Forest Service Transportation Assistance Groups (TAGs)

The goal of a TAG is to provide transportation-focused technical assistance to public land agencies. This technical assistance often includes the following:

Analyzing existing conditions
Identifying transportation problems and needs
Making recommendations for future transportation planning and solutions
Assisting in scoping and strengthening funding requests

A TAG is composed of an interagency team of transportation professionals that generally includes USFS Headquarter and/or regional staff, staff from Federal Lands Highway and the Federal Transit Administration, and a representative from Volpe.

A TAG's involvement with a forest consists of preliminary research, a two- to three-day site visit, a final report, and a follow-up review. A TAG visit generally consists of a meeting with forest staff, a tour of the area, a meeting with agency and community stakeholders, a work session for the TAG, and a final briefing with the forest. After the TAG visit, the team creates a report to document its findings and recommendations. The follow-up review occurs six or more months after the TAG visit and is intended to provide assistance and to review the unit's progress in implementing the TAG's recommendations.

TAGs can be funded by the Washington Office, regional offices, or forest, and conducted by Volpe, Federal Lands Highway, or others. However, local FS staff time for pre-TAG preparation, coordination, and follow-up are required for a TAG.

Where have TAGs been held?

TAGs for alternative transportation have been conducted for the Forest Service as well as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Park Service (NPS) since 2006 and are based on a similar series of TAGs conducted by NPS as parts of its Alternative Transportation Program. See the examples below for a list of recent Forest Service TAGs. Following MAP-21, USFWS has begun to conduct TAGs in eastern states in preparation for calls for projects for the Federal Lands Access program.

What is the forest's role in the TAG?

Unit staff make logistical preparations for and actively participate in all phases of the TAGs, including reviewing the final report and implementing the recommendations contained within the report. Some TAGs lead to successful applications for transportation implementation funds; others suggest ways that units can address their transportation needs without the need to apply for implementation funding.

How does a forest request a TAG?

To request a TAG, contact your regional office or the Washington Office, which will determine the best course of action based on the transportation needs described.

Example TAG Reports

USFS TAG reports are listed below. Additional reports can be found across the Volpe Public Lands Team website, organized by federal land management agency.

USFS only TAGS
Year	Forest Unit	State	Purpose	Outcome
2006	Tri-Canyons / Wasatch-Cache National Forest (PDF, 266KB)	UT	Address feasibility of bus shuttle and other forms of alternative transportation.	Forest obtained an FY 2007 ATPPL planning grant for $204,000 for a feasibility study and an FY 2008 TRIP planning grant for $220,000 for a planning study. Partners Utah Transit Authority and Salt Lake County received FY 2009 TRIP grants for $1.98 million for buses and shelters and $150,000 for a planning study update, respectively.
2006	Coronado National Forest / Sabino Canyon	AZ	Review damage to Sabino Canyon Road and status of tram and recommend options that take account of changed conditions.	Forest obtained an FY 2007 ATPPL planning grant for $180,000 to fund a transportation feasibility study.
2007	White Mountain National Forest (PDF, 1.2MB)	NH	Assess transportation and safety impacts stemming from peak visitation across the entire forest.	Forest implemented several short-term recommendations and obtained FY 2008 TRIP planning grant for $150,000 to fund a planning study.
	El Yunque National Forest (PDF, 207KB)	PR	Review plans for introducing alternative transportation; provide an overview of funding strategies, with a particular focus on ATPPL.	Forest established working relationship with FTA and is working to move forward with an earmarked capital project as well as prospective TRIP activities.
	White River National Forest / Maroon Bells (PDF, 214KB)	CO	Review status of ITS planning and determine extent of forest needs and benefits from ITS improvements being planned by the regional transit agency.	Forest staff now understand how ITS can benefit visitors to the forest, as well as the next steps needed to plan and implement ITS that will help meet visitor needs as well as the mobility needs of the resident population.
2008	Sawtooth National Recreation Area (PDF, 1.1MB)	ID	Identify transportation improvements that can improve the overall visitor experience to the recreation area and its abutting town during disparate winter and summer peak seasons.	Submitted FY 2009 TRIP funding application for new buses but did not receive a grant.
2008	Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area (PDF, 640KB)	KY	Review transportation issues and recommend steps for implementing alternative transportation within LBL while managing automobile-dominant transportation to LBL.	Has not yet pursued submitting a TRIP funding application.
2009	Mt. Hood National Forest (PDF, 466KB)	OR	Clarify and address issues such as congestion, safety, accessibility by private car and transit, parking, and potential conflicts among road users; scope FY 2006 ATPPL planning funds awarded.	Forest is working with the Oregon Department of Transportation and its partners to scope a Mt. Hood Multimodal Transportation Plan, drawing on FY 2006 ATPPL planning funds obtained.
2009	Deschutes National Forest (PDF, 958KB)	OR	Conduct a preliminary study of primary corridors to assist the forest in scoping an alternative transportation feasibility study.	Forest obtained FY 2009 TRIP planning grant for $367,000 to fund a transportation feasibility study.

Multi-agency TAGs with USFS
Year	Other Agencies	Forest Unit	State	Purpose	Outcome
2006	BLM	Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area; Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (PDF, 1.4MB)	NV	Address conflicts related to parking, traffic, safety, growing visitation (and the increasing urbanization of the Las Vegas area), and threats to natural environment.	Forest obtained FY 2007 ATPPL implementation grant for $168,300 for a pilot ski season shuttle.
2007	NPS	Colorado Front Range (PDF, 591KB)	CO	Explore strategies for enhancing alternative transportation access in the context of an innovative regional partnership.	Federal agencies continue to collaborate with one another and have increased efforts to participate in state/regional transportation planning processes.
	NPS, BLM	Eastern Sierra / Inyo National Forest; Devils Postpile National Monument (PDF, 243KB)	CA	Explore partnering opportunities and strategies for enhancing regional alternative transportation access and interagency coordination.	Scope created for study funded by FY 2006 ATPPL grant for $167,000. Forest obtained implementation funding from FY 2007 and FY 2008 TRIP grants for leasing buses ($100,000 and $105,000, respectively) and obtained additional planning funding from two FY 2008 TRIP grants ($200,000 and $350,000). Finally, partner Eastern Sierra Transit Authority obtained FY 2009 TRIP grant for $1.6 million for purchasing buses.
	NPS, DOI	Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Mt. Rainier National Park (PDF, 1.1MB)	WA	Scope complex transportation needs over a vast area and in the context of many different goals, including serving as a regional open space allowing “Pugetropolis” residents to connect to nature.	Forest obtained FY 2008 TRIP grant for $500,000 for a transportation planning study.
2010	BLM	Durango / San Juan Public Lands Center (PDF, 1.1MB)	CO	Address trailhead congestion and gaps in the SMART 160 trail system and identify opportunities for ATS between the Colorado Trail USFS lands, Lake Nighthorse, and Durango.	The TAG made four recommendations, including continue dialogue and coordination among local stakeholders; apply for a TRIP planning grant to develop an integrated regional public lands alternative transportation plan; implement proposed road improvements and perform a more detailed study for trail access; and determine relevance of SMART 160 to public lands visitor access. A post-TAG visit also identified an opportunity for ATS at the Chimney Rock archaeological site.

Deschutes National Forest TAG team. (Volpe photo)

Last updated: Friday, October 30, 2015