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What is the Trails Strategic Implementation Plan?
In response to growing interest in trails, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is leading a comprehensive interagency planning effort to develop a long-term strategic plan that will guide implementation of a seamless trail network throughout the State. The Trails Strategic Implementation Plan (TSIP) will communicate a vision for trail development in Maryland and will provide policy direction for partner agencies and local governments. When completed in early 2009, the TSIP will serve as a coordinated and strategic approach for developing a connected system of trails throughout the State, improving existing trails, and ensuring smart planning for future trail development. Maryland’s TSIP will follow a framework that is common to strategic plans: - Goals - set a broad strategic direction for Maryland’s trail network.
- Objectives - break down the Goals into manageable components that help to guide future
implementation strategies. - Performance Measures - track progress toward objectives and in turn towards goals through
quantitative metrics. - Implementation Strategies - provide specific actions to take to improve the performance of
Maryland’s trail network and attain the TSIP Goals.
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How is the Trails Strategic Implementation Plan being developed? | 
| Marylander’s want safe, well maintained trails that provide expansive connectivity to places of interest. Given Maryland’s history in pursuing “smart growth”, MDOT sees an opportunity for Maryland’s trails to be utilized more effectively as a practical travel option and to enable trail planning to look beyond traditional recreation purposes. This strategic planning effort will advocate for an integrated Statewide trail system that supports access, mobility, and critical linkages. MDOT recognizes the important role that partner agencies and local governments play in making Maryland’s trails a world class multi-purpose system. In order to achieve this vision, the TSIP will outline shared goals and objectives that will serve as guidance for State agencies and local governments when developing trail systems. A coordinated approach to Maryland’s trail development that encourages collaboration, strengthens partnerships, and promotes a more inclusive planning process will provide valuable direction for partner agencies and local governments. |
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Why is the Trails Strategic Implementation Plan important?
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We want the TSIP to become a living document that that supports State agencies and local governments in
creating a connected trail network. MDOT will collaboratively develop the TSIP in the following ways:
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| Advisory Committee – MDOT has invited partner agencies and representatives of local governments to jointly develop the TSIP. These partners will be represented on the TSIP Advisory Committee, which will act as the guiding body throughout the development of the TSIP. Advisory Committee members represent the following partner agencies: |
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Maryland Association of Counties
Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland Department of Planning
Maryland Department of Transportation
Maryland Municipal League
Maryland State Highway Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
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| Stakeholder Outreach – MDOT will conduct interviews directly with stakeholders across the State that represent an array of interests (i.e., bicycle groups, pedestrian groups, Departments of Parks & Recreation, local governments) as well as with partner agencies involved in Maryland’s trail development in order to gather information on trail issues related to transportation and of Statewide importance. |
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| Consultation and Coordination of Planning Activities – MDOT will review relevant plans and studies to ensure that the TSIP update is consistent with planning efforts and initiatives in the State. |
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MDOT will develop draft goals and objectives using the cross-cutting themes and information we receive from stakeholders and partner agencies. Under the guidance of the Advisory Committee, MDOT will develop performance measures to track progress toward meeting the TSIP goals and objectives and will also cultivate specific action oriented strategies to implement the TSIP. Once complete, MDOT will post the final TSIP on its website. |
