East Mountain Trails & Bikeways Master Plan - Bernalillo County

trailheads (2-5 parking spaces), c) neighborhood
access points (no parking spaces), and d) major
recreation use areas. The major recreation use
areas are the locations where a dedicated trail
use, in conjunction with an organized trail user
group and a willing landowner, could occur after
detailed planning and responsibilities are formally
outlined in an agreement.
The major recreation use areas are proposed as
a concept in response to motorized
recreational users who enjoy ATV, motorbike,
and off-road jeep use. Some of these users
participated in the steering committee and public
meetings. Motorized recreational uses are
allowed within the Cedro Peak Recreational Area
managed by the Sandia Ranger District and
within the Master Plan area. Almost all proposed
trail corridors are within ¼ mile of a residence,
school or within NMDOT or Bernalillo County
rights-of-way and are therefore currently off-limits
to motorized users. Bernalillo County and
NMDOT do not allow recreational motorized uses
within their respective rights-of-way. County
Ordinance 58-105, prohibits operation of
motorized recreational vehicles within ¼ mile of
any residence or school, except on private
property. Development of major recreation use
areas for motorized users will be facilitated by
Bernalillo County only if and when such users
have an established organization, commit to
stewardship of the land, and are willing to enter
into binding agreements with underlying
landowners. The New Mexico State Legislature
adopted ATV legislation in 2005 that could affect
future development of motorized parks and trails.
Future trail funding is expected to come from
federal, state, local, and possibly grant sources
listed below. Adoption of this Master Plan by the
Board of County Commissioners and inclusion of
identified NMDOT and BCPWD maintained roads
in the MRCOG’s Transportation Improvement
Program are necessary requirements for funding
by federal and state sources.
• Federal – Transportation Equity Act for the
21 st Century and its successor (subject to
Congressional approval in 2005), Surface
Transportation Program Enhancements,
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality,
National Highway System, and Recreational
Trails Federal Grant Program
• State – New Mexico Legislative Capital
Outlay or Memorial appropriation bills, Land
and Water Conservation Fund
• Local – Bernalillo County’s “Five Percent
Trail Set Aside” Ordinance (Chapter 2, Article
4), East Mountain Park Impact Fees
(Chapter 46)
Trail corridor projects are prioritized in the
Master Plan, but priorities are intended to be
flexible in order to respond to segment-specific
funding or road rehabilitation opportunities,
private sector development timing or growth
pressures, and public demand. The top three
area segments for implementation are Frost
Road, Gutierrez Canyon Road, and Juan Tomas
Road.
Future trail development implementation will
be an on-going process. BCPR has received not
only formal support for the Master Plan from the
East Mountain Coalition of Neighborhoods and
Landowner Associations, but has also secured
their commitment to serve as a Trails Advocacy
Committee. It is envisioned that over the longterm,
the Trails Advisory Committee will work
with BCPR and BCPWD on designing trail
segments, pursuing trail development funds,
serving as “eyes and ears” on trail maintenance
and enforcement issues, serving as a liaison to
neighborhood associations, and developing a
trail steward program. The National Park Service
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Program has agreed to work with BCPR and the
East Mountain Coalition in 2005 to facilitate their
involvement in plan implementation.
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EAST MOUNTAIN TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS MASTER PLAN