Developing and Testing a Process to Evaluate the Benefits of Federal Land Management Agency Alternative Transportation Systems

America’s national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management – managed lands, which were created to protect unique environmental and cultural treasures, are now facing traffic, pollution and crowding that diminishes the visitor experience and threatens the environment. To address these concerns, programs such as the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks (TRIP) Program have provided funding for alternative transportation systems (ATS), such as ferry facilities, shuttle buses, rail connections and bicycle trails. After an alternative transportation improvement is implemented, it is beneficial to determine how well it achieves its original objectives. In the fall of 2012 through spring of 2013, TRIPTAC (TRIP Technical Assistance Center) conducted a study to develop a process that can be used to evaluate the benefits of projects funded by the TRIP program. The team chose study locations based on multiple criteria such as agency, type of unit (rural, urban, etc.), and type of ATS (bus vehicle, trail facility, etc.). The team assessed projects implemented in each of the locations in two ways: how well they achieved the measures of effectiveness related to TRIP program goals, and how well they achieved the management’s purpose for the grant. Findings from this study suggested that many individual units do not have the expertise to systematically evaluate the benefits of ATS; therefore, it is recommended that FLMAs (Federal Land Management Agencies) create and support a process to evaluate ATS projects. A framework is proposed to assist FLMAs to select goals, objectives, and potential performance metrics and procedures to implement evaluations.