Funding Request to PDA
Project: Olympic Discovery Trail
Date: June, 2007
Lead on project: Russ Veeneman, Olympic Peninsula Joint Marketing Committee, Executive Director, Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. 360.385.7869
Project Phase: Development and Implementation:
Funding Request: Four priorities for consideration up to $500,000 each
As a member of the Joint Marketing Council I would like to submit a request to the PDA for funding a variety of projects for the Olympic Discovery Trail. This trail is primarily known as a wonderful addition to our tourism product on the Olympic Peninsula, but it is so much more. It has shown to be a powerful tool for increasing real estate interest near the trail for residential and commercial applications. The trail also has terrific potential to be a non-motorized transportation link. When completed we will link the ferry operations of Washington State and the private ferry operators from Port Angeles to Victoria. This would allow us access to the Galloping Goose Trail in Victoria and ferry access to the San Juan Islands for the popular island destinations. In addition the trail runs very close to the bus lines of Kitsap and Clallam Transit. This access gives users a wonderful opportunity for destination rides with a return trip via the bus. We also now have several events that would not exist if not for the trail. These events with the Discovery Marathon having the highest visibility, bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to our community each year.
The trail has been developed mostly through grant funding, volunteer labor, and the generosity of land owners. We are reaching some critical growth points and some significant funding would make a big difference to complete the dream of a trail connecting the Olympic Peninsula communities. With this in mind we submit the following for your review.
For questions or additional information contact
Rich James 360 417 2290 Russ Veenema 360 452 2363 X 13
Transportation Program Manager Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce
Clallam County
The top priority project for the development of the Olympic Discovery Trail would be to ensure sufficient project funding to allow construction of the pedestrian portion of the bridge that will replace the Elwha River One Lane Bridge. This project will connect the existing 30 miles of Olympic Discovery Trail east of Port Angeles with the recently completed 24 miles of trail in the Adventure Route segment of the trail located west of the Elwha River and leading to Lake Crescent. This project will construct a 700 foot long, 14 foot wide pedestrian bridge across the Elwha River and build 2 miles of trail extending from the western City limit of Port Angeles down to the bridge crossing. The completed project would be a "Destination Site" on the trail with outstanding views of the Elwha River, the Elwha Valley, the Strait and the Olympic Mountains. There is an urgent need for up to $1,000,000 of additional grant funding to allow the County to award the bid for the bridge project. The total Elwha River Bridge project cost is $19,700,000 of which $16,400,000 would be for construction. The other project partners include the State Department of Transportation contributing $10,500,000 of Federal bridge funding, the City of Port Angeles contributing railroad right of way, the National Park Service contributing $1,800,000, the Bureau of Indian Affairs contributing $1,500,000 and the Elwha Tribe contributing a $500,000 grant if they receive the grant award. The County is supplying $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 of County Road funds for the project. If the County could receive some positive indication on the availability of grant funding for this project in the next 2 weeks it might convince the County to go forward with the award process on this vitally needed linkage in the trail system. This is an opportunity to contribute to a vitally needed project and an opportunity not to be lost.
The second priority for grant funding in Clallam County would be to fund a new bridge within Sequim Bay State Park to allow the trail to cross over a steep ravine. This project would require approximately $500,000 of project funding to construct a 300 foot long bridge.
The third priority for grant funding would be the funding of the Dry Creek Bridge within the City of Port Angeles. This is also a 300 foot long bridge that would require approximately $500,000 of project funding.
The fourth priority for project funding would be in Jefferson County. It would be to acquire 1.5 miles of the right of way for the Olympic Discovery Trail beside US 101. This acquisition would complete a route for the Olympic Discovery Trail from the east Clallam County line to Discovery Bay.
The fifth priority for the trail would fund the construction of replacement bridges and trail at the mouth of Snow Creek at Discovery Bay. This project would likely be in the $500,000 range also.
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1 comment:
This looks great and adds a communication tool to our toolbox. I think we should have a training session on using the blog at one of our next PDA meetings.
Great work,
Bob
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