PORT TOWNSEND — Rerouting the beginning of the Larry Scott Trail would benefit hikers while increasing safety and productivity in the Boat Haven, say supporters of a proposal that will go before Port of Port Townsend commissioners on Wednesday.
“A lot of people drive through the Boat Yard and park at the beginning of the trail so they can go hiking,” said port Commissioner Steve Tucker.
“It generates a lot of dust and people get in the way of the boat lifts, so this could be a really good thing for us.”
The proposal involves moving the beginning of the trail to the Haines Street Park and Ride, then looping it around the back of the Boat Haven, under the bluff and onto the trail close to “Leafwing,” an abstract sculpture donated to the trail by the late Port Townsend artist Russell Jacqua.
Port commissioners will discuss the proposal during their meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday in chambers, 333 Benedict St.
The length of the new trail would depend on its routing.
The trail is currently 7.3 miles long, from the Boat Haven to Milo Curry Road, near Four Corners.
If the trail is rerouted, a milepost zero would be created, and existing mileposts would require relocation, according to Jeff Selby, the Jefferson County vice president of the Olympic Trails Coalition.
Selby said there are some drawbacks to the plan. For instance, the parking area would not be visible from the trailhead, as is with most other trails.
Selby said that his organization would supply some volunteer labor, something that Crockett said would be necessary for the project’s completion.
Crockett projects the cost could be “up to a couple hundred thousand dollars” with the most optimistic completion date about two years from now.
He hopes it would be grant funded with a state Recreation and Conservation Organization grant. Such a grant would require some community support.
“We can get the grants but they will require a match,” he said.
“So we’ll need to figure out where those funds will come from.”
Crockett said the first step would be to clear the area where the trail could be, which would be accomplished by volunteers.
Once finished it would resemble the remainder of the trail, with a gravel surface and room for hiking or bicycling in two directions, he said.
The current trail, which leads to the Boat Haven, would be left in place as it provides access for city of Port Townsend and port personnel needing to work on the trail, but efforts would be made to discourage non-maritime trades people from parking in that area, he said.
The most recent data about trail use was in 2010, according to Monte Reinders, Jefferson County Public Works director.
At that time, April counts averaged 276 per day and while August counts were 388, with not much difference between weekend and weekday traffic, Reinders said.
The count’s accuracy is in doubt because a single person would cross the counter twice in one trip and two people walking side by side may only trip the counter once, he said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
