Lacey trail delayed

The Olympian • Published July 23, 2008

LACEY – City officials have decided to delay completion of the second phase of the Lacey Woodland Trail until next summer to take advantage of federal money that could be available.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has announced she earmarked $500,000 for trail construction in a 2009 transportation funding bill.

Murray is chairwoman of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill awaits approval in the Senate.

City officials had thought the nearly $1 million in funding they budgeted was enough to finish the project, but earlier this year they had to consider cutting back the project because of unanticipated cost increases, city management analyst Jared Burbidge said.

Then they learned about the possibility of additional federal dollars.

The delay comes as record-high fuel prices are prompting people to consider other ways of getting to work or running errands.

The city paved and landscaped the trail from Sleater-Kinney Road to Homann Drive in the summer of 2006 with another pot of money. The trail is being developed over an abandoned rail line.

The second phase would extend the trail east to Woodland Creek Community Park and west to connect to the Chehalis Western Trail.

It also would install designated crossings at Carpenter and Sleater-Kinney roads.