[MA-RPC] ATC draft comments available on the web

[Walt Daniels]

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/protect/issues/access.html

This is a very extensive list. I have not seen anything they have missed,
but still looking.

I think we need to take a slightly different tack since we actually have no
USFS land and are not directly affected. We need to remind USFS that they
are setting a precedent that others will follow. To the extent that they can
remove FS jargon or at least explain it that will help us.

Some of the material we should take as a warning of things we can or cannot
do that might make compliance more or less of a problem. For example, it is
critical to get the right definition of "trailhead". MidAtlantic frequently
has road crossing every 2-3 miles. If each of these get labeled as a
trailhead we will have much more of the trail where we have to pay close
attention to ADA guidelines. ATC has some comments about trailheads and
wants more clarification, e.g. a pullout parking spot with no facilities is
not a trailhead. A parking lot with a bulletin board starts looking like a
trailhead. Outdoor Recreation Access Routes, ORAR, is another concept we
have to watch for compliance issues. The fewer sidetrails that are ORAR the
better.

Some of the USFS regs extend those of the Access Board. To the extent that
their extensions are good for the AT we need to support them. Otherwise we
might be subject to more restrictive Access Board rules.

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.1 - Release Date: 4/1/2005