trails Program, these funds are
programmed through the Mid-Region Council
of Governments. MRCOG’s involvement with
the County will be necessary for federal funds.
- Surface Transportation Program
Enhancements, (STPE), eligible
projects include sidewalks and paths,
striping, lighting and signing.
- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality,
(CMAQ), may be used for bikeways and
trails with a transportation purpose in
non-attainment areas (Bernalillo County).
- National Highway System (NHS) may
be used to construct bicycle facilities on
lands adjacent to any highway on the
National Highway System.
- Surface Transportation Program
(STP), may be used for construction of
on-street bike facilities and shoulders.
- Hazard Elimination and Railway-
Highway Crossing Programs funds
corrections to locations dangerous to
motorists and bicyclists.
- Recreational Trails Federal Grant
Program (RTP) is administered by the
New Mexico State Parks Division of the
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources
Department. The RTP program provides
funds to states to develop and maintain
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EAST MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS MASTER PLAN