The state has put the Municipality of Anchorage back in charge of planning the Coastal Trail extension, and that's good news for supporters of the long-stymied project. Neither soon-to-be-ex-Mayor George Wuerch nor Gov. Frank Murkowski is a big fan of extending the trail, but incoming Mayor Mark Begich welcomes the chance to break the deadlock that has kept the project stuck on the planning boards for the better part of a decade.
One of Mr. Begich's first tasks is to shake loose the money needed to finish the environmental impact statement. State planners produced a thorough draft report, which drew extensive public comment. It would be a shame if progress were stalled at this point just because the report never got beyond draft stage.
In spite of impending cuts in state aid to local governments, money for the trail is readily available. Millions of dollars of federal money for roads and trails comes to Anchorage each year through the process known as AMATS, the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Study. AMATS is working up next year's spending priorities, and right now the working list does not include new money for planning the Coastal Trail extension.
Mayor Wuerch has suggested moving the project far down the city's list of trail priorities. It's not clear whether Mr. Begich will take over City Hall in time to reverse Mayor Wuerch's course and get AMATS to supply planning money in the coming year.
The bigger challenge facing Mr. Begich is to bridge the political divide that threatens the entire project. Nearby homeowners and advocates of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge have some legitimate concerns, but there is also a cabal of die-hard trail opponents who will brook no compromise -- and it's always easier to stop something of this magnitude than to make it happen.
Mr. Begich and trail supporters are exploring lower-cost, lower-impact alternatives to the state's suggested route. Coming up with broadly supported refinements will be an early test of Mr. Begich's persuasive powers and fence-building skills.
With careful route selection and design measures, reasonable critics can be satisfied and Anchorage can add another 13 miles to what is already one of the most stunningly beautiful urban trails in the world. We hope Mr. Begich will keep pushing down this very hopeful trail.