San Juan Island Shared-Use Trail

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Possible trail idea

San Juan County is developing a plan for a shared-use trail connecting the Town of Friday Harbor with neighborhoods, public lands, and other amenities. The project is in development and the public will have multiple opportunities to come together and provide feedback and input.

History

The idea for a trail to was born out of multiple planning documents, meetings, and community surveys that identified the need for a well-planned transportation system of multi-modal trails that “connects people to places.”

Zylstra Lake Preserve as one possible destination, lies at the center of multiple corridors that have been identified in over two decades of the County’s Parks Trails and Natural Areas Plan, which is now called the Recreation, Open Space, and Stewardship Plan. These corridors are important opportunities to:

  • Promote nonmotorized transportation
  • Provide safer conditions for biking and walking
  • Improve connectivity between popular sites

Funding

On December 23, 2022, Representative Rick Larsen (District 2) announced that the project would receive $5.28 million in federal funds. Earmarked from the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Package, the funds support transportation-related Member Designated Projects that benefit the communities they serve, are generally supported by local elected officials, are enumerated in adopted plans, and encompass a feasible and achievable timeline.

Get Involved

Use this page to follow project progress, add your questions and ideas, and track important dates. The tools below allow community members to provide feedback along the way. To participate, make sure you're registered in the "Engage San Juan County" platform.

San Juan County is developing a plan for a shared-use trail connecting the Town of Friday Harbor with neighborhoods, public lands, and other amenities. The project is in development and the public will have multiple opportunities to come together and provide feedback and input.

History

The idea for a trail to was born out of multiple planning documents, meetings, and community surveys that identified the need for a well-planned transportation system of multi-modal trails that “connects people to places.”

Zylstra Lake Preserve as one possible destination, lies at the center of multiple corridors that have been identified in over two decades of the County’s Parks Trails and Natural Areas Plan, which is now called the Recreation, Open Space, and Stewardship Plan. These corridors are important opportunities to:

  • Promote nonmotorized transportation
  • Provide safer conditions for biking and walking
  • Improve connectivity between popular sites

Funding

On December 23, 2022, Representative Rick Larsen (District 2) announced that the project would receive $5.28 million in federal funds. Earmarked from the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Package, the funds support transportation-related Member Designated Projects that benefit the communities they serve, are generally supported by local elected officials, are enumerated in adopted plans, and encompass a feasible and achievable timeline.

Get Involved

Use this page to follow project progress, add your questions and ideas, and track important dates. The tools below allow community members to provide feedback along the way. To participate, make sure you're registered in the "Engage San Juan County" platform.

  • Community Meeting: Discussion of Trail Routes on San Juan Island

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    SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. May 26, 2024 – The County is exploring trail routes between the Town of Friday Harbor and Zylstra Lake Preserve, as well as other routes and destinations that connect the Town with neighborhoods, public lands, and other amenities. The community is invited to a meeting where together, we will recap the trail project goals, share potential trail routes, and open discussion for ideas and feedback.

    WHAT: Community meeting to discuss trail routes on San Juan Island

    WHEN: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 4-5:30pm

    WHERE: Marie Boe Building at the San Juan County Fairgrounds, 849 Argyle Ave, Friday Harbor

    HOW: In-person at the Marie Boe Building. Due to the interactive nature of the meeting with various group exercises, a Zoom option is not available.

    WHO: All residents interested in the trail project

    WHY: To share information, listen to the community, answer questions, and collect feedback

    At this time, multiple trail routes and destinations are under consideration and no decisions have been made.

    Please email any initial questions or concerns to trails@sanjuancountywa.gov. This feedback will help guide the upcoming community meeting.

  • Trail Progress Update - April 24, 2023

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    Since San Juan County was awarded funding in late 2022 for the development of a shared-use trail from the Town of Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake, the County’s project team has been working diligently to establish the project framework, receive public feedback, and answer questions.

    The team is currently in the process of developing and vetting options for trail alignment. We are looking at land use considerations, potential impacts to private landowners and sensitive areas, and other factors that contribute to the trail’s potential route. This is a robust process that takes time and includes conversations with other local land managers and community partners.

    The County looks forward to gathering further community input soon. It is important that the trail reflects the community’s needs – safe, accessible, bike and stroller-friendly, enjoyable, and much more. Therefore, the County will encourage public engagement and feedback throughout the planning and design process. We expect to hold public meetings and informational sessions in the coming months.

    We’ve received great feedback on our Engage San Juan County project page so far and we are grateful for your questions, input, and insights. Stay tuned!

  • Frequently Asked Questions - Shared-Use Trail

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    Why is the County building a trail and how do trails benefit me?

    Trails positively impact individuals and improve communities by providing recreation and sustainable transportation opportunities and by driving economic and community development. There are a wide range of benefits that result from having these amenities woven into the fabric of our community.

    • Healthy Living: Trails provide a safe, inexpensive, and accessible avenue for regular exercise. Trails help people of all ages, incomes, and abilities incorporate physical wellness into their daily routines by connecting them with places they want or need to go.

    • Transportation: A balanced transportation system includes infrastructure for motor vehicles, transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Trail infrastructure not only creates safer, more sustainable transportation opportunities for cyclists and walkers, but it also reduces road congestion and vehicle/bicycle conflicts which makes the roads safer for motorists.

    • Environmental benefits: Walking or biking to a destination is a 1:1 reduction in vehicle trips, thus reducing noise and air pollution as well as fossil fuel consumption.

    • Accessible Island Culture: Trails have the power to connect us to our community’s cherished and unique resources by providing safe and easy access that promotes the protection of rural character, fosters a connection to the natural environment, and highlights the rich history and culture in the islands.

    • Livability and Community Assets: Trails are the new “town square” where people naturally congregate, meet family and friends, and cultivate connections with neighbors. Trails help build community and ensure that neighborhoods are healthy and vibrant places to live.

    • Accessibility and Connectivity for all: Trails help connect underserved communities to important amenities and resources, such as ferry terminals, parks, local businesses, schools, health care, entertainment and more, which promotes access for and participation by all.

    I’m not a biker or hiker – how does the trail benefit me?

    Shared-use trails benefit vehicular traffic as well! Shared-use paths adjacent or in close proximity to roadways can have the effect of reducing road congestion and increasing safety for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. By creating a corridor, either separated from or contiguous to the roadway, pedestrians and cyclists are afforded a dedicated path that eliminates the need to travel on the road itself. This separation of transportation modes reduces accidents and conflicts.

    The creation of safe and accessible means of non-motorized transportation reduces vehicle trips. This benefits the environment by reducing vehicle emissions which leads to cleaner air for us all. Less vehicle traffic also means less road noise, which contributes positively to the rural character that makes our community so special.

    Why this trail? Why is the County pursuing this specific project (Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake) instead of other trail projects?

    A trail from the Town of Friday Harbor to the Zylstra Lake area has appeared in multiple planning documents over the last 20 years and has received support from local clubs and outdoor groups. The Zylstra Lake Preserve, purchased by the County in 2015, is a County-owned asset that is uniquely situated along several priority corridors identified in multiple versions of the Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas (PTNA) Plan. “The goal of many of these corridors is to promote non-motorized transportation, provide safer conditions for biking and walking, and improve connectivity between popular sites, the plan states.

    Public support of multi-modal trails has long been demonstrated in public meetings, surveys, research, and planning sessions. Surveys dating back to the 1990s highlight the public’s desire for developed bike paths and walking trails (1999 San Juan County Parks, Recreation, and Preserved Lands Plan) - especially along main island corridors. Over the years, the Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas (PTNA) Plans (developed collaboratively by the Parks, Recreation, and Fair Department, Public Works Department, Conservation Land Bank, County staff and Council members, and members of the public) identified key transportation corridors that experience regular or high-volume traffic and use. The corridors are identified in maps from the 2005, 2010, 2017, and 2022 PTNA Plans. Some of those identified non-motorized transportation corridors extend from the town of Friday Harbor to the Zylstra Lake area and beyond.

    When federal funding for the development of transportation infrastructure was announced in 2021, San Juan County looked to its planning documents to determine what projects were priorities as identified by public outreach, comments, and surveys obtained during those past planning efforts. The desire for safer and increased non-motorized transportation opportunities has been a prevailing theme throughout our community for many years; however, substantial funding for the investment in a shared-use trail network or program has not been readily available. There are no current mechanisms in San Juan County to fund large scale non-motorized transportation projects aside from external grant funding and ad hoc road fund expenditures. The Town to Zylstra Lake was selected because it is enumerated in adopted community plans and generally supported by local elected officials, is a finite trail project (a trail with a logical starting point and destination) with a theoretically achievable timeline and could serve as a pilot project for future trail projects. The project was also chosen because of the connectivity it provides from the population hub and ferry terminal of Friday Harbor to the open space and recreation opportunities found on the Zylstra Lake Preserve.

    Who is this trail for?

    This trail is for everyone! It’s for parents with strollers and little ones on trikes. It’s for bikers and hikers, recreation enthusiasts, and casual walkers of all ages. It’s for neighbors, visitors, families, and seniors. This trail aims to be a community asset that provides safe and accessible recreation and commuter opportunities.

    The trail will connect homes outside of town limits in rural areas to essential goods and services like schools, the ferry terminal, medical care, and local businesses. Imagine stepping out your door and walking or biking safely to town to grocery shop, fill prescriptions, or pick up mail - no car or parking hassle required.

    Those within the main hub of Friday Harbor will be safely connected to recreation opportunities and beautiful County amenities. Picture a Saturday afternoon where you could buy produce and snacks at the Farmers Market and bike safely out to Zylstra Lake for an afternoon picnic! Take a safe, scenic route through the rural beauty of the islands with your family and leave your car behind.

    This trail is a benefit for motorists, too! Trails allow bikers and walkers to move off the roads and reduce congestion on main island corridors. The roads are safer for all road users when pedestrians and cyclists have dedicated spaces to travel.

    What is a ‘shared-use’ or ‘multi-modal’ trail?

    Shared-use trails — also called multi-modal trails, greenways, or bike paths — are non-motorized transportation corridors designed for use by people of all ages and abilities. Shared-use paths tend to be ADA-compliant and are typically paved but can also utilize other types of surfaces. They are designed as independent facilities for two-way non-motorized travel, supplementing the existing active transportation network and providing flexible transportation options and recreational opportunities in a wide variety of settings.

    Shared-use paths serve users who:

    Travel by diverse and sustainable transportation modes;

    Have a variety of trip purposes, including commuting, shopping, socializing, exercising, and recreating; and

    Embody a wide spectrum of ages, abilities, and comfort levels.

    What will this trail look like?

    In the County’s application for federal funding, the Public Works Department based its estimations off the concept of a proposed paved, 10-foot wide, separated trail that would extend for approximately 2.5 to 3 miles. However, this design is only conceptual at this point and the County is currently in the process of determining site plans and trail layout – a process that will include public comment and landowner outreach.

    The trail concept is in the beginning stages of development and the County looks forward to gathering community input to determine how the trail will look and feel. It is important that the trail reflects the community’s needssafe, accessible, bike and stroller-friendly, enjoyable, and much more. Therefore, the County will encourage public engagement and feedback throughout the planning and development process.

    How could I be impacted as a neighboring landowner?

    As project plans and designs are developed, the County will be in direct communication with the neighboring landowners. Neighbors’ thoughts, opinions, concerns, and ideas will be heard and considered as the project planning and design process takes shape. It is important to the County that the trail reflects the needs of the community – especially those with the most proximity to the project.

    As plans develop, the County will work with property owners in the area to explore collaborative options and tools to ensure the neighbors’ needs are being considered and to maximize the project’s success and long-term benefits to the community.

    What’s the timeline? When will the trail be built?

    The County is working quickly to develop a framework for the project. Trail planning, public input, due diligence, design, and construction will all be components of a robust process and will take time. The County is working to establish a timeline and will provide updates as soon as possible.

    How will the project be funded? Who is paying for this trail?

    The majority of funding for this project will be comprised of grant funding from the federal government. San Juan County is excited to have the support from Representative Rick Larsen’s Office to bring a highly leveraged multi-million-dollar asset to our community.

    In December of 2022, Representative Rick Larsen secured $31,529,221 from the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Package to be used for fifteen projects in his district. For the second year in a row, the spending bill included earmarks for important community projects – including transportation and infrastructure projects.

    Larsen secured $5.28 million for San Juan County for the Town to Zylstra Lake Trail, as the proposed project 1) benefits the community it serves; 2) is generally supported by local elected officials and enumerated in adopted community plans; and 3) encompasses a feasible and achievable timeline.

    The County plans to apply for other grants and seek additional outside funding to supplement the project and continue to leverage external dollars. The County plans to spend as few local dollars as possible, using the Road Fund as a tertiary funding source and last resort. Public Works has used Road Funds to build sidewalks and shoulder expansions on sections of Weeks Road on Lopez, Enchanted Forest Road on Orcas, Argyle Road on San Juan, and others.

    Is this project taking funding from other community needs?

    No, this project is not taking funding away from other projects like affordable housing, education, or healthcare. The specific funding used for this project is intended for transportation and infrastructure projects, as administered by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The goals of this legislation include building a safer and more accessible transportation network, strengthening multi-modal transportation systems, supporting underserved communities, repairing infrastructure, reducing pollution, and pursuing environmental justice.

    The County is committed to paying responsibly for trail projects and leveraging external funding whenever possible to create the projects locals have identified as priorities.

    How will this project affect road project funding?

    Pursuing this project will not reduce the County’s level of service or defund other budgeted County Public Works projects and programs. The majority of funding has been secured via a federal grant, and the remaining funds will be comprised of a combination of existing discretionary County road funds and other yet to be determined grant sources.

    Where can I learn more about the project?

    The project is still in its infancy. Project updates will be available on the County’s new 'Engage San Juan County' platform and social media channels. Use the Engage page to follow project progress, add your questions and ideas, and track important dates. To participate, make sure you're registered in the 'Engage San Juan County' platform.

  • Press Release: February 15, 2023

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    County Begins Planning for Zylstra Lake Trail and Answers FAQs

    The proposed trail to connect Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake is in the early stages of development and will soon include opportunities for public input

    SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. February 15, 2023 San Juan County is eager to begin developing a plan for a shared-use trail connecting the Town of Friday Harbor to the Zylstra Lake Preserve. Recently awarded $5.28 million in federal transportation funds, the County is beginning the project by answering frequently asked questions, moving forward with preliminary project scoping, and accepting public input on the project webpage.

    “This project is in the very early, conceptual stages of development,” said Grant Carlton, the project’s manager and the County’s Management Analyst. “We really see this as an opportunity for the public to come together and shape what this trail could be.”

    Representative Rick Larsen (District 2) earmarked the funding from the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Package and visited the preserve on January 20, 2023 to discuss future hopes of safe, multi-modal transportation in the islands.

    “There’s already a lot of people who bike out here anyway – it's just that they’re biking on a County road with no median, no separation from cars – not all that safe,” said Larsen.

    The idea for a trail to Zylstra Lake was born out of multiple planning documents, meetings, and community surveys that identified the need for a well-planned transportation system of multi-modal trails that “connect people to places.”

    Zylstra Lake Preserve lies at the center of multiple corridors that have been identified as important opportunities to promote nonmotorized transportation, provide safer conditions for biking and walking, and improve connectivity between popular sites,” according to multiple iterations of the County’s Parks Trails and Natural Areas Plan, which is now called the Recreation, Open Space, and Stewardship Plan.

    Among the Plan’s goals is to provide “a diversity of trail opportunities including hard- and soft-surfaced trails, point-to-point trails, loop trails, and trails with a variety of access points and lengths.” The proposed trail from the Town of Friday Harbor to the Zylstra Lake Preserve aims to achieve these long-established goals put forth by local land managers and members of the public.

    The County has answered a list of frequently asked questions, including, “Why did the County select this project?” , “How is this project funded?” , “How will neighboring landowners be impacted?” and more. These answers are accessible on the project's 'Engage San Juan County' page, accessible by clicking here.

    See the timeline below to understand how the project has developed over time:

    • 2005: The County’s Parks and Recreation Plan identifies trails and bikeways as a critical issue. A survey of 5,000 random households and discovered that 82% of county residents “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that “trails and bikeways should be an integral part of transportation planning for the county.”

    • 2010: Citizen-driven trail groups identify priority corridors for future trail development. The County’s Parks, Trails, and Natural Areas (PTNA) Plan defined and identified the goal of many of these corridors is to promote non-motorized transportation, provide safer conditions for biking and walking, and improve connectivity between popular sites.

    • 2016: Multi-modal trails along island corridors (including corridors leading to Zylstra Lake) are identified once again as priorities in the PTNA Plan.

    • 2021: Congressman Rick Larsen’s office calls for Member Designated Project (MDP) submissions. Jurisdictions with specific highway and transit projects located in District Two were encouraged to apply. MDP funding seeks to further projects that benefit the communities they serve, are generally supported by local elected officials, are enumerated in adopted plans, and encompass a feasible and achievable timeline.

    • 2021: San Juan County identifies multi-modal trail to Zylstra Lake as worthy and applicable project for a MDP submission. The Zylstra Lake Shared Use Trail project has been enumerated in multiple iterations of adopted local planning documents, has an identified starting point and destination, and carries a theoretically achievable timeline.

    • April 2021: The Town of Friday Harbor passes a resolution in general support of the project.

    • April 2021: San Juan County approves a resolution in general support of the project. The Public Works Department presented a conceptual cost analysis of the project to Council. This estimate was used to understand the potential scope of the proposed project and was/is subject to change. The preliminary budget was created only for conceptual planning and grant writing purposes. The Council then signed a resolution in support of a Town to Zylstra Lake multi-modal trail.

    • April 2021: San Juan County submits the Town to Zylstra Lake project proposal to Representative Rick Larsen’s Office.

    • November 2022: San Juan County adopts the Recreation, Open Space and Stewardship (ROSS) Plan which continues to highlight the public’s interest in multi-modal trails. One of the most pressing issues emerging over several years of community outreach is the need for non-motorized transportation connecting people to places,” the plan states.

    • December 2022: Larsen Secures $31,529,221 for Fifteen Local Projects in Omnibus Spending Package. With the goal of supporting a cleaner, safer, and more accessible transportation network, Rick Larsen secured $5.28 million for a multi-modal trail from the Town of Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake.

    • January 2023: San Juan County begins project planning. Congressman Larsen visited Zylstra Lake and County employees start preparing to solicit public input on project design.

    Additional project information will be gathered on San Juan County’s new interactive web platform and is available on the Engage San Juan County platform: engage.sanjuancountywa.gov/town-to-zylstra-lake-trail.

    Contact: Grant Carlton, Management Analyst, grantc@sanjuanco.com

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  • Larsen Visits Zylstra Lake

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    Congressman Rick Larsen visited the Zylstra Lake Preserve on January 20, 2023 to meet with local staff and celebrate the funding opportunity.

    “There’s already a lot of people who bike out here anyway – it's just that they’re biking on a County road with no median, no separation from cars – not all that safe,” said Larsen at the event.

    Larsen was joined by Council Chair Cindy Wolff, Councilmember Christine Minney, San Juan County Staff, and members of the public.

    “This project is in the very early, conceptual stages of development,” said Grant Carlton, the project’s manager and the County’s Management Analyst. “We really see this as an opportunity for the public to come together and shape what this trail could be.”

  • Larsen Announces Funding

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    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus spending package, which included funding Larsen secured for fifteen projects in the Second District.

    “My priority in shaping spending bills is to invest in Northwest Washington communities to create jobs, keep the economy moving and improve vital services residents rely on,” said Larsen. “I will continue to champion these critical projects to ensure communities can strengthen vital infrastructure, build a cleaner, safer and more accessible transportation network, improve access to critical services for working families and students, and grow Washington’s economy.”

    Larsen secured the following earmarks to support Northwest Washington communities Build a Cleaner, Safer and More Accessible Transportation Network:

    • San Juan County Public Works Department’s Town to Zylstra Lake Multi-Modal Trail – The Public Works Department will construct about 2.5 miles of paved trail for pedestrians and bicyclists from the town of Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake Preserve. ($5,280,000)

    Read the full story here.