State Legislative Action Alert: Invest in Bicycle Trails Today

Bicycle trails in Washington state are great. Name them: Centennial Trail in Snohomish County, Fish Lake Trail in Spokane, Bill Chipman Palouse Trail between Pullman and Moscow, Burke Gilman Trail in King County.  They’re places we go to teach kids how to bicycle and routes we take to commute to work and school. Trails that support bicycling, walking, jogging, and other activities serve as integral connections and sources of pride for cities and towns across Washington.

A beautiful day on Spokane’s Fish Lake Trail

While we can name many of these trails, our work is not done. Many of these great trails for bicycling still have gaps and many more remain great visions for the future.

Right now, the Washington State Senate is working to develop the state’s capital construction budget and we need your help to let them know that trail investments are a priority for Washingtonians.

Many of our state’s bicycle trails depend on investments from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP). Funded through the capital construction budget, WWRP has a track record of growing our state’s trail network through a competitive grant process that requires community leadership and support. In the next two years, we have an opportunity to invest in eight great trail projects in every corner of the state.

Our friends at the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition are leading the charge. This year, over 280 organizations (including BAW) representing business, recreation and conservation are asking for $90 million for the WWRP in the state’s capital construction budget. A number of great bicycle trail projects would be funded if the state invests $90 million for WWRP, including these:

If you happen to live near one of these trails or know them well, contact your state senator and convey the following:

• The Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program plays a key role in Washington’s quality of life and $22 billion dollar outdoor recreation economy by protecting wildlife habitat, preserving working farms, and providing state and local parks. Of particular interest to me are the bicycle trails that this program funds.
• The WWRP grant program is time-tested, proven and fair. A nationally recognized independent ranking system not only ensures that only the best projects are funded but also that communities across the state, large and small, can fairly compete for limited state dollars.
• Will you support the WWRP (and the specific bicycle trail projects of interest) at $90 million?

Thank them and let them know that today is the time to make a great investment in Washington state.