The ISTEA(Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) was passed in 1991. Shortly after I met Joe Ganem and Susie Stephens. Joe was representing the National Rails to Trails Coalition for the Northwest and Susie was representing the Bicycle Federation of Washington. Joe and Susie advocated for the BPA Trail in Federal Way. I was motivated by them.
I then met Dr Ernest C. Bay, Urban Entomologist for Western Washington University Extension Service. He was advocating for the Foothills Trail. We attended Puget Sound Regional Council Non-motorized transportation meetings in Seattle. ISTEA grants were available. We claimed the Bridge of Glass was a transportation project and it was funded. Later, Bill Iyall, Tacoma Engineer, asked us to advocate for the Thea Foss Esplanade Trail. It was funded in three phases due to our advocacy .
I went to meetings with Claudia Peters, Pierce County Parks Real Estate Specialist. One day I told Claudia I rode my mountain bike on the Cushman Powerline Corridor. She had horses in Gig Harbor. She asked her boss Jan Walcott if she could pursue a trail. After three years, Tacoma Power granted Pierce County Parks permission to build a Trail.
I was a Tacoma Water Quality Engineer and discovered the Tacoma Wheelmen had the Tacoma Water Ditch Trail in 1895. I took David Seago and Kirk Kirkland out to inspect the old Corridor. David was the Editorial Editor for the News Tribune. He wrote a story advocating for the new trail. Later my friend Dana Brown took on the project for the City.
In 1997, Dr Ernest C. Bay helped me create a Video comparing the Tacoma Water Pipeline Road to the Seattle Water Tolt River Pipeline Road and Trail. Once again, Dana Brown took on this idea for the City and it became a paved trail. Now, Pierce County Parks has extended the Trail to the Orange Gate Park.
Along the way, I met Scott Pierson with Tacoma Planning. Scott asked me to help with the Tacoma Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
Then, Bob Vogel asked me to help with the Pierce County Non-motorized Transportation Plan. We came up with a list of roads needing improvement some day. Tom Ballard was the Pierce County Engineer and he came up with idea to build a trail, the Lakeland Hills Parkway. It was less expensive than building sidewalks on both sides of the new roadway.
I met Doug McDonald, the head of WSDOT, while the second Narrows Bridge was being discussed. Turns out Doug was a Cyclist and he advocated for a wide path on the new bridge especially since we already had the Scott Pierson Trail and the Cushman Powerline Trail.
Along the way, I met Mike Dobbs with Pierce County Parks. He started the CarLess Commute program and it went on for 18 years.
A man named King Cushman worked at Pierce Transit and he called me to discuss having Bikes in Busses for Bike Month. The next year King Cushman was putting bike racks on our busses. Eventually the rest of Washington State was putting on bike racks.
I worked with TJ Nedrow as he was the Park and Ride and Bicycle Coordinator for WSDOT. They were tearing down the Bike Pedestrian Bridge to widen I5 near the Tacoma Mall. We argued that the bridge actually needed to be replaced and they eventually agreed.
Before there was ForeverGreenTrails, I used to meet with Scott Pierson, Bob Vogel and Steve Sugg to discuss non-motorized transportation and strategies. Steve is now the University Place City Manager. He used to ride his bike over the old Narrows Bridge.
Finally, I met and supported Ryan Mello for his first run for Tacoma City Council. He is now the County Executive and he strongly supports non-motorized transportation improvements.