PORT ANGELES – The city of Port Angeles will proceed researching an upland route for the Waterfront Trail east of town.  And it plans to keep maintaining the existing trail.

Last night, the city council approved a capital facilities plan that includes researching a route for a couplet to the trail upland east of PA. It remains an unfunded project in the capital facilities plan for now. The council also changed the proposal to “Gales Addition Connector Planning” to better define it as a planning piece and not an immediate replacement to the existing trail.

Mayor Kate Dexter originally floated the idea of finding an alternate route as the city struggled with maintenance issues on a slide-prone section of the Waterfront Trail between Ennis and Morse Creeks. She later withdrew her support for the idea, but last night said she was in favor of the new name and direction the city is taking.

“I appreciate the people who have taken the time to let us know. I think we all have a feeling about how important,the trail is to people. I feel like if we make this clarification, I think, you know, I can support going forward.”

Council member Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin says he supports an alternate connector in that area of the city’s eastern urban growth area.

“Functionally, we have a road down to the water treatment plant. There’s the possibility of just having a trail around the perimeter of that plant to the outside and then connecting in through the Rayonier property, the way that you used to bike around before the new bridge was built over Ennis Creek. And that small connection would allow a number of people to be able to get down to the bike path without being on Highway 101, which it would improve safety and access in a big way.”

The City Council heard from dozens of residents during two public hearings. Most urged the city to step up maintenance of the current trail and not seek an alternative, upland route.