OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A public comment period is under way on proposed improvements and expansion of the Spruce Railroad Trail.
Some 78 people attended a meeting at the Vern Burton Community Center on Wednesday to hear details of Olympic National Park’s preferred alternative and the other three alternatives described in the environmental assessment.
Park staff presented the four alternatives considered for developing the Spruce Railroad grade into a nonmotorized, multiuse trail from the Lyre River to the park’s western boundary, including an alternative proposed by Clallam County.
The public comment period opened Wednesday and continues till Oct. 21.
Comment can be left on that website or hand-delivered or mailed to park headquarters at 600 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
The trail is located along the north shore of Lake Crescent and is proposed for expansion in the Sol Duc area of the park.
Alternative 1 would make no changes at all.
The park’s preferred alternative, Alternative 3, would build two miles of new trail — as opposed to 1.9 miles in Alternative 2 and 1.5 miles in Alternative 4, which was proposed by Clallam County.
Each of the three would include 1.4 miles on the historic Spruce Railroad grade.
The parks’ preferred alternative would create a 6-foot-wide paved trail that would have a 4-foot-wide gravel shoulder on the railroad grade and on a short spur trail connecting to new trail planned on U.S. Forest Service land adjacent to the park.
Alternative 2 would create a 5-foot-wide gravel trail, while Alternative 4 would be 8 feet wide with a 4-foot-wide gravel shoulder on the railroad grade and spur trail.
Alternatives 3 and 4 would be for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians, while Alternative 2 would be open only to hikers and bicyclists and would maintain a smooth surface for wheelchairs.
More details and the environmental assessment can be found at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/srrt.