County signs seven DOT agreements to design and plan gaps on Olympic Discovery Trail

Clallam County commissioners unanimously approved seven local-area agreements with the Washington State Department of Transportation on Tuesday to support planning and design work that would close gaps and improve accessibility on segments of the Olympic Discovery Trail. The projects are part of a larger Puget Sound-to-Pacific RAISE grant effort and include planning or design work for: the Bagley Creek replacement (design to achieve ADA compliance and improve an existing hard trail), the Bogachiel River crossing (design to avoid forcing trail users onto narrow highway shoulders), the Elwha River segment, paired Camp Creek and Spruce Railroad segments, the Sappho (Sappho) trail segment toward Forks and the Gossett Road segment across Department of Natural Resources easement lands. County staff described the work as gap-closing and coordination-intensive because projects traverse multiple landowners and jurisdictions. Public works staff gave a short explanation of each segment and said several areas require private-landowner negotiations or environmental review. Votes and outcome: Each of the seven DOT agreements was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. Why it matters: The Olympic Discovery Trail is a multi-jurisdictional effort to provide continuous recreational and transportation trail access between Puget Sound and the Pacific. County and transportation partners said completing design work on these segments will allow the projects to advance to construction planning and reduce trail discontinuities that currently force users onto narrow roads or noncompliant surfaces. Quotable: “That is the largest remaining gap we have on the Olympic Discovery Trail,” a public works presenter said describing the Forks-to-coast section.