The effort to relocate the rest area on the east end of Government Camp by
Timberline’s Summit Pass (formerly the Summit Ski Area) got a boost in
January when it received $715,000 in federal funding as part of the Federal
Lands Access Program (FLAP). The money will be used to study the potential
move.

“This federal investment takes a significant step on the road toward making
this heavily used stop for motorists on U.S. 26 a safer spot,” U.S. Senator Ron
Wyden said in a press release. “An essential part of quality infrastructure is
safety, and I’ll continue teaming up with Oregonians working hard to reach
the ultimate goal of ensuring this rest stop is as safe as possible.”

Manuel Padilla, Project Manager for Oregon Solutions, one of the organizations
involved in the potential rest area move, spoke at the Government Camp
Community Planning Organization’s (CPO) February meeting, noting that the
grant money will focus on the first phase of the work, including planning,
design and cost estimating.

“The other pieces that will come after that; engineering, development of
planning, details of cost estimates, sources of funding,” he said.

The funds are slated to be distributed in 2025, Padilla noted, but could be
available as early as November 2024. He added that collaboration between
the various organizations involved in the project, including the U.S. Forest
Service, Clackamas County, is a key component.

John Burton, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Timberline Lodge,
also spoke at the CPO meeting, noting that they are working with Clackamas
County on a transit hub in parallel to the rest area move. He added that a
feasibility study is expected to be completed, including rough cost estimates,
by the end of May and that stakeholder outreach will likely be done sometime
in April.

Burton added that the Summit Pass area would be a great selection for a
transit hub, which could include public restrooms, bus stalls, chargers for
electric vehicles, bike racks and more, with the goal of making transportation
around the Mountain more effective and safer.

“We’re just going to keep pushing forward,” he said.

Burton also noted that the long-term vision for parking in the area would
include an area off of Timberline Road.

For more information about Oregon Solutions and the Government Camp rest
area redevelopment, visit https://orsolutions.org/.