Friends of Pathways,

Please contact your elected Town and County officials to encourage them to put Path22 pathway project on the upcoming SPET ballot. This will not happen without your input and a decision will be made as early as August 6th.

We have a great opportunity to finally complete a critical missing-link in the pathway system if our elected officials give us the chance to vote on the project.

The Path22 project, the pathway that will connect the Stilson Lot on the West Bank to the Town of Jackson via the new bridge across the Snake and along Wyoming Highway 22, is a high priority missing link in Teton County’s pathway system.

For more than 10 years, residents and Jackson / Teton County government have overwhelmingly voiced support for completing this pathway project. We need a safe route to and from Town and the West Bank. And the pieces are starting to come together.

Now is the time to fully fund and build the Path22 pathway projectNow is the time to fully fund and build the Path22 pathway project

The Path22 bridge design has been approved with construction slated to begin in 2013. The West Broadway sidewalk and cycle track enhancement program is in its final design phase and just received an additional $1.5 million grant to fund portions of construction. The preferred pathway alignment from Town to Spring Gulch, Coyote Canyon, and Emily’s Pond has been identified. All the pieces are in place except for funding.

The total cost for completing the Path22 project is $13.7 million. More than $9 million already secured, Teton County needs an additional $4.6 million to fully fund the design and construction of the Path22 project.

The Special Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) will be on the ballot in November, now is the time to fully fund completion of the Path22 pathway project. But first, Path22 has to be included on the SPET ballot, and our Town and County elected officials will determine which projects are put before voters.

Call or email your Town or County elected officials today to ask them to include Path22 funding on November’s SPET ballot.

The Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) is an optional one percent of sales tax paid by visitors and residents on goods and services purchased within the county. These funds remain in the county to pay for specific projects approved by county voters. SPET is a great local funding source for local project priorities. We get to determine how our taxes are invested.

SPET is the most logical and best chance to get Path22 fully funded. The new Federal transportation bill fully eliminated or gutted dedicated funding programs for bike/ped projects that pathways has relied on in the past, greatly increasing competition for those limited funds. The $4.6 million shortfall is equal to just 6 months of SPET collections. And, by designing and building the entire Path22 pathway at once, we realize many savings and cost efficiencies that are lost if we must plan, design, and build each section separately.

Without SPET funding, completion of the Path22 project will remain uncertain. We will continue to add bits and pieces to the Path22 pathway project if and when funding sources are available, with no guarantees.

Completion of the Path22 project will finally realize Teton County’s vision of a fully-integrated pathway system, connecting the west bank and commercial centers and providing access to safe and scenic transportation and recreation system for all residents and visitors.

Now is the time to finish Path22. Call or write your elected officials today to ask them to include the Path22 pathway project on the SPET ballot in November.

Email Town with this link.
Email County with this link.

Thanks for your time and attention to this important issue. Your voice and participation has made a huge difference over the years -- let's keep it up.

FoP