"MsoNormal">July 26, 2011 

Jackson Town Council

Teton County Commissioners

Via email: electeds@ci.jackson.wy.us and commissioners@tetonwyo.org

Subject: WY-22/West Broadway Pathway - East Segment Concept Design

Dear Town Council and County Commissioners,

Friends of Pathways appreciates the Town and County’s dedication to making the pathway connection from Town to Wilson a safe and functional one. We also agree with your sense of urgency to move the project forward. The WY-22 Pathway is considered the key missing link in the Jackson Hole Pathway system. It is needed to provide a safe connection between the existing West Bank pathways in Wilson and Teton Village, and the Town and South Park pathways.

In August 2008, Teton County voters overwhelmingly approved a $6 million SPET ballot for a pathway to connect from Stilson Transit Center near Wilson to the "Y" Intersection of WY-22 and US Highway 89, and along US-89 to Flat Creek Bridge by the 5-Way Intersection. Those funds have been fully collected, and in addition WYDOT has pledged an additional $500,000 towards the project, bringing the total funds available to $6.5 million, less design costs.

As part of your review of the WY-22 East Segment, we request that you first consider three key questions for the comprehensive WY-22 Pathway Project – that is, the entire length described in the SPET Ballot (*). Friends of Pathways specifically asks:

• First – The Town Council and County Commission should reach consensus on a fair and equitable split of the available funds between the two jurisdictions to accomplish the overall primary goals of the WY-22/West Broadway Pathway 2008 SPET project, which are to connect the pathway systems between Wilson/Stilson and the Town of Jackson. Decide how much funding is available for the Town, and how much for the County sections. This will help you decide the best combination of segments to move forward to construction.
• Second – For the WY-22 East Section, the Town and County should decide, within the available funds, on the top priority segments for West Broadway. The Jorgensen and Loris report provides excellent detail to help make that decision. Unless new funding is approved like the pending Scenic Byway Grant, some segments will likely need to wait.
• Third – Start design work for the missing middle section of WY-22, the section from Iron Rock Road (Emily’s Pond) to Spring Gulch, which includes the Journeys School intersection with the Indian Springs Pathway. FOP recommends this middle section be added onto the existing Nelson and Jorgensen design contracts so the full project needs and opportunities are all properly considered. Currently, you have two separate projects, being designed by two different firms, and a gap for how to connect the two. Design work is needed on Pathway alignment options within the WY-22 right-of-way, underpass locations need to be identified and analyzed, along with neighborhood connections and the Journey’s connection.

Given the existing knowledge of design cost estimates for the West Section and pathway bridge, which were previously presented to Council and Commissioners, and the cost estimates of the East Section, it is apparent there is not currently full funding available for all sections including both sides of West Broadway. Friends of Pathways believes the priority phases that could be accomplished within the approximate $6.5 million budget should be:

1. Stilson to Journeys: Move forward to final design and construct the primary Pathway connection from Stilson Transit Center to the Journeys School access, including a separate pathway bridge from the Snake River Access to Emily Stevens Park. By quickly securing an easement from River Springs LLC (which has been promised by the owners) the Snake River Pathway Bridge and pathway improvements could be started in 2012. Adequate funds should be in hand to build the bridge and west section paths. 
2. First phase of the West Broadway sidewalks and pathways between the Y area and Flat Creek, including Area 4 and the connection to the West Broadway reconstruction project WYDOT has set for 2013.

Unless new funding is approved, we recommend postponing these sections to a Phase II:

1. Pathway section from Journeys intersection east to the “Y”, including the pathway underpass of WY-22 at Antelope Pass (old Choice Meats, Area 2 on exhibits) Estimated cost, $2 million.
2. All remaining West Broadway phase 2 pathways and sidewalks, cost range $1-2 million. 

East Section Phase 1: With this clarity of funding allocation for the project, we recommend the following for the WY-22 Pathway East Section: Due to the project budget constraints, wait on the WY-22 Spring Gulch end, and prioritize pathway and sidewalk improvements phase 1 along the West Broadway/US-89 section from the "Y" junction area to Flat Creek and the 5-Way Intersection. This would start to make a complete street along Jackson's main street, and has significant benefits to the Town and could be easily extended to the complete WY-22 Pathway as funds allow.

• South option: Segment 4, Area 3, Segments 8,9,10, Area 4 would be $1.375 million.
• North option: Area 3, Segments 5,6,7 Area 4 would be $1.6 million.

Both have merit, and your decision should also consider the pending Scenic Byway grant, which requested federal funds for the south side sidewalk. We recommend the Town Council also evaluate the potential to invest additional existing sidewalk funds from the Town of Jackson (such as unobligated 2006 or 2008 SPET) and continue to pursue additional federal or WYDOT funds to complete the full improvements on both sides of West Broadway and Spring Gulch to the Y, as shown in the East Segment Summary Report. We heartily agree, the full project both sides is warranted.

Under any decision on the pathway, please also make a formal STIP request to WYDOT to do the mill and overlay and bike lanes on the West Broadway US26/89. The pavement is in bad shape, the work is sorely needed, and the broken high pavement edge is extremely dangerous for cyclists. The mill and overlay estimates as low as $230,000 are modest for WYDOT on this high volume National Highway System route. This should be requested under any alternative selected.

Friends of Pathways recommends these phased steps would best complete the minimum safe pathway connection between Wilson to Town, thus meeting a key community goal, while improving our main street and making sure future phases are planned and can be added as funding is available.

Sincerely,

Tim Young, Executive Director

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Note (*):

2008 SPET Ballot approved by Teton County Voters:

"Construction of Highway 22/West Broadway Pathway: $6 million for the purpose of the acquisition of land and/or easements, and for the cost of planning, engineering, and construction of a pathway from the Stilson Transit Center at the intersection of Hwy 390 and Hwy 22 to the “Y” intersection of Hwy 22 and Hwy 189 (Broadway), and then from the “Y” intersection of Hwy 22 and Hwy 189 (Broadway) to the Flat Creek Bridge by the 5-way intersection.”