Committee discusses boosting right‑of‑way fund to seize rare land opportunities for ODT gaps

The Trails Advisory Committee reviewed the county six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) trail projects and discussed whether to increase the county’s placeholder funding for trail right‑of‑way acquisition so the county can rapidly acquire parcels when they become available.

Staff explained that county law and recent state changes to real‑estate excise tax (REET) rules provide more flexibility in how REET funds can be used. Committee members and a commissioner noted there are one‑time opportunities in which entire parcels become available and that holding a larger right‑of‑way acquisition balance would allow the county to purchase lands and then sell off surplus acreage once the trail corridor is secured.

Participants discussed scale: some parcel acquisitions could be several hundred thousand dollars (one example mentioned parcels previously estimated at over $500,000), while others might be smaller easements. Staff said current TIP placeholder funding is modest (noted as $60,000 per year in the TIP for gap acquisition) and that a longer‑term strategy could seek larger appropriations when the county identifies mature acquisition opportunities.

Ending

Committee members asked staff to include the TIP and right‑of‑way acquisition discussion as a primary agenda item at the next meeting to allow more detailed proposals and to identify specific parcels that might warrant increased funding.