A - Construction of the project is broken into three segments. From west to east these are.
A - The total budget for the Highway 22/W. Broadway pathway project is $13.4 million. Here is a list of the funding sources for the project:
A - The project scope has expanded since the original vision of the project was considered and the amount of funding the Town/County envisioned was inadequate. The 2008 SPET project ballot provided $800,000 for the bridge, but the total cost for the bridge is $3 million. The 2008 SPET also provided $1 million for West Broadway enhancements, but the West Broadway enhancement project’s true cost is $3 - $4 million. There were also some cost increases to consider since the project was considered. Together that accounts for most of the $4.35 million the Town/County is seeking in the 2012 SPET ballot.
A - Yes. The Jackson Hole Community Pathways department has indicated that they will not be coming back to ask voters for additional funds for this project.
A - Potentially, yes, depending on what other projects are approved, what deadlines are associated with the other ballot items, and whether electeds opt to bond or use reserves for the project. If we have to wait until the money is in the bank, then the project timeline will be delayed. Elected officials and the JHCP department are hoping to avoid this because if there is a delay, the project will probably be more expensive, as there will more construction mobilizations and construction costs never go down.
A - As currently designed, Segment 1 and 2 alignment, from Emilys Pond to the Journeys School entrance will stick to the north and east side of Highway 22. Segment 2 alignment, from Journeys to the Y, will be on the south and west side of Highway 22. While a tunnel connection for the Skyline is desired, it is not currently in the project scope or cost estimates. However, the Town/County have had the access tunnel in the design since Day 1 and it is still in all alignment options. If the funding is available through project contigency funds, electeds could vote to include the tunnel in the final project.
The community has a long history of support for using SPET funds for pathway construction. Here is an accounting of the SPET-funded pathway projects:
2006
2008
2010
A - As part of this project, there will be minor improvements at the Y to facilitate safe crossing, such as surface at-grade crossings and curb ramps. There are many ideas to make that busy intersection more safe for non-motorized access and crossing, and the Town/County is working with WYDOT to encourage them to accelerate their plans for improvements at the Y.
A - With the Highway 22 pathway project a priority and WYDOT’s 5-way/Flat Creek improvement project starting, now is the time to completely connect users into downtown Jackson. If the West Broadway enhancement project was not included, the Town/County would have another gap that we would have to fill. As well, the Town/County has federal grants for that corridor that have to be used by the end of 2014, so the Town/County realize cost savings by including it in the Highway 22 pathways project scope.
Two other SPET initiatives will be on the ballot. Proposition 1 is TBD, Proposition 3 is TBD Votes for each proposition are independent of each other. Each stands or falls on its own. Each ballot question passes or fails on simple majority. You can vote for a single ballot item or none of them.
A - Trying to hang the pathway bridge off of the existing bridge is more expensive as you can’t just bolt the pathway bridge on to the roadway bridge. It would require structural reinforced girders throughout the entire bridge because of cantilever forces that would be put on the existing bridge. As well, crews would have to peel off the deck, reinforce the girders, reinforce the structure, and then repave the entire bridge. Plus you have to maintain two-way traffic on the bridge the entire time.
In addition to being less expensive and intrusive, the approved bridge and pathway layout provides seamless connection between the new RLC Park and Emily’s Pond Planners and engineers realize that the tridge is not just going to serve as point a to point b connection, that it will also serve as recreational destination in itself. As well, the separated bridge is preferred as the bridge design can function as a secondary route for emergency access to West Bank in case the main bridge becomes blocked or inoperable.
