County and project staff briefed the Tullah County Trails Advisory Committee on progress and outstanding issues for multiple Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) projects and related federal grants. Staff reported that the county has received approvals from Federal Highways to begin certain work on the Cloward River (Antelope River Ridge) and other segments and that a Surface Transportation Block Grant (federal) has been programmed to reimburse design and permitting; staff said this positions the county to proceed with design but noted that construction funding will likely require additional grants.

Staff also told the committee that the federal agreement language recently returned by FHWA/WSDOT contains new provisions that are under legal review, and that the county’s legal team and partner jurisdictions are reviewing the amended multi‑jurisdictional contract. Commissioner French (online) confirmed that the agreement has not yet been placed on a board work session agenda because it remains in legal review. Staff stressed that once signed, the amended agreement would allow obligation of federal funds for design work that the county has already completed and could help position projects for later construction grants.

On the larger list of projects, staff outlined planning and design steps for several federally funded gap projects: Forks–La Push bridge and alignment studies (including a $750,000 split for multiple Cloud Gap studies), design and NEPA work for Waterline/Lyre River sections, and grant‑funded preparation for the Clovis/Cloward River corridor. Staff said the federal share on one project is 86.5 percent; the local share is expected to be covered in part by a $40,000 grant request from the city of Forks and other local sources.

After the presentation, the committee approved, by voice vote, a motion recorded in the meeting to support the nonmotorized portions of the county’s draft six‑year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as presented. The committee then discussed whether to add a separate unfunded project for parking improvements at the Joyce–Piedmont trail access. Members concluded staff needed additional analysis before adding a specific funded request; however the committee voted to place a parking‑study item on a future work plan and made a motion (seconded and passed by voice vote) asking staff to study parking needs and report back.

No construction contracts were awarded at the meeting. Committee members were informed that many projects will require further NEPA/environmental review and that in some cases tribal and federal agency coordination will be necessary before final design or construction can proceed.