Rocky Reach Trail to happen in phases

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Bikers on a spur trail just north of the Odabashian Bridge that leads to the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail.

WENATCHEE — The Rocky Reach Trail may some day be an extension of Wenatchee’s waterfront loop trail, but not anytime soon.

To begin with, Washington State Parks will build a one-mile section of the five-mile-long proposed trail, starting from the north at Lincoln Rock State Park and ending at a new scenic overlook below Rocky Reach Dam.

That work is scheduled to be done next spring.

The trail work will start from the north — rather than the more heavily used southern end — because it is being partially funded by a grant from the Chelan County PUD that is specifically earmarked to build a trail and overlook near the dam.

In addition to the PUD, State Parks and the Complete the Loop Coalition are kicking in money toward the $1.2 million first phase of the Rocky Reach Trail, said Bill Fraser, regional state parks planner.

State Parks has applied for grant funding to do a second phase that would add a half mile of trail from the south and a new interpretive station. If the grant is awarded, the work would start in fall 2013 at the earliest, Fraser said. That section would extend a short spur near Odabashian Bridge that ties into the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. That work is projected to cost about $300,000.

Fraser said State Parks has requested $3.5 million in its 2013-2015 budget to complete the middle three and a half miles of the trail. However, it’s not known if or when that money will be available.

He said that middle section of trail runs through orchards, so construction would be timed after harvest. If the funding is awarded by the state, it likely would not be started until the spring of 2014 at the soonest.

The trail extension project, which is estimated to cost a total of about $5 million, has been in the planning stages for two decades. Fraser said he’s been working on it since 1995. It weathered years of legal battles before the state Supreme Court last year dismissed the final challenges by a coalition of orchardists.

Now funding is the primary hurdle to completing it.

“Most folks are pretty excited that we’re now talking about getting started,” Fraser said. “Now that the legal actions are over, the next stage is finding the money.”

Michelle McNiel: 664-7152

mcniel@wenatcheeworld.com

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Slammer 11 months, 2 weeks ago

$1,000,000/mile is ridiculous.

Faedrus 11 months, 2 weeks ago

It's about time this thing got started. The sooner, the better.

And, held up for at least ten years primarily by one guy who didn't even own the land, but leased it from the PUD (as I recall).

Sheesh... :)

kyook 11 months, 2 weeks ago

This has taken way too long, I'm really looking forward to the addition of this stretch.

lonedog3 11 months, 2 weeks ago

“Most folks are pretty excited that we’re now talking about getting started,” Fraser said. “Now that the legal actions are over, the next stage is finding the money.” I am sure these people will just steal more tax money that is despertly needed elsewhere in our community. How about self funded programs for the people that have to have these trails? User fees? Let's see a "discovery pass" for the trail users.

Yep, we can never have enough government involvment. We already have "user fees" for the trails, they're called taxes.

Get the government involved and they will find a way to muck it up. Heck, they're involved already, maybe that's why it's costing a million bucks a mile to build the silly thing.

"Get the government involved and they will find a way to muck it up."

Actually, it was the private sector which mucked it up.

Some cranky guy leasing PUD land decided to fight the trail in court over and over again, appeal after appeal, and spending millions of dollars in public money.

And, for what?

For nothing. The trail system is one of the great things which brings folks to Wenatchee, and the public sector gets much of the credit.

In this case, the private sector delayed it, and cost the public a lot of money.

"Get the government involved and they will find a way to muck it up.' But it is still entirely acceptable to take tax money from the goverment to build this trail? at over one million per mile? to lay a 6 or 7 foot wide strip of asphalt? There should be in place a way for the tax monies that are given in "grants" to be repaid to the goverment. Or to have those accepting these grants justify the money especially when the tax money given to cities like wenatchee are so well used.

Lonedog, I would politely suggest that it's not "the government's money", but rather public funds.

The public, through a representative democracy, has determined that it wants to use some of its funds this way.

To me, your comment says is that you disagree with the public.

And my response is that it's the public's money, and they have a whole lot more in it than any one person. And, that this is how they want it spent.

Actually, it was WA. State Department of Transportation land that the cranky guy was leasing for his orchard. http://www.genesbmx.com/loop-trail-news.html

"Actually, it was the private sector which mucked it up" is out of context but understandable because I know just how much you like to change the subject.

The context was that lonedog3 said that we should have User Fees/discovery pass requirements for those that use the trail. We all know how well the state Discovery Pass system has worked so far.

Besides, I kinda doubt that user fees/passes would even come close to being able to build and maintain the trail.

"'Actually, it was the private sector which mucked it up' is out of context but understandable because I know just how much you like to change the subject."

Personal attack so early? :)

Actually, the context is your comment: "Get the government involved and they will find a way to muck it up."

And again, it was the private sector here which has wasted millions of dollars, delayed the project for at least ten years, and "mucked it up".

""Get the government involved and they will find a way to muck it up."

is looking forward into the future while ....

"it was the private sector here which has wasted millions of dollars, delayed the project for at least ten years, and "mucked it up".

is looking backwards into the past...

See the difference?

The private sector messes up all the time, and big.

If you had stock in Lehman, Washington Mutual, or Countrywide in 2008, you'll know what I mean.

In the meantime, the public sector does lots of good, of which you're benefiting right now.

For example, the electricity you're using right now is some of the very lowest in the world.

The public sector did that. You may want to hug a public sector worker today, and thank him. :)

Neato! But how does that relate to the user fees and/or "discovery pass" scenario?

exactly the point! it is a trail 6 maybe 7 foot wide strip of asphalt that is costing taxpayers around 1 million a mile to build! Seem a bit on the excessive cost to anyone else?? which company is going to get rich off this waste of taxpayer money? Oh and where does "public money" come from? a special tree in the forest?? so all I am saying is for the users, the people who need this trail to self fund it somehow since 1 million a mile seems WAY out of line!

What do you think the trail should cost per mile, and what is your source?

JimboBear 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I haven't read the specifications and I don't know the total scope of the work so haven't much of an idea what is to be provided for that $1,000,000 but I have to agree that $189.40 per foot sounds pretty expensive.

"$189.40 per foot sounds pretty expensive"

Especially when the terrain is fairly level & not a whole lot of excavation needs to be done.

I wonder how wide of a swath of trees are going to need to be pushed out.

"...but I have to agree that $189.40 per foot sounds pretty expensive."

I think this is an example of some of our more conservative friends taking a shot at government without having all the facts.

Great, some folks thinks the cost is too expensive.

Question: So, what is a fair cost for the work?

Response: Silence.

How can one state the cost for the work when we don't know what the scope is? A construction contract is much more detailed than "Go out there and lay a strip of something black".

Oh come on, Jimbo, you're not playing into Faedrus' argumentative game.

No . . . not at all kyook. I'm saying that for or against, one cannot state what a fair price is unless you know what will be received for the money paid. We don't even know the actual duration of the contract, are there penalties for delay? We can only guess at what sort of preparation to the sub-grade is required. What does a cross section of the completed trail look like? What is to be done with debris and overburden? Who pays for imported fill material if required? You know what I am saying. No one bids a project on such information as is stated in this article and because of that, how can anyone state what a fair price is?.

Thanks Jim, and I agree. It's easy to throw stones at a cost number, and without know the details of the contract.

At any rate, my understanding is that the work will be done by a private company, and therefore by the private sector.

Yes, I know exactly what you are saying & that's why Faedrus' question is so ridiculous.

take the cost by the miles it will run and what do you get? nothing to do with "conservitive" friends taking a shot at goverment. it is about little groups that think they are owed all this money to build a trail that shouldnt be more than a couple of hundred thousand. ya run a doser ahead of the asphault layer coupled with a few dump trunks and 3 ot 4 miles shouldnt cost close to 1 million a mile.

Lonedog, I go back to my earlier question to you:

How much should it cost, and what's your source?

Stever 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Need a hand there, Faedrus? I will contract to build the darn trail per my specs for 999,999. A bargain at half the price or however the saying goes. But wait, there’s more! I promise completion by no later than August, maybe September or….er….probably October. Oh yes, and I’ll need the borrow site, youse guy’s equipment and most likely your crew. There! You now have a price, based on my experience, which is…uh…none. But I learn quickly.

I reckon I'll under-bid you $1, to $999,998. :)

Why don’t we combine forces and maybe ask Kiewit Pacific to join us? That way, we’ll do a real bang-up job (again, per my design/build specs) and we’ll avoid any penalties for delay. I see a completion date by October, maybe November. I’m going to work on my procrastination issues next week.

Great idea! I'll see if I can borrow my neighbor's shovel. :)

Midauter 11 months, 2 weeks ago

I'll agree to paying a user fee for using the loop trail when I do not have to pay a "user fee" for financing schools - since I have no children. Public money pays for public facilities of all types. One portion of the public may use some of the facilities and another portion other facilities. We can either split hairs or all contribute to the common good.

I pay for schools (with no children in local schools), police (never called one in my life), the fire department (ditto), 911 (ditto), crisis hotline (ditto), and a whole bunch of of stuff that I've never used.

And, I'm happy to pay for them, because they're for the greater good of the community.

Those who are asking for the implementation of a loop trail user-fee may want to get past themselves a bit, and think a bit about what is best for their neighbors, the community, and what makes the area so liveable...

"the greater good of the community" a trail used by a very small percent of the community, that will in effect cost all of the taxpayers in the community just doesnt seem to be "for the greater good of the community" Let's see some of the competitive bids for this trail. I have heard from a construction friend of mine and he laughed and said "someone is making a killing on that deal". Instead of trying to constantly incite arguements Mr. Smith, start asking to see the bids. lets get new bids and make them public. As stated, it is flat land with few trees. it shouldnt cost anywhere near that much money.

Lonedog, I would politely suggest that it is not I who are starting arguments.

For example, you began your portion of this string with the following allegation of theft -

"I am sure these people will just steal more tax money that is despertly needed elsewhere in our community."

When asked a number of times what is your evidence, it appears that you have none, except for a random conversation you had with a friend.

In the meantime, your statements sans evidence continue, such as this one:

"...a trail used by a very small percent of the community..."

What is the percentage of those using the trail, Lonedog? And, how many folks who move to Wenatchee, and help maintain the economy in the area, move here because of its trails?

Lonedog3, the trail is out there for anybody who wants to use it even if they don't. It's not like we get to pick and choose which services we want our tax dollars to go towards. If people pay their taxes then they are entitled to use the services, or not.

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