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New countywide Active Transportation Alliance outlines task forces, ‘Valley Loop’ concept
Summary
Tom Robinson briefed BPAC on the nascent Active Transportation Alliance (ATA), a coalition of advocacy, health and recreation groups planning task forces for funding, outreach and a proposed Valley Loop network to connect neighborhoods, the Greenway and regional trails.
Tom Robinson, the county representative to the newly forming Active Transportation Alliance (ATA), told the Yakima Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee on Jan. 8 that the group has held three founding meetings and organized task forces to address funding, communications and countywide infrastructure planning.
Robinson said the ATA’s stated priorities are filling funding and maintenance gaps, coordinating advocacy and generating public engagement to support active-transportation projects. The coalition has drawn 40–50 participants to initial meetings, including representatives from Yakima Bikes and Walks, the Greenway, health organizations and downtown business groups.
“We want to support the Greenway and the city and county efforts,” Robinson said, describing a fundraising “pyramid” model that starts with membership and local donations and aims to produce matching funds for construction and maintenance. Early ATA work plans include a funding-and-grants task force, a public outreach/communications team and a scope-and-priorities group that will draft a countywide infrastructure master-plan approach.
Robinson also showed a conceptual map the ATA is calling a “Valley Loop” (working name). The loop is a perimeter concept intended to connect existing Greenway trails, Cowiche Canyon open space, and neighborhoods to create longer, continuous routes. The ATA will test route feasibility against existing rights-of-way, canals and other corridors and engage landowners and corridor managers on options.
The ATA is drawing on models from larger Puget Sound‑area coalitions and plans to solicit public input on its branding and priorities. Robinson invited BPAC members to participate in ATA task forces and said the coalition’s short-term goals include forming leads for the three task forces and beginning outreach work over the next two to six months.
Nut Graf: A new countywide coalition plans to act as a coordinating, advocacy and fundraising body to support projects the city and Greenway already pursue. ATA leaders asked local BPAC members to join small working groups and said their early map shows opportunities to stitch together existing routes into a larger loop.
Ending: ATA leaders will develop branding and public engagement plans and welcome BPAC participation in committees focused on infrastructure strategy, funding and communications. Robinson offered to share materials and follow up with committee members who volunteered during the Jan. 8 meeting.
