In January of 2016, a funding plan for the ODT-Eaglemount route study was developed and multiple possible funding sources for planning, acquisition and development of the trail were identified.  

This is my first blog post since January 11th -- hard for me to believe -- and the first of what I expect to be several posts to catch up and become current about the progress of the ODT-Eaglemount trail.  Since much has happened, I'll organize these posts chronologically, month-by-month.  

To reiterate an earlier post, on November 16, 2105, the Jefferson County Commissioners authorized a route study for the ODT/Eaglemount trail.  They did not decide to develop the trail.  Their decision whether to acquire land and develop the trail will depend on the results of the study – which will include analysis of the costs of acquisition and development and a report on possible non-County funding sources.  

In late 2015, Jeff Selby and I identified several possible consultants who could do the route study.  One of the candidate consultants – Alta Planning and Design – estimated that it might cost about $75,000 to do the work.  Because Jefferson County’s resources are very limited, the Commissioners decided that the $75,000 for a route study, plus $10,000 for administration, would have to come from non-County sources.  

Norm Dicks and Rep. Tharinger encouraged the Commissioners to authorize the route study, and assured the Commissioners that they would find a funding source for the study and the administrative costs. 

January 2016

Tharinger Funding Plan

In January of 2016, State Rep. Steve Tharinger and others developed a plan to seek legislative approval to allow up to $1,000,000 of unused funds from an earlier legislative authorization to be used for planning and acquisition for the ODT-Eaglemount bypass trail.  

I believe that the $1,000,000 figure came about as follows: 

In late 2015 or January of 2016, Rich James (Clallam County's Public Works transportation program manager, who has been instrumental in getting the ODT built in Clallam County), generated a map of a possible Eaglemount bypass route.  Here’s a link to a map roughly showing the Rich James route:  http://arcg.is/1mlefOK.  The Rich James proposed route is marked with blue highlighting.  The map is not precise in terms of location of the trail.  I'm working with Casey Finedell, a mapping expert (and long-distance bicycler) on a more precise map.  

(Parenthetically, for what its worth, I prefer a different route, marked with yellow highlighting on the linked map. The blue route is arguably more bucolic, staying off Fairmount Road and away from SR 20, but the yellow route is shorter. The two routes cross SR 20 at different locations.  Both routes have some significant topographical challenges.  The blue (James) route would require the acquisition of more private land than the route that I prefer.  Both routes cross City of Port Townsend land, and it is uncertain whether the City will allow that.  If the City ultimately denies access, a totally different route, east of the Eaglemount summit, will probably have to be used.  Also, it is uncertain whether any of the private landowners will agree to have parts of the trail on their properties.  Possibly a fourth route, following the power lines and crossing other private properties, will have to be selected.  All of the possible routes will need to be carefully examined by engineers and/or contractors to verify their feasibility.  Additional public input will have to be solicited before any route is finally selected and recommended to the Commissioners.)

I believe that the $1,000,000 figure resulted from a 2015 conversation between Rep. Tharinger and Mr. James, in which Mr. James estimated the length of his proposed alternative to be about 12 miles (or 63,360 feet).  If a 30 foot right-of-way has to be acquired for all 12 miles, this would total about 1,900,000 square feet, or 43.6 acres.  If acquisition costs averaged $20,000 per acre, the total cost would be about $875,000 (20,000 x 43.6 = 872,727).  That, plus $85,000 for planning and County administrative costs, would bring the figure to just short of $1,000,000.  

I also believe, however, that for any of the possible routes, much of the land required for the trail might not have to be acquired.  For example, using the Rich James proposed route, about 32,000 feet (six miles) would be on publicly-owned property – East Uncas Road, Eaglemount Road, City Lake Road, City Waterline Access Road, DNR Property, Anderson Lake State Park property, PUD #1 property, Four Corners Road and Discovery Road.  Even using the (high) $20,000/acre figure, if the County did not have to buy that land, acquisition costs would be more in the range of $450,000.  Add $100,000 for route planning, and the total for planning and acquisition would be approximately $550,000.  With this in mind, I asked Norm Dicks to suggest to Rep. Tharinger that the legislative authorization  be for “planning, acquisition and development” of the trail.

Possible Funding Sources 

In January I prepared the following list of possible additional funding sources for the trail – assuming the planning consultant’s report would be favorable and would be generated in time for funding applications which would be due in the spring:

• WSDOT’s 2016 Pedestrian and Bicycle Program (PBP), http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/SafeRoutes/CallForProjects.htm   Website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/ATP/funding.htm (applications were due on May 6, 2016)

• Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/factsheets/flap.cfm (applications were due on March 4, 2016)

• Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), http://www.lwcfcoalition.org/in-the-news.html, see http://www.rco.wa.gov/grants/lwcf.shtml. The LWCF program was sunsetted in 2015, but President Obama’s FY 2017 budget recommendations, released on February 4, 2016, included a $900 million continued commitment to full and dedicated funding).  I don’t know when applications might be due

• Non-Highway and Off-Road Vehicle Program (NOVA), http://wdfw.wa.gov/grants/nova/. NOVA applications are accepted in even-numbered years. I don’t know when in 2016 NOVA applications are due.

• WWRP  Washington Wildlife Recreation Program (Trails Category) (WWRP), http://www.rco.wa.gov/grants/wwrp.shtml. I don’t know when WWRP applications are due.

• “In-kind” contributions. The City could possibly record an easement for the trail across its property, and the value of this easement deed could be used for a funding match. Likewise, the DNR to do the same on the  property south of Anderson Lake Road.  (As I understand it -- or possibly misunderstand it -- the DNR easement would be on Forest Transfer Trust land – which is controlled by the County, so the contributory value would actually be coming from the County.)

• Jefferson County reportedly maintains a large fund from its lodging tax.  In October 2105 several people suggested that these funds could be used by the County for the ODT/Eaglemount trail.  We should not ask the County to use these funds for “planning,” since in November 2015 we assured the Commissioners that we would look for non-County funds for the planning project.  If the County decides to proceed with acquisition and development, however, we could request the County to provide match funds from this lodging tax source.

• Fundraising, including additional PTC appeals, events (like the Freddy Pink Concerts), and online fundraising (using social media and fundraising sites) should be used to show community support and raise matching funds.

• The cities of Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles, and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, will all benefit from completion of the ODT.  All could be asked for contributions of matching funds.  There have been some preliminary indications from the S’Klallam Tribe that it might consider making such a contribution. 

• Private sources such as foundations (e.g., Forterra, formerly Cascade Land Conservancy; see Forterra’s “Olympic Agenda” at http://forterra.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Olympic-Agenda-First-Look-Forterra.pdf), health care companies (Jefferson Healthcare, Olympic Medical Center), Chambers of Commerce, and major retailers (REI, Henery Hardware, Home Depot, Costco, etc), could be approached for match contributions.