ODOT, USFS outline plans, seek comments on Bend-to-Lava Lands multi-use trail

(Update: Adding link to Forest Service comment info)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --  The Oregon Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service are inviting the public to provide feedback on plans for a paved multi-use trail from south of Bend to the Lava Lands Visitor Center.

The proposed six-mile long trail will start south of Bend at the Baker Road/Knott Road interchange. From there, it will wind through a forest and old lava flow, terminating at the Lava Lands Visitor Center at Lava Butte.

Along the way, the multi-use trail provides connections to the High Desert Museum, Sun Lava trail system, and Sunriver.

ODOT received federal grants for the planning, design and construction of the trail, which will be ADA-accessible. The trail is a major component of the Lava Lands regional trail system concept, and is expected to serve more than 80,000 visitors a year once it is built.

The Deschutes National Forest prepared an Environmental Analysis (EA) of the proposal, which also includes collecting and reviewing public comments for the portion of the trail within the Forest Service Boundary.

The public comment period for the Environmental Analysis of the project was made available Thursday and was announced by the Forest Service. For more info: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57665.

To help the public better understand this project, ODOT has prepared an online open house website where members of the public can review the feasibility study completed for the project and provide feedback on the alternatives examined.

The open house is located at: https://odotopenhouse.org/openhouse/us97multiusetrailproject.

The site will be open for review and feedback through April 30.