The City of Port Angeles has been selected to receive a $16.13 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant for the Puget Sound to Pacific Multi-Use Trail. Spurred by the Puget Sound to Pacific Collaborative, this grant will fund the planning and design of 34 multi-use trail segments across the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. The City will accept the award as the Lead Agency Applicant and in partnership with 12 jurisdictions across the state.
The exciting Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) initiative aims to complete a 200-mile regional trail network, comprised of the Olympic Discovery Trail and Sound to Olympics Trail. Once constructed, the PS2P network will extend from the Washington state ferry terminals at Bainbridge Island, Kingston, and Port Townsend, to the Pacific Coast in La Push. The PS2P will also serve as the western end of the 3,400-mile Great American Rail-Trail.
“The development of our Olympic Discovery Trail system thus far has necessitated strong leadership and great partnerships. Those responsible for its success have demonstrated hard work, perseverance, and taking action with courage,” said Port Angeles City Manager Nathan A. West. “This grant opportunity broadens our joint efforts and heightens the success of a regional trail system that will benefit residents and visitors for generations to come.”
The RAISE grant will be utilized to fund planning and design work that address approximately 100 miles of gaps within the trail network, make safety improvements, and ultimately, facilitate new connections amongst communities across the state. Construction funding will be sought in future years as planning is completed.
“This award is fantastic news,” said Jeff Bohman, Peninsula Trails Coalition President. “Not only will it benefit Port Angeles and the Olympic Discovery Trail, it’s also a tremendous opportunity for agencies from across three counties to work together on a nationally significant project – one that will bind our communities through a regional network of trails. The Peninsula Trails Coalition looks forward to partnering with these agencies to fulfill the potential of this grant.”
Co-recipients and beneficiaries of the grant include Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties; the cities of Bainbridge Island, Forks, Port Townsend, Poulsbo, and Sequim; the Quileute and Suquamish tribes; the Port of Port Townsend; and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
“I was thrilled to hear from Senator Murray that we had been awarded a RAISE Grant for the PS2P Project,” said Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter. “The City of Port Angeles is honored to be the lead agency on this amazing collaboration, which will benefit the entire region and beyond. We look forward to working with our local and regional partners to complete this very important and exciting project.”
The City of Port Angeles, along with other recipients, thank Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representative Derek Kilmer, and Governor Jay Inslee for their tremendous advocacy and support of this exciting, quality-of-life initiative.
The Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) Collaborative was established by the Peninsula Trails Coalition, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, and the North Kitsap Trails Association to provide funding for the planning and design of projects to complete the Olympic Discovery Trail and Sound to Olympics Trail. To learn more about this project and the PS2P Collaborative, please visit www.ps2p.org or email info@ps2p.org.