SW Thurston County Trail Feasibility Study

BANNER_RochesterGM_TrailsFeasibility

Review the Survey Summary & Explore the Online Open House

Learn more about the project and what we've heard from you so far.

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About the Project

With the help of Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC), Thurston County is launching a study to explore the feasibility of establishing a shared-use trail to connect Grand Mound, Rochester, and the Chehalis Reservation.  The study will evaluate:

  • Possible trail routes, including identifying a preferred route 
  • Logical places for trailheads – places for people to park and get on the trail
  • Cost to construct possible trail routes, signage, benches, and trailheads as well as the cost to maintain the trail
  • What residents in Grand Mound, Rochester, and the Chehalis Reservation value most for a future trail

This project builds on past efforts, including the 2007 Regional Trails Plan, Main Street Rochester, and the Grand Mound Transportation Study.

For more information on how we'll gather your input, review the Public Participation Plan.

Next Steps & Deliverables

We’re at the start of this planning process and began the public participation process Fall 2021. Stay tuned for more information as we continue moving forward with this project.

  • Current Conditions Report. A current conditions report will summarize previous trail planning efforts in the area, existing traffic patterns and safety issues, and public input. 
  • Route Needs Assessment.The needs assessment will identify important destinations to connect to a future trail and the features a trail should have. The needs assessment will also set the objectives and plan for how various routes will be ranked and evaluated.
  • Scenario Evaluation.  The scenario evaluation will assess various routes based on criteria developed with stakeholder input and develop preliminary cost estimates for construction and maintenance.
  • Implementation Strategy. The implementation strategy will identify preferred routes, a funding strategy, and develop a phasing plan.
  • Final Report. The final report will summarize the project.

November 4, 2021 Public Meeting

If you missed the public meeting on November 4th, you can still learn more using the following resources.

Project Introduction: 
Part 1 (3 min.)

Background on Trails in SW Thurston County (5 min.)

Project Introduction:
Part 2 (1 1/2 min.)



Types of Trails (6 min.)

Project Introduction:
Part 3 (4 min.)


Online Open House Orientation (2 min.)

Project Introduction:
Part 4 (6 1/2 min.)



Next Steps (3 min.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of this project?

There are few public open spaces in Southwest Thurston County. This project is the first step to explore and develop a plan for connecting communities with a non-motorized pathway, like the Chehalis Western Trail. The new trail would offer both outdoor recreation and transportation options that could serve people of all ages and abilities. Such a trail would be open to activities such as walking, jogging, bicycling, equestrian uses, skating, dog walking, wildlife viewing, and others. 

How is this project funded?

The total budget for this planning effort is $173,410 – and it covers studying the feasibility of building and maintaining a new trail corridor, and strategies for future implementation. At this time, no funding is available for acquiring properties, conducting necessary environmental studies, design and engineering, or construction.  

This project is funded by a $150,000 federal Surface Transportation Block Grant and $23,410 matching funds from Thurston County.

So you’re going to build a trail, right?

Hopefully someday!  But right now, this is just a study to understand what it would take – is there community support for a trail? Where does it make the most sense (based on cost and community priorities) to build a trail?  What are possible funding sources to pay for a trail?  These are all questions Thurston County needs answers to before committing to building a trail.

When will you build the trail?

Not any time soon – and possibly not at all.  That’s why we’re studying the feasibility of establishing a new trail.  To put things in perspective, the Gate-Belmore Trail has been in the works since 1996 when the railroad line was acquired by Thurston County.  It’s still not developed for public use 25 years later.  Keep in mind that a lot goes into trail planning – identifying a good route, acquiring a right-of-way for the route, designing and engineering the trail, and then constructing the trail.  With minimal funding sources and limited resources, it can take quite a while to get from start to finish.

Contact Us

  1. Katrina Van Every, Senior Planner
    vaneveryk@trpc.org
    360-741-2514

    Paul Brewster, Senior Planner
    brewsterp@trpc.org
    360-741-2526

    Thurston Regional Planning Council
    2411 Chandler Court SW
    Olympia, WA 98502
    360-956-7575