Intercity Transit Authority takes stance against Log Cabin Road extension project 

The Intercity Transit Authority unanimously voted to remove the Log Cabin Road extension project in Thurston County’s Regional Transportation Plan.

The transit authority made the decision at a meeting on Wednesday, July 2. 

The project envisions extending Log Cabin Road in Olympia, cutting through the forest at Little Baseball Association (LBA) Park, to connect with Herman Road.  

Thurston Regional Planning Council Transportation Manager Katrina Van Every briefed the transit authority about the project. She said the concept of extending Log Cabin Road dates back to 1984, when it was included in the county's first Regional Transportation Plan. 

Though Olympia is no longer considering the project and has removed it from the city’s comprehensive plan in 2021, the current Regional Transportation Plan still refers to it as it could provide an alternate east-west connection to decongest Yelm Highway.  

Intercity Transit has no direct control whether the project moves forward, but the transit authority has representatives in the two groups that will decide whether to retain the project in the Regional Transportation Plan. 

Some transit authority members also represent other jurisdictions in the two groups. 

One of the groups is the Transportation Policy Board, which will form a recommendation for the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC), which will ultimately decide on the matter.  

Representing Intercity Transit on the policy board is Justin Belk. During the transit authority meeting, Belk expressed general support for street connectivity but acknowledged the need to consider other factors, such as the environment.  

“As a general rule, a well-connected street grid with supportive land use allows us to do our job better. … A street that exists is a street that we can put a bus on, and streets that don't exist shift traffic to other routes,” Belk said. 

“In any given context, I'll only support street connectivity, but sometimes there's other environmental and context factors to consider.”  

Extending Log Cabin Road gained traction in the 2000s when two housing developments were proposed for the area surrounding LBA Park. Concerned residents and environmentalists organized to oppose the developments.

According to the group Save the LBA Woods, more than 6,000 residents signed a petition to urge the Olympia City Council to buy the forestland from the developers and dedicate it as a parkland, which the council eventually did in 2017. 

Meanwhile, representing Intercity Transit at TRPC is Olympia City Councilman Robert Vanderpool. He also represents Olympia on the policy board.  

Vanderpool reiterated his city’s position, which is that it has no interest in doing the project. He also mentioned the city committed to conducting a study that will evaluate transportation needs in the area in 2030. 

Other transit authority members also spoke against keeping the project. Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Meija said she does not see the point in keeping the project if the study would only start by 2030. 

Wendy Goodwin questioned the necessity for the road and said multi-modal transportation for the area would be more beneficial. 

Sue Pierce noted the project has been planned for decades without any material progress. She added that removing it from the regional plan would free up funds for other uses. 

The transit authority made no formal motion to declare their stand, but Belk said he would reflect the consensus they formed. He will be representing Intercity Transit when the Transportation Policy Board meets to decide on their recommendations on Wednesday, July, 9.