Oak Harbor and Island County Win Grant to Plan Highway 20 Trail

On December 16, 2025, Oak Harbor and Island County announced they had obtained an Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization grant totaling $1,010,000 to fund preliminary engineering and design for a walking trail along the northern city limits on Highway 20. The trail will run from Hoffman Road to 16th Avenue and is intended to connect the Hoffman Road park and ride, the aircraft display, and the city limits, providing another entryway to Oak Harbor downtown and the marina and improving regional and local trail connectivity.

The project has appeared in Oak Harbor capital improvement planning documents since 2020, but scheduling and advancement were delayed by pandemic era complications. The RTP grant covers design phase work only, and the award requires a 13.5 percent local match. That match totals $136,350 with the city share listed at $68,175 and the remaining local share to be provided by Island County under the agreed split.

Island County will serve as the lead agency and will manage construction when the project moves beyond design. Construction start dates remain under development while the city and county complete design work, produce cost estimates, and pursue any additional grant funding necessary to cover construction costs. Those steps will determine the project timeline and required contracting actions.

Local residents and businesses can expect improved non motorized access and clearer connections between the park and ride, public displays and the downtown core if the project proceeds to construction. The design phase will shape details such as trail width, crossings and right of way impacts, which will in turn influence traffic management and pedestrian access along the Highway 20 corridor.

An existing encampment along Hoffman Road was noted in planning discussions, and it remains unclear whether that situation will affect construction timing or design choices. City and county staff are continuing coordination as they move into the design phase, with further updates to be released as engineering, cost estimates and funding commitments are finalized.