Either the Port Townsend Leader misquoted BOCC candidate Tim Thomas regarding the ODT-E or he got it wrong. 

In late September (when I was in Utah) the Leader quoted Mr.  Thomas as saying at a candidates' forum that “we [the County] just got $1 million for the Larry Scott Trail to connect up or whatever, to research it or however they’re going to do it. … they just spent a million bucks and they want another $4 million or $5 million to connect the trail … How important is that into our community when we have nowhere to live.”  (Leader, September 28, 2016, p. A-5.)  

What Mr. Thomas said -- or is quoted as saying -- was incorrect.  

First, the $1 million that the state legislature authorized for planning, acquisition and development of the Olympic Discovery Trail from Four Corners to the head of Discovery Bay has not yet been spent by the County.  Rather, the County is in the process of studying possible route alternatives and their costs to determine whether such a trail connection is reasonably feasible.  The County is expected to spend less than a tenth of the legislatively-authorized funds on the route planning study.  

Second, the cost of the trail connection is not yet known, and will be carefully estimated as part of the County's route planning study.  

Third, Mr. Thomas incorrectly implies that the County is improperly spending money on a trail rather than using it for more important community housing needs.  The funds Mr. Thomas is referring will come from a state legislative appropriation for the Recreation and Conservation Office (the "RCO").  Funds appropriated by the legislature for recreation and conservation are not available to address the County’s housing problems.  In planning and developing the ODT-Eaglemount section, the County is not using -- and will not be using -- scarce County resources that might better be spent on housing.  As the Leader has reported, the "County relies on grants for road, trail projects.”  (Leader, October 4, 2016, p. A-9.)  Grant sources for trails include (but are not limited to) the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Program, the “Trails" category of the of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation program, the Recreational Trails Program, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program, and the Federal Lands Access program.  None of these grant sources can be used to address Mr. Thomas’ very-legitimate concern about the lack of affordable housing in the County.  

Finally, Mr. Thomas (as quoted) incorrectly suggests that the proposed ODT-Eaglemount trail is relatively unimportant to the community.  I strongly disagree.  In my view, the trail is vitally important to the citizens of the County -- for safety, health and economic reasons:    

• Safety.  As discussed in my earlier blog posts, travel on SR 20 from Four Corners to Discovery Bay is very dangerous -- for both motorized and non-motorized users.  Any motorist who has tried to drive by a cyclist or hiker on the SR 20 Eaglemount hill knows how risky and frustrating it is.  As a Washington State Patrolman has written to the County:

“I know firsthand how dangerous it is.  For the safety of everyone—both motorists and non-motorists—we encourage inclusion of a feasibility study of a recreational trail alternative in the County’s TIP.”

• Health.  Washington law requires planning that promotes physical activity, and requires a County comprehensive plan to “include a pedestrian and bicycle component to … address and encourage enhanced community access and promote healthy lifestyles.”  The legislature has thus recognized what everyone knows: physical activities like cycling, walking, skating, horseback riding, rollerblading, etc, increase good health and reduce healthcare costs.    

• Economics.  The ODT-Eaglemount connection will be of great economic benefit to the County and its citizens.  The Olympic Discovery Trail draws national and world travelers, hikers and cyclists.  It increases the attractiveness of the areas it serves for hotels and motels, restaurants, businesses, employers, and homeowners.  The Eaglemount section will finally connect Port Townsend to Discovery Bay, Sequim, Port Angeles, Forks and the coast.  It will complete the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail which runs from Glacier National Park through Jefferson County to the coast.  The immense economic benefits to communities that are connected by recreational trails have been well documented.  See, for example, When Washington Bikes, It Brings Billions of Bucks: http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/when-washington-bikes-it-brings-billions-of-bucks-part-1/ and http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/when-washington-bikes-it-brings-billions-of-bucks-part-2/.  Over $3.1 billion is spent statewide every year on bicycling alone, with trip-related expenditures accounting for 96% of the economic impact of bicycling.