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Local transit director urges study before activating transit signal priority; START board seeks fund reallocation
Summary
Start director Bruce Abel and commissioners discussed transit signal priority (TSP), a requested concept of operations (CONOPS) study by YDOT and a Start board action to seek reallocation of federal TSP funds pending required analyses.
Bruce Abel, director of START transit, told the Teton County Board of County Commissioners on July 28 that START has completed multiple procurements and is continuing service adjustments while awaiting clarity on a transit signal priority (TSP) project with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT).
Abel said YDOT has asked for a detailed CONOPS (concept of operations) study and contractual terms that START considers “very onerous,” and that YDOT has communicated the study would need to be completed before granting permission to activate a TSP system. Abel warned that installing TSP equipment without YDOT concurrence risks federal grant repayment if activation is subsequently disallowed.
At a recent START board meeting, Abel said, the board voted to request reallocation of federal TSP funds to other BUILD grant elements and to ask local elected officials to fund or obtain a planning grant to complete the CONOPS study. Abel said that, if the CONOPS obtains YDOT approval, START would pursue a capital grant with a more favorable federal/local funding split.
Commissioners pressed staff for options. Commissioner Probst suggested inviting a YDOT representative for a field review of intersections and asked whether a workshop would help break the logjam. Abel said the START board plans to discuss the issue with county leaders and that the board has scheduled a fuller county discussion for August.
Abel also briefed the board on START operational items: June ridership had a small month‑over‑month decline but year‑to‑date ridership remained up; procurement of ADA vans and commuter buses is underway with expected deliveries in late 2025 and early 2026; and START continues to expand summer service despite staffing challenges.
Abel said START is monitoring on‑demand microtransit performance and noted that expanding the on‑demand service area (for example, to include the public library) can reduce productivity metrics for the original smaller service area because trip distances and cycle times lengthen.
The board placed a fuller discussion on the August 19 regular meeting agenda, and staff said they are seeking the appropriate time to invite YDOT to participate in that conversation.
