FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page is a summary Q&A of common questions surrounding the levee trail, the former Towne Road, the new proposed Towne Road segment, and history on the project.
Why are we talking about this issue? What is the issue?
In a December 2023 Commissioners Meeting, the three Clallam County Commissioners agreed to proceed with constructing a paved road surface on top of this levee segment. Their decision seemed to be the result of intense pressure by a small but vocal and ferocious pro-road group, that badgered and harrassed both public officials and private citizens over the period of a few months time, to have this road constructed. The Commissioners cited a compromise that would also provide a trail immediately alongside the road. However, the presence of the road will extremely adversely affect the trail character and the local environment
What levee trail segment are we talking about?
The trail segment and local environment we are advocating to protect is located just south of the Old Dungeness Schoolhouse, which address is 2769 Towne Rd, Sequim, WA 98382 if you would like to view the area on a map.
The specific trail segment in question is represented by the orange line in the diagram to the left. It currently serves as a vital road-free trail connection between two great existing community trails - the River's Edge Trail to the south and the Dungeness Schoolhouse Trail to the north.
Currently this trail segment is free of vehicular pavement, and we hope to keep it that way.
What are the county's current plans for this trail segment?
As mentioned above, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners recently approved direction to pursue paving this segment of trail sometime in 2024. The project is intended to include a greatly reduced/narrowed variation of the existing trail, immediately abutting the new proposed road in which cars may exceed 60 mph (if speeding). Not only does this create a dangerous pedestrian environment, there is concern that with tight budgets the trail may not be reconstructed for years, if it even happens at all. Lack of current county funds also very importantly eliminate a crucial road safety design: a roundabout at the north end of the existing trail segment. This roundabout was deemed vital to the original design for the road, but now that the County is attempting to construct the road with limited funding this roundabout has been eliminated. The result will be an intersection at a dangerous location along a curved road segment with limited sight distances.
What is the county's designated "Option 2" that they are intending to implement for a road and trail, and when will it be constructed?
Option 2 was presented during a September 2023 public meeting as one of four options to consider for the top of the new levee. This option included a paved two lane road with an immediately adjacent walking trail alongside. This is the option that the the Department of Community Development recommended to the Board of Commissioners, and the BOC ultimately agreed to pursue. The BOC asked for public works to attempt to construct this road in 2024 (likely summer). Public Works indicated a potential to have a design bid package ready in March of 2024.
What was the county's designated "Option 4" for this project?
Option 4 was presented during the same September 2023 public meeting as one of four options to consider for the top of the new levee. This option consists of a trail only, as well as a shared access route for local agricultural equipment and for access to the one residence that lives off this levee segment. This option provided for the maximum recreation opportunity for the public, as the entire surface of the levee top would be available for recreating. This option received the most letters and comments of support from the community, as documented by DCD, more than any of the other options being considered. Despite this, DCD and the BOC still elected to pursue Option 2.
Why has Clallam County decided to place a road on top of this segment?
In March of 2023, the BOC took pause to consider if placing a road on top of the levee was necessary, due to the positive support they had heard from the community using it as a trail. This action led to a small group of individuals to form that wanted to see the road be constructed, and over the span of a few months that small pro-road group harrassed, bullied, and intimated members of the community, the DCD, and BOC. They used tactics of aggression, intimidation, and mistruths and have been relentless in their road pursuit. It is unclear to what degree their tactics, which are observable from online dialogue and in BOC meeting recordings (they went to meetings every week for months), had on the decisions of DCD and the BOC but ultimately the BOC decided to continue with the road construction.
Why is "Option 2" of the road and the trail not acceptable
for the future of this areaand environment?
Option 2 was selected by the DCD and BOC because it represented what they felt was a compromise between the vocal pro-road contingent and the trail advocates. However, this compromise fails to consider the future condition of our area, the negative environmental impact on the adjacent river, the affect of wildlife in the area that will now have to contend with a two-lane road, the potential for vehicular/pedestrian accidents and fatalities, and the severely diminished character and experience of this current trail system.
But didn’t the Director of Community Development do a poll and most people wanted the road and trail option?
It was a fatally flawed survey for two reasons:
1) The survey sample: Notices to people within a one mile radius from the schoolhouse that didn’t include people to the south on Towne rd. Why didn’t DCD select a point in the middle or south end for their one mile radius? People on Towne Rd are the most affected by the decision. By choosing the northern most point they created a biased sample clearly selecting people that would use it only as a thorough fare to cut a few minutes off their travel time.
2) The County should have offered one overarching question - should there be a road reconstructed? Then if the majority answered yes they should have then propose the three options that had a road as a central component. Instead they presented four options from the start, where only one was a trail-only option.
What is the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's position on the matter?
The Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, a project partner in the floodplain restoration of the adjacent parcels, submitted a letter to the BOC asking them to consider a three year postponement to the construction of the road, so that the restoration could be better analyzed and data collected to determine how a roadway through the area will impact the neighboring environment, as well as how the project could be funded since funding is currently not available. Despite this reasonable and thought out request, the BOC has elected to continue with the construction of the road this calendar year.
What can I do to advocate for a trail-only solution? How can we preserve this beautiful environment and walking trail?
Many ways are possible, but the best at this urgent time is to attend (in person or digitally) the Clallam County BOC meetings on Tuesdays at 10am, and offer public comment in support of keeping this segment a trail only. Though we won't be as agressive or demeaning as some of the pro-road fanatics, they implemented the strategy of weekly comments at the BOC meetings and ultimately the BOC decided to put the road on top of the levee. Even if all you say is " I want to keep this segment a trail only and no road", many voices will go a long way in influencing the decision of DCD and BOC. And by all means if you have more passionate points to share, please do! See more information about the meetings on the "Take Action" tab.
Is a paved Towne Road connection on the levee needed for EMS (Fire, Sheriff, etc.) response?
No, pavement is not required for EMS response. Emergency responders would be able to travel on the gravel topped levee in a similar response manner. As long as the county installed gates at both ends of the levee conform with fire department access standards, or if the gates are removed entirely, EMS will be able to travel this segment and respond efficiently. A chief from Fire District 3 and the Clallam County Sheriff both reported that while any road aids in the ability to respond to an emergency, this particular segment is not viewed as critical to emergency responses and would be used seldom.
Is a paved Towne Road connection on the levee needed for tsunami evacuation?
No, pavement is not required for people fleeing a tsunami to use the levee. Similar to the comment made above about the gates, as long as the county is able to install an intervation on the gates to allow any community member to open them easily in an emergency, or if the county were to remove the gates altogether, any individual would be able to utilize this route in the event of an emergency. It is important to note that this segment is not identified as a tsunami evacuation route on any tsunami maps, as Sequim-Dungeness Way is the appropriate escape route and has been engineered accordingly.
Is this segment of levee needed as a north/south road connection for local neighborhoods?
No, this segment is not needed as there are several other (Sequim-Dungeness, Ward, Cays roads) north/south county roads to facilitate the flow of traffic.
Who will benefit from a paved road connection?
The predominant beneficiaries are the residents who live in the Dungeness community immediately north of the project, which appear to total between 100-150 homes. It is perfectly understandable that paving this segment could offer some minor travel conveniences, although mainly to a relatively small number of people. These conveniences might reduce an occasional trip to Walmart once a week by a few minutes. But the consequence of putting that road in is the destruction of the current amazing trail character, as well as the adverse affect on the environment, for all time.
Who will benefit from retaining this segment as a trail only?
Where to start?! Keeping this levee a trail-only will provide a one of a kind walking, jogging, cycling, recreational trail corridor for people of all ages and abilities. Because of how wide the top surface is, this provides a singular recreational experience for users who could walk side-by-side several people wide, taking in views of the river, farmland, bald eagles, deer, flora and fauna abound!
Trail users will benefit from the safety of not having continuous speeding vehicles zoom by just a couple feet away.
Nature will benefit from having an area free of fuels and oils from a road surface, free from a barrier to wildlife having to cross a roadway, free from the noise of loud trucks and other vehicles.
What are the environmental benefits of preventing a road from being constructed on this segment?
It would be difficult to gauge all of the environmental benefits of keeping this levee as a trail, as there are an immense amount. In general the carbon footprint created to install the road on top, including the stormwater infrastructure necessary to contain all of the containments coming from motor vehicles to mobilizing grading and asphalt paving crews, to years of road upkeep and maintenance, would result in considerable emissions input into our environment. Once constructed, the road will see cars traveling daily that will disrupt wildlife patterns and habit. These cars will produce emissions as they travel through this natural area. In the event a car careens off the levee (an occurrence frequent on the old Towne Road), vehicles that end up down into the floodplain can leak fluids that could result in a disaster for plant and animal systems.
Who can access the levee currently?
Currently the levee can be accessed without a motor vehicle by anyone whos visits it, at any time of day. This is one of the true attributes of this trail - it serves so many more people in so many more ways than a paved road that would serve a few hundred people or less in an automobile on an infrequent basis. One private residence (a farm) also has access on top of the levee as it serves as the only route to their home. The intention is for local farmers with equipment to have access as well when needed. Speed on top of the current gravel levee is very low.
