Santa Fe Trail Scenic & Historic Byway
Corridor Management Plan


Section 6

People's Involvement and Responsibilities

Table of Contents

Leadership and Organizations

Action Plan and Schedule

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Leadership and Organizations

The success of the Santa Fe Trail and Byway projects to date is due to the ongoing participation of numerous federal, state, and local government agencies, private sector organizations and individuals. A core group of advocates for the Santa Fe Trail have initiated and accomplished significant improvements in recent years. Multiple federal and state agencies have contributed management, financial as well as technical expertise to the SFT and Byway. These agencies include the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Byways Commission, Colorado Historical Society, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
In addition, significant local support has been provided by a variety of community leaders. Support has been provided by over 200 city council members and county commissioners and 41 local governments in the six county region. An overview of select agencies and their respective roles is provided below.

Santa Fe Trail and Byway Participants

 Agencies/Participants  Description
 National Park Service (NPS)
  • Oversight for Santa Fe Trail
  • Technical assistance
  • Historical review agency
  • Funded portion of Bent Fort Access, SFT web site
 United States Forest Service (USFS)
  • Managed Comanche National Grassland
 Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
  • Byway Commission
  • Local field office for technical support
  • Funded CMP
  • State roadway construction and maintenance
 Southeast Enterprise Development, Inc. (SECED)
  • Coordinated oversight for CMP
  • Operates Southeast Colorado Enterprise Zone
  • Co-sponsored Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway Application
  • Advertises and promotes the six county, southeast Colorado region
  • Participant in Great Plains State Park and Wildlife Area project development
  • Funded development of John Martin Reservoir Trail
 Trinidad/Las Animas CED, Inc.
  • Santa Fe Byways Steering Committee-14 members
  • Drafted and acquired ISTEA grants
  • Administers and coordinates completion of interpretive media projects
  • Promotes economic development for Las Animas County
  • Participant in development of Purgatourie River Walk
  • Assists in promotion of annual Santa Fe Trail Festival
 Southeast Council of Governments
  • Thirty one local government members
  • Participate in grants, funds or services from government agencies or private sources 
 Mountains and Mesas Enterprise Zone
  • Coordinated oversight for CMP
  • Operates two-county Enterprise Zone
  • Co-sponsored Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Application 
 Bent's Fort Chapter of Santa Fe Trail Association
  •  Over 115 members, including members from various agencies such as Comanche National Grassland.
  • Preservation committee with sign, mapping and resource sub-committees
 Arkansas Valley Chambers of Commerce
  •  Six counties in southeastern Colorado
  • Over 200 members
 Trinidad/Las Animas Chamber of Commerce  
 Huerfano Chamber of Commerce  
 Huerfano/Las Animas Council of Governments  
 Trinidad Historical Society/Museum  
 Bent County Historical Society  

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Action Plan and Schedule


The following table summarizes each strategy adopted for managing the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway. A schedule for projects was assigned based on whether the it would be completed in the short-term, mid-term, or long-term. These time frames are defined as: short term is one to two years, mid-term is two to five years and long term represents anything five years and over.

 Project/Strategy

 Schedule

  Priority
 Road Improvements    
 Bent's Old Fort Direct Access bridge and 2-lane road,  after 2002  High
 Minor Resurfacing and construction- all counties  1997-2002  High
 Highway 50 Reconstruction - Arkansas River to south Lamar limits  after 2002  Medium
 Highway 50 Reconstruction - Wiley Junction to Ark. River  after 2002  High
 Highway 50 Reconstruction/drainage east of Hasty at Lubers Ditch  after 2002  Low
 Highway 50 Bridge over Otero Canel 1 .4 miles east of SH 109  2002  Low
 Highway 350 Bridge over draw 5.5 miles north of SH 71  after 2002  Low
 I-25 Guard rails  1997  Medium
 I-25 Striping  1998, 2000, 2002  Medium
 Highway 350 Bridge at mile post 7  five years and over  High
 Shoulder widening  five years and over  Medium-High
 Highway 50 4-lane, state line to La Junta  five years and over  High
 Redesign 50/350 junction  five years and over   Low
 Intrinsic Quality Management    
 Baseline inventories  one to two years  High
 Colorado Scenic Byway  one to two years  High
 Outdoor art program  one to two years  Medium-High
 Festivals and fairs  two to five years  Medium-High
 John Martin Res. to Boggsville trail  two to five years  High
 Boggsville to Bent's Old Fort trail  two to five years  High
 Trinidad to Raton Pass trail  two to five years  High
 Trinidad to El Moro trail  two to five years  High
 Water Rights acquisition  five years and over  High
 New parks  one to two years  High
 New recreation opportunities  two to five years  High
 Comprehensive planning  two to five years  High


 Interpretive   Schedule  Priority
 Educational resources for schools  two to five years  Medium
 Library activities  two to five years  Medium
 Volunteer training  one to two years  High
 NPS certification  one to two years  Medium
 Living history  one to two years  High
 SFTA: Bent's Fort Chapter  two to five years  Medium
 Tourism Facilities and Services    
 Rest Areas/Pullouts/Picnic Areas    
 Raton Pass rest area/entry point  two to five years  High
 Holly rest area  one to two years  High
 Rest areas - Highway 350  five years and over  High
 Clarence Couch Park (CAVI)  two to five years  High
 Picnic area - Bloom Hill town site  two to five years  Medium
 Bottled water at visitor sites  two to five years  High
 Campgrounds    
 John Martin Reservoir campgrounds  two to five years  High
 Camping areas - Comanche National Grassland  two to five years  High
 Beach/camping - Trinidad Lake State Park  two to five years  High
 Other campgrounds  two to five years  Medium
 Motels    
 Increase number  one to two years  Low
 Restaurants    
 Geographic dispersal  five years and over  Low
 Diversify type and quality  two to five years  High
 Information/Welcome Centers    
 Hospitality training  one to two years  High
 Dedicated display racks  one to two years  High
 Visitor surveys  two to five years  Medium


 Commerce Schedule  Priority
 Warning signs re agricultural traffic/conflicting uses  two to five years  High
 Pullouts/passing lanes -high agricultural area  two to five years  High
 Promote access to Santa Fe Trail at La Junta Junction with  two to five years  High
 Highway 50    
 Bike racks, horse trailer parking  two to five years  High
 Signs/Outdoor Advertising    
 Advance signs - DAR markers  two to five years  High
 Advance sign -John Martin Reservoir  two to five years  High
 Advance sign - Clarence Couch Park (CAVI)  two to five years  High
 Distance sign - Sierra Vista Overlook  two to five years  High
 Advance sign - Madonna of Trail  one to two years  High
 On site sign - Lamar Visitor Center  one to two years  High
 Directional signs - Trinidad Welcome Center  one to two years  High
 Trail crossing signs  one to two years  High
 Santa Fe National Historic Trail sign & marker descriptions -Sierra Vista Overlook  one to two years  High
 Relocate SFT/CSB signs - Las Animas & La Junta  one to two years  Medium
 Information signs on 1-25  one to two years  High
 Review and adopt sign codes  two to five years  High
 Review other byway signing programs  five years and over  Low
 Marketing and Promotion    
 FAM Tours  one to two years  Medium
 Press Kits/Releases  one to two years  High
 Package Tours for Groups  one to two years  High
 Organized Recreational Events/Benefits  one to two years  High
 International Promotions  one to two years  High
 Advertising in National/Regional magazines  two to five years  Medium
 Trade Show Delegates  two to five years  Medium
 State Fair Booth  one to two years  Low
 Map  one to two years  High
 T-shirts/revenue producing souvenirs  five years and over  Low
 Brochure edits/reprints  one to two years  High
 Marketing Director/Advertising Contract  two to five years  Medium

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Interpretive Management Plan

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