Action Alerts

Puget Sound Bike Plan Update: Attend a Workshop

By Guest Blogger | Published February 1, 2017

From Kimberly Scrivener, Senior Planner, Puget Sound Regional Council.

The Puget Sound Regional Council is updating the Regional Bicycle Network and looking for feedback.

The Regional Bicycle Network is a set of existing, planned and aspirational connections that, once built, will connect people to regional destinations through a safe bicycling network.   This is currently part of the adopted Active Transportation Plan; PSRC is updating this network to ensure consistency with recently adopted comprehensive plans and other recent planning efforts.

The update will include:

  1. working with local jurisdictions
  2. hosting charrette style workshops in each county so planners can work with neighboring jurisdictions, public health and bicycle advocacy groups;
  3. working closely with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee as well as other PSRC committees and countywide groups for comment.

More information about the development of the network, what is being updated, and how to submit comments can be found on the PSRC website.

A Pierce County bike plan charrette in 2012. Image courtesy of Puget Sound Regional Council.

A Pierce County bike plan charrette in 2012. Image courtesy of Puget Sound Regional Council.

Meanwhile… SAVE THE DATE for a local charrette style workshop:

Pierce County: Wednesday February 8, 2:00-3:30pm. Tacoma Nature Center (Snake Lake), 1919 S. Tyler Street, Tacoma

King County: Tuesday, February 21, 1–2:30pm. Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, Room 1E-120

Snohomish County: Wednesday March 1, 2:00-3:30pm. Snohomish County Campus, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett

The charrette will be held in the public meeting rooms 1 & 2 on the first floor

Kitsap County: Thursday March 9, 2:30 – 4pm (just after Kitsap’s Transportation Committee meeting). 60 Washington Avenue, Suite 200 Bremerton

Puget Sound Regional Bicycle Network FAQs

What is the Puget Sound Regional Council?

PSRC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Puget Sound Region which includes Kitsap, Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. PSRC is a member organization made up of the cities, counties, transit agencies, tribes and ports and is governed by boards made up of members. PSRC plans regionally for transportation, growth management and economic development.

Why is PSRC developing a Regional Bicycle Network?

This planning effort is part of the region’s Active Transportation Plan which is a component of the Regional Transportation Plan, Transportation 2040.  Both Transportation 2040 and VISION 2040, the region’s plan for growth, call for the development of a regional bicycle network. The Regional Bicycle Network was originally adopted in 2014 and will be updated as part of the 2018 Update. More information about the development and framework can be found in section 4.4 of the Active Transportation Plan.

The purpose of the Regional Bicycle Network is to highlight completed, planned and aspirational linkages that, once built, will connect people of all ages and abilities to regional destinations safely by bicycle. This effort is to highlight local planning efforts, emphasize important regional connections and provides a framework for coordinating across jurisdictional boundaries. It is also a way for PSRC to highlight important gaps in the regional system for decision-makers.

What criteria were used to developed this network?

PSRC spent a year during 2011 and 2012 working closely with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and conducting outreach to local jurisdictions.  The BPAC helped to identify which connections should be most considered when assessing connectivity to regional destinations.   These included a focus on access to centers, major transit destinations, major parks, higher education, military bases and employment hubs as well as connections to the wider regional trail system.

What kind of outreach was conducted during the development of this network?

The BPAC spent many months in 2012 and 2013 conducting peer review, developing the criteria and conducting outreach to local jurisdictions and PSRC committees. This included outreach to PSRC’s Regional Staff Committee, Transportation Operators Committee and the Special Needs Transportation Committee as well as to each of the four countywide transportation committees. PSRC also hosted eight charrettes across the region where local planners and the bicycle community were invited to collaborate and discuss cross-jurisdictional connections. These charrettes in Kent, Lynnwood, Seattle, Bremerton, Everett, Tacoma and Puyallup were well attended.  The final network was recommended by the BPAC in 2013 and ultimately adopted as part of the Active Transportation Plan by the PSRC Policy Boards in 2014.

Is this a bike map that I can use to map my ride?

No. This map should not be used as a bike map (although it does include existing facilities as a background layer). It is an aspirational network of bicycle linkages that together form a regional network connecting people to regional destinations.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, Snohomish County | Comments Off on Puget Sound Bike Plan Update: Attend a Workshop

John Wayne Pioneer Trail Recap and 2017 State Funding Request

By Barb Chamberlain | Published October 20, 2016
Riding toward the east portal of the Boylston Tunnel in the Yakima Training Center grounds. Photo by Mike Sorensen (used by permission).

Riding toward the east portal of the Boylston Tunnel in the Yakima Training Center grounds. Photo by Mike Sorensen (used by permission).

Protecting and funding the John Wayne Pioneer Trail will be one of Washington Bikes’ priorities heading into the 2017 legislative session and beyond. The threat to the trail’s public ownership that emerged at the tail end of the 2015 legislative capital budget process ironically has served to galvanize widespread public support for the trail — Friends of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail formed not just to protect it but to promote, maintain, and develop the nation’s longest rail-trail. At their board retreat in September in South Cle Elum the Friends discussed formation of a coalition and development of a common legislative strategy that can be supported by a broad range of interests.

[Tweet “I signed up for @WABikes enews so I won’t miss #WAleg alerts to help fund/protect John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Join me. #trails #JWPT”]

Guest panel members John Floberg (WA State Parks Foundation Executive Director), Barb Chamberlain (Chief Strategic Officer for WA Bikes/Cascade Bicycle Club) and Jon Snyder (WA Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor) answered questions at the Friends of JWPT board retreat. (Picture courtesy of Friends of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail)

Guest panel members John Floberg (WA State Parks Foundation Executive Director), Barb Chamberlain (Chief Strategic Officer for Washington Bikes/Cascade Bicycle Club) and Jon Snyder (WA Governor’s Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development Policy Advisor) answered questions at the Friends of JWPT board retreat. (Picture courtesy of Friends of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail)

Update from State Parks and Recreation Commission

This recap below from Peter Herzog, Assistant Director of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, provides a concise description of how State Parks has responded to legislative threats and questions about trail management, along with the budget priorities that came out of the Advisory Committee that met several times in 2015. Development of an agency’s recommended budget request is an important step in preparing for the legislative session. We thank the Advisory Committee, State Parks and Recreation Commission, and Parks staff for their work on this.

(Note on usage: The John Wayne Pioneer Trail is also known as the Iron Horse State Park Trail.)

State Parks and Recreation Commission Actions in July at Clarkston

The initial phase of the planning process ended in July with formal adoption by the State Parks and Recreation Commission of a management plan for the trail section from Lind to Malden (see PDF Iron Horse State Park Trail Recommendations Report). The plan includes:

  • A resolution expressing commitment to Washington’s cross-state trail system and authorizing the Director to work with private and public entities to achieve a cross-state trail system. ;
  • Land classifications for the trail which are essentially internal zoning for the trail corridor that provides guidance on the intensity of use and development;
  • A long-term park boundary identifying the area desired for future recreation trail management, which includes the DNR-managed portion of the old Milwaukee Road corridor, the active rail line between Port of Royal Slope and Warden, and all public and private property gaps between Lind and Malden.
  • Direction to staff to work with trail stakeholders to recommend a new trail name that considers establishing a broadly recognizable and marketable identity for the trail;
  • Direction to work with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a transition plan for the DNR-managed trail corridor between the Columbia River at Beverly Bridge and Lind, with a goal of eventual management by State Parks. In Parks conversations with DNR they have indicated a desire to move such a transition forward.

New State Parks Area Manager

State Parks is pleased to introduce new Area Manager, Audra Sims, for the trail segment between Lind and the Idaho Border. Audra also has the Columbia Plateau State Park Trail in her portfolio, along with a number of other parks in the Blue Mountain Park Area.  She comes with a strong background in state parks, general recreation and resource protection.

Her first order of business will be the hiring of vacant ranger positions, including her primary assistant and another park ranger. These key hires in themselves will provide a larger measure of responsiveness and presence along the linear trails in her area. As she transitions into her new role, Audra will develop a strategy to best use social media and traditional meetings to provide interested parties and adjacent property owners with updates on trail work and news.

Ongoing Stakeholder Group

Based on direction provided by the State Parks and Recreation Commission, staff is developing a process to work with trail stakeholders on an ongoing basis.   Initial items for the stakeholder consideration include a new trail name and improving the trail permit and property owner notification process. We expect this stakeholder group to be making recommendations to Commission in 2017.

2017-19 Capital Budget Request

The State Parks and Recreation Commission authorized staff to submit a statewide capital budget totaling approximately $96 million.  State Parks’ capital budget request includes several projects for Iron Horse State Park (see PDF Recommended State Capital and Grant Projects – 2017-19 Biennium). These include:

John Wayne Pioneer Trail Lind to Malden Phase 1 Development ($1,539,000)

This is the first of several phases for the trail segment between Lind and Malden.  Future phases will address construction of the Cow Creek Trestle, repair of the tunnels and trestles at Rock Lake and construction of the trailheads.  Cost for this phase has been revised from earlier estimates. The first phase includes:

  • Design and engineering for Cow Creek Trestle located between Marengo and Ralston,
  • Design and engineering tunnels 43 and 44 and trestles EE-128 and EE-130 along Rock Lake,
  • Rock fall scaling and removal along Rock Lake, and
  • Design and permitting for trailheads at Kenova, Rock Lake, Revere, Marengo, Ralston, and Lind.

Tekoa and Rosalia Trailheads ($999,000)

This project will develop trailhead facilities including sanitary facilities, parking, and orientation signing at Tekoa and Rosalia.

John Wayne Trail – Repair Tunnels Trestles Culverts Ph. 3 ($606,000)

This phased project addresses continued implementation of the Iron Horse State Park Trail Master Plan and will complete needed assessments and repairs to trail trestles, tunnels, culverts, and surfacing within Iron Horse State Park Trail west of Lind. The project will also develop trailheads, campsites, restrooms, and other trail facilities.  This project will also address the Surface Drainage Liner over the Tunnel 50 East Portal.  The first biennium will address design and permitting.  Construction will occur during subsequent biennia and is anticipated to cost approximately $4.3 million.

Kittitas Depot Stabilize and Upgrade Foundation ($110,000)

This project did not make the final capital budget request and may be pursued in future biennia.

Grant Requests

State Parks has secured grant funding for several projects and is seeking additional grant funds to improve Iron Horse State Park Trail.  Projects include:

Malden to Rosalia Grading, Graveling, and Trailheads ($1,745,000)

State Parks has submitted a 2017-19 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) grant request to permit and construct grading and surfacing improvements to the 9-mile section of Iron Horse State Park Trail between the towns of Malden and Rosalia, as well as adding a trailhead facility in Malden.  The primary intent of this project is to upgrade the trail to a standard consistent with the other improved sections of the trail and to make this section accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The project scope includes reducing the grade in five areas (road crossings/former bridge sites) to 10% or less and surfacing the trail with crushed rock. The project would also likely include signing and gates.  State Parks has a grant from the State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for $20,000 and a donation of $40,000 from the estate of John Kono to complete design and engineering for the project.  Bid-ready construction documents will be complete by October 2016.  State Parks anticipates applying for an approximately $1,200,000 grant and additional funds donated by the Kono estate for construction in the 2017-19 biennium.  This grant proposal will also include construction of a trailhead facility in Malden.

Renslow Trestle ($1,246,000)

State Parks has submitted a WWRP grant request to renovate the 680-foot-long historic Renslow Trestle that connects two portions of the Iron Horse Trail separated by I-90 between the town of Ellensburg and the Columbia River. Built in the early 1900s, the Renslow Trestle is one of Washington state’s iconic steel structures used to carry trains of the Minnesota St. Paul Railway over large geographical gaps throughout the West. New concrete decking, railing, and safety fencing on the Renslow Trestle will improve safety and will complete the “missing link” eliminating the last arduous and convoluted detour between Ellensburg and the Columbia River, resulting in 32 miles of continuous trail. Crossing the renovated trestle will also add a new and exciting element to the Iron Horse experience.

Tekoa Trestle ($1,534,000)

State Parks has submitted a WWRP grant request to complete design, permit, and construction improvements to the 975-foot Tekoa trestle. The project would add concrete decking to the steel railroad trestle and install safety railings, making the bridge usable by hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.

Tekoa Trailhead Acquisition

State Parks has secured funding and is in the process of acquiring land for a trailhead in Tekoa. We anticipate acquisition of this property to be completed by June 2017. Funding for this acquisition came from WWRP. While the grant request for this property was originally $1,000,000, we expect the final cost of acquisition to be significantly less.

2017-19 Operating Budget Request

State Parks has incorporated $400,000 into its statewide operations budget package for Iron Horse services. These funds are intended to provide an on-trail staff presence as well as non-staff costs including noxious weed spraying contracts, sterilant application for the trail surface, signs, fencing and gates.

Work Underway to Address Concerns Raised by Adjacent Property Owners

Maintenance: State Parks completed four weeks of Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew time working on removing vegetation and clearing rock fall along Rock Lake, including one week of excavator time working on rock clearing to allow vehicle access. They are continuing to collect mapping and location data for weeds, fencing, and other issues along the trail. State Parks has been meeting and coordinating with weed board representatives in Adams and Whitman County. Trail staff has been meeting with adjacent landowners as the opportunity arises to address their concerns.

Staffing: Parks extended the existing trail staff position into the next biennium and they look forward to evaluating options in the 2017-19 budget for a permanent staff model that allows them to continue basic stewardship.

Fall/winter maintenance: This fall and winter, staff will mow areas of heavy vegetation, spray sterilant on the trail, repair and/or replace gates and start to work in areas with identified adjacent property owner fencing issues. State Parks is in the process of developing a plan for the work that will occur in 2017.

Motorized Non-Recreation Trail Use Permits

In September State Parks staff traveled to eastern Washington and met with nine farmers and ranchers to discuss the best method to authorize their reasonable motorized use of the trail. These discussions have resulted in a plan to tailor one version of the motorized use permit for agricultural uses and another version for ranchers. Also of significance is the fact that all nine applicants have agreed to provide annual trail improvements and trail maintenance in lieu of paying any form of annual rent.

State Parks has been working initially with Brandon Spencer and he has agreed to assist State Parks staff in contacting and developing agreements with other ranchers along the trail. State Parks staff expects to provide all current motorized use applicants with a permit offer prior to December 1, 2016.  Following this initial round of permit offers, staff will work to identify any additional landowners who may require reasonable use of the trail to manage their farm or ranch but to date have not contacted State Parks.

Sign up for the Washington Bikes e-news to stay on top of action alerts when it’s time to speak up in the legislature and in your town for the JWPT and other trails and bike connections.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Funding/Policy, Issues & Advocacy, Legislature, Trails | Tagged , , | Comments Off on John Wayne Pioneer Trail Recap and 2017 State Funding Request

Tell USDOT We ALL Count #MakeMeCount

By Barb Chamberlain | Published June 23, 2016

Little girl on bike seen from te back, wearing helmet, others biking/walking in street.The Federal Highway Administration has once again ignored bicyclists when determining performance measures for our transportation system. We need you to speak up now.

With passage of the FAST Act signed into law December 2015, Congress just instituted a Complete Streets policy for the National Highway System (which is much more than highways; it includes main streets, arterials and other major roads). Yet despite this FHWA wants to measure performance of the system using a measure for drivers only. Their draft performance measure rules would measure congestion by measuring delay for drivers, conflating performance for all traffic with travel time reliability for motorists only. Speeding up motorists on Main Street doesn’t improve performance for people biking or walking!

[Tweet “I bike on Main Street. I count. #MakeMeCount @USDOT @USDOTFHWA!”]

We need an additional measure that measures performance or reliability for those outside of cars, whose concerns are much more around measures of access, comfort and safety. We know that what we measure, matters. If governments are not directed to measure performance for non-motorized transportation, they have no incentive to invest in improvements.

[Tweet “What we measure MATTERS. @USDOTFHWA needs to count biking/walking. #MakeMeCount”]

Incentivizing states to speed up drivers may result in significant danger to people biking or walking. If these draft rules are implemented, they will hinder the ability of local governments to implement Complete Streets, build protected bike lanes, and improve transportation for all people. We need to speak up now before these rules are adopted as final.

We’ve done it before. With your help we convinced FHWA to include a safety performance measure for biking and walking. We need your help again.

IRONY ALERT: Adding insult to potential injury, USDOT recently rolled out “Every Place Counts,” a design challenge aimed at undoing highway-building mistakes of the past that tore communities apart and created barriers to safe, active transportation. And USDOT Sec. Anthony Foxx has issued a 30-year plan that explicitly encourages multimodal transportation choices. Yet their own proposed rules would encourage high-speed barriers to active transportation, not discourage them.

Shouldn’t federal rule-making support federal policy goals? We think so. Act now. (Deadline for comments is mid-August but don’t wait. Spread the word; share this link on Facebook and Twitter and via email.)
Not only does the draft rule propose incentives that put drivers first, everyone else dead last, the rule also sets goals for measuring air pollutants from transportation but doesn’t include greenhouse gases. Our clean transportation choices apparently don’t count either.
[Tweet “My safety counts. My bike transportation counts. My life counts. #MakeMeCount @USDOTFHWA”]
Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Federal, Issues & Advocacy | Comments Off on Tell USDOT We ALL Count #MakeMeCount

Take Action for Skagit County Active Transportation

By Guest Blogger | Published June 16, 2016

Last Chance to Make a Positive Difference for Open Space, Non-motorized Pathways and Trails in Skagit County’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update

The Board of County Commissioners is taking public comment on final proposed changes to the Skagit County Comprehensive Plan, 2016 Update. This new comment period is focused primarily on changes to the original proposal both from the Planning Commission in May, staff recommendations and additional changes directed by the County Commissioners in June.

The proposed changes are summarized in the Planning & Development Services staff report dated June 10, 2016.

We encourage both speaking at the hearing and submitting written comments. You may also talk directly with your respective district’s County Commissioner. The Commissioner’s general phone number is 360-416-1300.

Public hearing date: Monday, June 20, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

Written comment deadline: Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

What to Say 

Personalize, share your own experience, and state why is this important to you. Be sure to follow the directions below for submission of written comments so that your comments will be accepted.

1. Support for the recommended inclusion of a 20-year list of non-motorized projects as part of the updated Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Element. The map of non-motorized projects in the latest version of the Transportation Technical Appendix is on page 56 and the project list begins on page 58.

Say why it’s important to you to have a vision and long range plan that includes non-motorized pathways and facilities. The projects include pathways and trails, safe bicycle and pedestrian routes, as well as safety improvements to county roadways such as usable shoulders.

You will also find new flow charts and narrative of the public process for trails, bike paths, and facilities beginning on page p. 229 of the comprehensive plan in the  trails and non-motorized projects process and flow chart.

2.  Support Skagit County’s intent to continue cooperating with local partners to identify and protect open space corridors. Open Space is defined as a combination of public and private lands, both rural and inter-urban, that form greenbelts of agriculture lands, trails, wildlife habitat, parks, significant scenic or historic lands etc. Support public access where it is appropriate. State why you think it is important for Skagit County to protect open space.

How To Participate and Comment

In Person: Show up at the County Commissioners Chambers at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon WA 98273 on Monday June 20 2016 at 6 p.m. You may choose to make a public comment; however, you are also demonstrating your support by showing up. As we did for previous meetings we will have stickers available for you to wear.

If you wish to make a comment sign up on the list to speak. Keep your comments brief, 3 minutes or less, and personal.

By email: You may submit your written comments by email, which must be sent to pdscomments@co.skagit.wa.us by Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.  Include your comments in the body of your email message rather than as attachments.

By letter: Paper comments must be printed on 8½x11 paper and mailed or delivered to: “2016 Comprehensive Plan Update” Planning and Development Services. 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon WA 98273 by Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 4:30 p.m.

The entire 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update proposal is available for review on the project website.

Next Steps and Timeframe for Decisions

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 28, at 9:00 a.m., for final deliberations on the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Update proposal. This is where we expect they will give departments final direction about what they want included in the adopting ordinance and the adopted documents, based on the most recent public comment period and the entire update record.

 The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 30, at 9:00 a.m., to approve the ordinance adopting the 2016 Comp Plan Update, based on the direction they give on June 28.

Please share this information widely with your friends, coworkers and family who may be interested.

Advocate and former Washington Bikes board member Liz McNett-Crowl is the Skagit Healthy Communities Coordinator with Skagit Regional Health and has been active for years in efforts to develop trails and get people walking and biking.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Skagit County, Trails | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Take Action for Skagit County Active Transportation

Skagit County, Stand Up May 24: Bike/Walk Projects Are Being Taken Away

By Guest Blogger | Published May 23, 2016

Advocate and former Washington Bikes board member Liz McNett-Crowl is the Skagit Healthy Communities Coordinator with Skagit Regional Health and has been active for years in efforts to develop trails and get people walking and biking.

If you care about better biking wskagit_bike_tulip_festival-pic-by-Pam-Headridge-from-Visit-Skagit-Valleye need you to come out and be counted in Skagit County. Stand up for your belief in a county where it is safe for residents and visitors to walk and bike on county roads — to advocate for a county that has a transportation plan that considers all users and builds a network based on their plan.

What: Skagit County Comprehensive Plan update being deliberated by the Planning Commission

When: Tuesday, May 24 at 6pm

Where: County Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, Suite 100, Mount Vernon, WA

Be a Visible Supporter: Molly Doran of the Skagit Land Trust and Kit Rawson of BikeWalk Mount Vernon will have stickers for supporters to wear with simple messages like “ I ♥ Bicycles” or “I ♥ Trails”, and we are encouraging all bicyclists to wear your helmet.

Why? Some of you may be aware that 11  non-motorized projects were stripped from the plan last week by the Planning Commission. As you can see in the attached Supplemental Staff Report 4, County Planning Staff is making some new recommendations and encouraging that the commission revisit their decision. Tuesday’s agenda may continue the transportation deliberations and will move on to the Open Space.

Included in these deliberations:

  • Additional policies and project descriptions related to the motorized and non-motorized transportation system;
  • A new policy encouraging implementation of the County’s previously adopted UGA Open Space Concept Plan;

Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings to show their ongoing interest in the issues being considered by the Planning Commission. No public comment will be taken during the Planning Commission’s deliberations. However, your presence at the meeting helps to convey this interest. It also allows individuals to understand concerns the Planning Commission has with the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments. This allows citizens to give informed comment on future occasions.

The public comment period as far as the Planning Commission is concerned is closed. Once the Planning Commission finalizes their recommendations on the Comprehensive Plan they will be sent to the Board of County Commissioners, who may or may not decide to have their own public comment period before they take up the Plan.

 The proposed transportation element contains the most significant non-motorized plan ever proposed by the County. We know in the past that opposition has prevailed to have most previous plans stripped of any projects or concepts related to trails and projects. We already know that there is concern among some Planning Commission members about the 20-year project list and inclusion of proposed trails or conceptual trails. Just for your information, this is a 20 year plan and it is appropriate for there to be a list of projects that are on the 6-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) as well as an illustrative list that goes beyond the TIP for the County to pull from in the future should the opportunity or funding arise.

Implementing the County’s UGA Open Space Plan will mean secure and transparent future implementation of the plan that was adopted several years ago. The plan enables the County to move forward in creating an advisory committee, which would be charged with creating a process of implementation, including identifying sources of funding and how the program would administer an open space program. The plan would create open space buffers between the urban and rural areas of the county, could include open spaces that provide for the protection of open space and wildlife corridors, and when appropriate could include public access or trails in Skagit County. It is important to show the Planning Commission there is local support for moving the open space plan forward.

The meeting generally lasts a few hours. Even coming for one hour will help demonstrate important support.

For more information, The written comments on the County’s 2016 Comp Plan update are posted on the project website (www.skagitcounty.net/2016update) and available via this link: Public Comments

Want to spread the word about issues like this in your area? Get in touch about writing a guest post.

Want to know when something like this is happening? Get on our email list.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Skagit County, Trails | Tagged , | Comments Off on Skagit County, Stand Up May 24: Bike/Walk Projects Are Being Taken Away

Speak up for the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Cheney and Ellensburg

By Barb Chamberlain | Published March 7, 2016

Bicyclists on John Wayne Trail heading to Snoqualmie Pass. Gravel biking.Show up and speak up for the John Wayne Pioneer Trail at two upcoming meetings held by Washington State Parks as part of a planning process under way to examine the trail’s opportunities and challenges.

March 8, 6-8pm, Cheney City Hall
March 9, 6-8pm, Student Union and Recreation Center Room 137A, Central Washington University, Ellensburg

If you can’t attend a meeting submit written comments by contacting Randy Kline, Parks Planner, (360) 902-8632 or randy.kline@parks.wa.gov.

The trail is an amazing bike tourism opportunity as the longest rail trail in the US. Just think: We can connect from Washington into Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and Route of the Hiawatha on the east, the many great trails in the Puget Sound in the west, for an incredible system.

As tourism promoters will attest, the longer a trail is the farther people will travel to bike it and the more they will spend per day while on their trip, making this an incredible destination asset as well as a gem for the people of Washington.

John Wayne Pioneer Trail

The John Wayne Pioneer Trail stretches across the state in purple. The orange trail that crosses it is the Columbia Plateau Trail.

At the open house you can identify trailheads and camping opportunities, among other topics they’ll talk about in a presentation and breakout discussions. The committee appointed to advise the planning process includes Blake Trask, Senior Director of Policy for Washington Bikes, and Marie Dymkoski, Pullman Chamber of Commerce executive director, who serves on the board of Cascade Bicycle Club and previously served on the board of Washington Bikes.

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Infrastructure, News, Rural, Tourism, Trails, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

John Wayne Pioneer Trail – New Opportunities to Make Your Voice Heard

By Blake Trask | Published November 3, 2015

Whether you support the John Wayne Pioneer Trail for its recreation opportunities, economic impact to neighboring communities, or because it is the longest rail trail in the nation, now’s the time to begin to weigh in on its future.

In September trail advocates in Tekoa learned of a legislative effort to close down a roughly 120-mile portion of Washington state’s largest rail trail, the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Following the initial news, many surrounding residents and jurisdictions — including Tekoa, Spokane and others — voiced concern over the potential for permanent closure of this long-distance trail. The stated reasons for closure have included concerns over a lack of use of the trail, worries about trespassing, and liability.

Restoring the Tekoa Trestle will help make the John Wayne Pioneer Trail a world-class long-distance trail. Photo courtesy of Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association.

Restoring the Tekoa Trestle will help make the John Wayne Pioneer Trail a world-class long-distance trail. Photo courtesy of Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association.

Now, future discussions – and opportunities for trail supporters to provide meaningful input — about the future of the trail are beginning to take shape.

The most immediate opportunity to lend your voice to the discussion is via a set of three listening sessions occurring in Eastern Washington in November. One of the architects of the trail closure, Representative Schmick (R-Colfax), is partnering with the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association to host three public meetings to hear from you about the Trail.

The three public listening sessions to provide input directly to Representative Schmick and others begin next week:

  • Tuesday November 10th at 12pm: Rosalia, Community Center (7th St. and Whitman Ave.)
  • Monday November 16th at 12pm: Lind, Union Elevator Conference room (201 S Street)
  • Monday November 23rd at 6pm: Ellensburg, Hal Holmes Center (209 N Ruby St.)

Representative Schmick has indicated he may consider introducing legislation based on the input he receives from these three events.

In addition to the public sessions hosted by Representative Schmick, Washington State Parks has proposed a plan to convene a planning process slated to begin before the end of 2015. It will allow the public to actively participate in crafting plans for the Iron Horse and Columbia Plateau State Park Trails.

As soon as plans are formally released by State Parks, Washington Bikes will provide an additional update.

Learn More

Shawn Pederson recently completed a trip across the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. His blog posts (4 so far) and excellent photos are here: http://fernwehnw.com/tag/john-wayne-pioneer-trail/

Also, the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association’s Facebook Page provides a number of articles and community discussion as the process moves forward.

 

Posted in Advocacy, Alert, Economic Impact, Funding/Policy, Infrastructure, Issues & Advocacy, Trails | 2 Comments

Take Action: Tell Congress Biking & Trails are Priorities in WA

By Blake Trask | Published November 3, 2015

Today the U.S. House of Representatives officially kicks off debate on the chamber’s long-term highway and transit bill today. Key amendments threaten Washington State’s priorities for biking and trails. Take Action today!

Last night the rules of debate were sent and the House of Representatives has begun debate on over one hundred amendments to the proposed surface transportation bill. With hopes to wrap up the debate and votes by Thursday, time is of the essence for you to let your U.S. Representative know that biking and trails matter!

Just last week the Transportation Committee, led by Chairman Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member DeFazio (D-OR), passed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act (STRRA). This bill includes a carefully constructed agreement on bicycling and walking funding that we support.  It maintains funding streams for biking infrastructure projects, and it maintains the local control aspects and competitive processes that have made the transportation alternatives program effective.

Rep. Carter (R-Georgia) and Yoho (R-Florida) have introduced amendments that undermine that agreement. Rep Carter now has one amendment. It opens up the transportation alternatives funding to road and bridge projects.

Representative Yoho’s amendment would make the Recreational Trails Program ineligible for non-motorized transportation funding. This means money for ATVs but not for hiking and mountain bikes.

Go to the League of American Bicyclists action center today to take action!

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Time for Your Thoughts on Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program — Critical Trail Funding

By Barb Chamberlain | Published October 12, 2015

State officials and legislators are looking for your thoughts about if and how to revise the 25-year-old Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP), which is the state’s grant program for wildlife conservation lands, state and local parks, trails, natural areas, and working farms and ranches.Two Wheels After Turkey Mariah McKay and Katherine Widing

Please take a short survey by Oct. 18 to share your insights about the WWRP.

The Legislature created the WWRP in 1990 to give the state a way to invest in valuable outdoor recreation areas and wildlife habitat conservation lands. They wanted to protect critical habitat and make sure our kids, grandkids, and future generations had places to recreate, and they wanted to do it before the land was developed. In its 25-year history, the grant program has funded projects in nearly every county of the state.

As state officials review the program, they are looking to see if the program is accomplishing what it set out to and what might need to change going forward. Now is the time to share your thoughts.

Trails Funded by WWRP as of 2015

Olympic Disco Trail PA

Anacortes: Thompson Trail

Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park and Recreation District: Forest to Sky Trail Corridor

Bellingham: Railroad Trail and Alabama Street Overpass, South Bay Trail, South Boulevard Park, Squalicum Creek Trail, Whatcom Creek Trail

Bothell: Blyth Park Trail Connection

Buckley: Buckley Foothills Trail Extension

Camas: Washougal River Trail

Castle Rock: Riverfront Trail

Clallam County: Olympic Discovery Trail, Spruce Railroad Trail

Clark County: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Trail, Frenchman’s Bar Trail, Lacamas Heritage Trail, Lewis River Trail, Salmon Creek Trail

Des Moines: Des Moines Creek Trail

Douglas County: Columbia River Trail

Eatonville: Bud Blancher Trail

Edgewood: Interurban Trail

Edmonds: Interurban Trail

Entiat: Entiat Waterfront Trail

Enumclaw: Enumclaw Trail

Ferry County: Ferry County Rail

Island County: English Boom Waterfront Trail

Issaquah: Issaquah-High Point Regional Trail

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe: Dungeness River Railroad Bridge, Olympic Discovery Trail

Jefferson County: Larry Scott Memorial Park and Trail, Olympic Discovery

Kent: Three Friends Fishing Hole

King County: Cedar River Trail, East Lake Sammamish Trail, Horseshoe Bend Trail, Green River Trail, Soos Creek Regional Trail

Kirkland: Cross Kirkland Corridor

Kitsap County: Hansville Greenway, Clear Creek Trail

Lacey: Lacey Burlington Northern Trail, Woodland Trail

Lynnwood: Interurban Trail

Milton: Interurban Trail

Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon Riverfront North Trail, Skagit Riverwalk Trail

Mountlake Terrace: Interurban Trail

Mukilteo: Big Gulch Trail

Newcastle: May Creek Trail

Okanogan County: Methow Valley Community Trail, Similkameen Connector Trail

Olympia: Woodland Trail

Peninsula Metropolitan Park District: Cushman-Scott Pierson Trails

Pierce County: Foothills National Recreation Trail

Port Angeles: Olympic Discovery Trail

Port Angeles: Centennial Trail, Waterfront Trail

Port Orchard: Bay Street Pedestrian Path on Mosquito Fleet Trail

Pullman: Downtown Pullman Riverwalk, Palouse Path

Redmond: Bear Creek Trail, Redmond Central Connector, Evans Creek Trail

Renton: Cedar River Trail

Richland: Columbia Point Riverfront Trailway

Seattle: South Ship Canal Trail

Sequim: Olympic Discovery Trail

Shoreline: Interurban Trail

Skagit County: Centennial Trail

Snohomish: Snohomish Riverfront Trail

Snohomish County: Centennial Trail, Whitehorse Trail

Spokane: Centennial Trail, Fish Lake Trail, Historic Iron Bridge, Trolley TrailSpokane-Centennial-Trail_Behind-Red-Lion-Inn-at-Park_Bicycle-Rider-Runner_forweb

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife: Dungeness Railroad Bridge, Hood Canal Wetlands Trail

Washington State Department of Natural Resources: Cypress Island Interpretive Trails, Mount Si Interpretative Trail, Mount Tahoma Ski Trail System, Tiger Mountain High Point Trail, Woodard Bay Access Trail

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission: Centennial Trail, Iron Horse Trail, Klickitat Trail, Willapa Hills Trail

Sumner: Sumner Urban to Mountain Trail

Tacoma: Water Flume Line Trail

Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma: Point Defiance

Thurston County: Chehalis Western Railroad Trail

Tukwila: Duwamish/Green River Trail

Twisp: Twisp Community Trail

University Place: Chambers-Leach Creek Trail

Vancouver: Burnt Bridge Creek Trail

Walla Walla: Walla Walla TrailRocky-Reach-Trail-Phase-I-Ribbon-Cutting-south-from-Lincoln-Rock-State-Park-Wenatchee-pic-by-Complete-the-Loop-Coalition

Wenatchee: Wenatchee Foothills Trails

Wilkeson: Foothills Trail

Winthrop: Susie Stephens Trail

Yakima: William O. Douglas Trail

Yakima County: Naches Rail to Trail, Greenway Pathway South

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Washington Bikes and Cascade Bicycle Club Announce Merger Discussion

By Barb Chamberlain | Published August 22, 2015

Barb Chamberlain, Executive Director, Washington Bikes, and Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director, Cascade Bicycle Club, August 2015The boards of directors of the Cascade Bicycle Club and Washington Bikes are discussing a non-binding Letter of Intent to merge the two organizations at the end of 2015. This move would amplify the work of both organizations and power bicycling to a higher level in Washington State, which is already ranked the #1 state in the U.S. for bicycle friendliness. 

Cascade Bicycle Club’s board voted unanimously in favor of signing the joint Letter of Intent last week. The Washington Bikes board is currently discussing the letter and plans to vote next week.

“Washington Bikes is dedicated, in Olympia and across the state, to improving bicycling statewide. It partners with many local advocacy groups and bike clubs across the state,” said Catherine Hennings, board chair of the Cascade Bicycle Club. “This proposed merger would truly yield more than the sum of its parts.”

Bringing the two organizations together would result in a single bicycle education curriculum for students in the Puget Sound region and across the state. The advocacy work of both organizations would be strengthened when unified.

“This could prove to be a big win for people who welcome improved bicycling connections,” said Brian Foley, board chair of Washington Bikes.

Committees from each board are meeting to talk about processes, review ideas for program integration, and plan for the future, with the hope that the process will move toward a formal proposal for vote by each organization’s board later this fall.

“We are considering this merger to continue the great work we’ve each been doing with even better results and successes,” said Barb Chamberlain, executive director of Washington Bikes.

The merger would result in saved overhead costs and more money directly funding current work and new programs, like Cascade’s Major Taylor program and Washington Bikes’ state bike tourism initiative. Washington Bikes’ grassroots successes across the state could be a great partner for Cascade’s statewide tours, events and rides.

“We would be an even stronger force for improving lives through bicycling and growing bicycling statewide together than we are individually,” said Cascade Executive Director Elizabeth Kiker.

Both boards are very interested in hearing from people who ride bikes and from members of Cascade or Washington Bikes. They are using a shared email address for feedback: washingtonbikes@cascadebicycleclub.org.

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