A half-million dollar infusion of cash could help build trails in Mukilteo and east Snohomish County.
But it’ll be at least another week to see if the money is coming.
Money for the Reiter Foothills trails and the Big Gulch recreational trail is included in the House Democrats’ proposed construction budget for the next biennium.
Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who wrote the spending plan, made sure the dollars were part of a $50 million for projects in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation program.
“I did go far enough down the list to cover them,” he said Friday.
He cited Reiter Foothills as a valuable project for the community and the state.
“That’s a facility that people from all over use. They will come and spend money, and that creates jobs,” Dunshee said. “It is a good thing to do for the state for the long term.”
There’s no guarantee funding will survive the budget process. Right now, Dunshee must get the capital budget committee and the full House to pass the proposal.
Next week, the Senate is expected to pass its version. Differences between the two plans must be resolved before the scheduled end of the legislative session on April 24.
Reiter Foothills is in line for $325,000 for use in building a bridge and adding signs.
“They are all related to public safety,” said Toni Droscher, spokeswoman for the Department of Natural Resources recreational program.
It will also help develop trails for hiking, horseback and mountain bike trails.
DNR is working on developing 35 miles of trails on 2,000 acres of land near Gold Bar. Half of the property will be used for motorized trails for four-wheelers and dirt bikes. The rest is for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
Currently, the department is preparing a response for the more than 800 comments on the Reiter Foothills forest environmental review process for the proposed motorized trails. Its response is expected next week, Droscher said.
Money coming from the wildlife and recreation program can only go to the non-motorized trail. The $3.6 million project for both the motorized and non-motorized trails cannot move forward until funding is secure, Droscher said.
DNR has also applied for another state grant and is awaiting a response.
The other project from Snohomish County, the Big Gulch in Mukilteo, would get $220,000.
Currently, the city is waiting to learn what the Legislature does, city administrator Joe Hannan said.
The proposed trail in Mukilteo would go through Big Gulch — so named because it’s the largest of the city’s many gulches. The new trail would help connect residential neighborhoods with 92nd Street Park, the Mukilteo library and nearby schools.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
