Thurston County commissioners back TRPC on removing Log Cabin Road project from RTIP while keeping connectivity studies

Thurston County commissioners signaled informal agreement June 18 to align with a regional recommendation to remove the Log Cabin Road project from the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) while keeping the Olympia street connectivity studies in the regional transportation plan.

The discussion centered on whether the county should insist that the physical Log Cabin Road project remain in the RTIP to protect anticipated mitigation funding, or accept Olympia’s request to remove the project while retaining the studies that would guide future choices. County Manager Leonard Hernandez and Assistant County Manager Jennifer Walker briefed commissioners on staff’s view that removing the project unilaterally could be problematic because the project is considered regionally significant and modeling for nearby roads assumes various projects remain in place.

Why it matters: commissioners said decisions about the RTIP can affect traffic modeling and the timing of improvements on county roads such as Yelm Highway. Several commissioners emphasized community concern because the LBA Woods parcel was purchased and set aside as parkland after an earlier planning period; residents have pressed to avoid a road through land they helped protect.

What the board discussed and decided: Commissioner Rachel Grant brought the item to the full board at the request of the Transportation Policy Board (TPB). Commissioners described back-and-forth guidance from TRPC/TPB staff and elected officials: Olympia’s council voted to remove the Log Cabin Road project from its transportation program but to keep the connectivity studies. Multiple speakers said TRPC recommended removing the project from the project list and moving it into the plan’s study section while leaving the connectivity studies in place.

Commissioners did not take a formal recorded vote at the meeting. Several commissioners expressed that they would support moving forward consistent with TRPC’s action — removing the Log Cabin Road project from RTIP but keeping the studies — and asked staff to confirm the technical and timing details with TRPC staff and Olympia. Commissioner Carolina Mejia said she and another commissioner were in agreement to “remove Log Cabin Road and leave the study in.” Chair Ty Menzer asked staff to provide additional clarification on modeling assumptions and timing.

Next steps and outstanding questions: staff said the Olympia-led connectivity study is on a future work plan (commissioners were told the study is anticipated in the late 2020s, e.g., 2028–2029). Commissioners asked staff to confirm (1) when the study will be done, (2) what modeling assumptions depend on the project, and (3) what funding implications — if any — would follow if the project remains removed from RTIP. Several commissioners said they expect to press Olympia leadership if the study or mitigation work does not move forward.

Community context: commissioners noted the LBA Woods acquisition in 2016 and residents’ prior campaign to preserve the parcel as parkland, and said they wanted updated modeling and data before endorsing a permanent removal of project-level language that could affect future choices.

Ending: staff will return with clarified language and technical detail so commissioners can confirm alignment between the county’s position and TRPC’s recommendation before the next RTIP update.