Tekoa Trestle & Trail group starts push for JW trail funds

Tekoa Trestle and Trail Association has launched a series of meetings to inform area residents and advocates of funding of trail improvements and maintenance in eastern Washington.

The next session will be Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. in Colfax at The Center next to the library, according to Ted Blaszak, president of the TTTA.

The meeting notice notes funding proposals have been recommended for the trail by the Washington State Parks Department and points out the proposal will go before the state legislature for approval.

Among recommended improvements for the trail will be decking the trestle at Tekoa which has never been surfaced to allow for crossing by trail users. Surfacing the trestle to make it part of the trail has been one of the main goals of the Tekoa association which was formed after Blaszak and other Tekoa residents three years ago decided to decorate the Tekoa trestle for Christmas.

Other meetings in the area will be at the Palouse Caboose in Palouse Feb. 8; Foundry in Pullman Feb. 22 and April 18; the Rendezvous in Colton March 14 and Malden Library March 15. All will start at 6 p.m.

Blaszak Tuesday also reported Oroville, Snoqualmie and Waterville have now passed resolutions in support of the trail. That makes a total of 45 city and town councils which have endorsed the project.

A petition urging approval of the funding package by the legislature is listed under savethejohnwaynetrail.com.