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City, consultants kick off Reconnecting West Laramie planning study with emphasis on barriers and community engagement
Summary
City staff and consultant DJ&A presented the Reconnecting West Laramie planning study on Jan. 27, a federally funded planning effort to address multimodal barriers — railroad, river, Snowy Range Road and the interstate — and to develop community‑driven connectivity alternatives.
City staff and consultant DJ&A presented a 12‑month planning study the city received through the Federal Highway Administration’s Reconnecting Communities Grant planning program, intended to identify transportation barriers between West Laramie, the Westside neighborhood and Laramie proper and to develop multimodal improvement concepts.
Philip (City planning staff) said the planning grant funds intensive community engagement, and that the study will produce alternatives that could support a future capital grant application. Bill Delo, DJ&A project manager, described the study area, the four primary east‑west barriers (Union Pacific railroad corridor, Laramie River, Snowy Range Road and the interstate), and five objectives that guide the work: improve connectivity for all modes, make connections safe and accessible, create inviting connections, ensure usability for all ages and abilities, and center community engagement.
DJ&A’s proposed scope includes existing‑conditions analysis this winter, alternatives development in spring, public engagement rounds in spring and summer, conceptual design and cost estimates in fall, and a final report. The consultant team includes Zephyr Rail for railroad coordination and is working with university students for outreach and pop‑up events.
Commissioners and members of the public asked about several topics: focusing on commercial access (to support local businesses and grocery access), Union Pacific coordination, Wyoming Department of Transportation traffic data, all‑season connectivity (snow maintenance and winter usability), transit options (fixed‑route or on‑demand shuttles), potential partnership opportunities (WyoTech, Territorial Park, Trihydro/industry drive area), aesthetic considerations for bridges and crossings, and funding sources for implementation. Staff and consultants said they will pursue stakeholder meetings with Union Pacific and WYDOT, evaluate a spectrum of solutions from localized fixes to comprehensive network‑level options, and provide conceptual cost estimates and likely funding sources for implementation and grant applications.
The commission identified outreach tactics that have worked in the past — pop‑ups at Linford/Lincoln community events and coordination with Westside stakeholders — and emphasized that the study should engage both West Laramie and Westside residents and institutions (including WyoTech and the University of Wyoming). Public commenters suggested studying the under‑interstate connector and nonmotorized routes along maintenance‑of‑way corridors as possible connections.
No formal action was required; the presentation served as a project kickoff and the commission offered comments to shape the engagement plan.
