Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) approved its 2026 Call for Projects process, including a $200,000 funding set-aside for a proposed study of Karen Fraser Woodland Trail.
The move included final revisions to TRPC’s grant evaluation criteria and formalized administrative changes to the Rural Community Support Program, which the City of Lacey will administer for projects funded in the 2030 program cycle. The planning council made the decision at a meeting on May 1.
Part of the approved package is setting aside up to $200,000 to study a potential extension of the Karen Fraser Woodland Trail. The proposed study would examine the structural integrity of a bridge, identify needed crossing safety improvements and develop a funding strategy. It would also explore right-of-way acquisition or a railbanking agreement with BNSF Railway to help advance the project.
The study would also examine extending the trail east from Woodland Creek Community Park across Marvin Road toward a future park site.
Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia, who represents the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on the TRPC, voted against the motion.
While recognizing the public’s interest in the project, she said, “The county is not currently in a position to make this a priority.”
Mejia said the county does not own the parcels needed for an expansion, and is not in a position to pursue new acquisitions or development projects.
She added that, given ongoing budget constraints, the county’s priority is to maintain and preserve existing facilities.
“I also believe that any studies we undertake should be actionable, rather than being completed and sitting on a shelf, which has happened with a couple of the feasibility studies,” Mejia said.
She offered an alternate recommendation by using funding for a broader study of all parks, open spaces and trail systems across the county.
In response, TRPC interim Planning Manager Paul Brewster said the project is already identified in both the region’s trails plan and transportation plan. He added the proposed extension ranked highly in a community survey.
The study is intended to be led by the City of Lacey, with Thurston County serving as a partner. Brewster said most of the corridor lies within Lacey’s urban growth area and would connect to city parks.
Brewster said the federal funding being considered can only be used for transportation-related facilities, such as shared-use trails, and cannot be applied to broader park or open space planning.
He added any alternative study, such as a countywide parks, open space and trails plan, would need to focus specifically on shared-use trails within the transportation network to qualify for the funding.
Brewster said the project would not move to construction at this stage, and would not be expected to begin until 2030 or later.
Following the approval of the motion, the TRPC is now accepting applications for approximately $16 million in federal transportation funding, including from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant program.
The TRPC opened its call for projects on May 4, with applications due in early June. Project scoring, public comment and policy review will follow, with final funding decisions expected later this year.
5 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
olyhiker
Hurray for Meija.
Wednesday, May 6 Report this
JulieGeddes
Having this trail extension provides access for so many cyclists to have a safe way to get to their destination in Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, Tenio, Rainer and Yelm. Thank you to all for getting the study funded and look forward to the results.
Thursday, May 7 Report this
Mugwump
Applause for Meija for not spending taxpayer dollars to fund "analysis paralysis". If there's one thing apparent in local politics it's "study, study, study, poll, study again ... ". Meanwhile the sidewalks are falling apart.
Thursday, May 7 Report this
KarenM
This is not just a 'study' it is research on the ownership of the trail corridor and looking at feasibility to construct the trail. That is required before doing trail construction and it is prudent to make sure all the legal situation is clean. Having this study can help with applications for grants to do the construction.
Thursday, May 7 Report this
leftcoast
Thanks to KarenM for providing more clarification than either Carolyn Mejia or Paul Brewster.
Friday, May 8 Report this