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Teton County approves USDOT grant application to fund Phillips Bench crossing, mobility hubs and $260,000 for START bus counters
Summary
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 2 approved a grant application and resolution to seek USDOT planning funds for the Phillips Bench grade‑separated pedestrian crossing, design of mobility hubs and $260,000 for START bus infrared people‑counters.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 2 approved a grant application and accompanying resolution authorizing the county to apply for the U.S. Department of Transportation Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program. The application will request planning and technical assistance for a grade‑separated pedestrian crossing at Phillips Bench, design work for Jackson/Teton County mobility hubs and a $260,000 addition to install infrared people‑counters on START buses.
Transportation Manager Charlotte Fry told the board the pilot program requires no local match and recommended the county use grant funds for consulting services rather than hiring new staff. "There’s no local match requirement for this grant. This would be funding for planning and technical assistance," Fry said, and she highlighted the Phillips Bench project and mobility hub design at locations such as Miller Park and Home Ranch.
Fry also described an additional $260,000 request for START to procure automatic passenger counters on every vehicle to improve service planning based on boarding and alighting data. "They would be at least infrared counters," Fry said, noting improved reliability in recent years.
Commissioners discussed focusing the grant on consultant support and multimodal connections around mobility hubs, with Commissioner Karlman praising planning for the Phillips Bench crossing as a public‑safety measure to keep pedestrians from crossing a busy highway.
Commissioner Karlman moved to approve the USDOT application and a resolution reflecting three elements: the Phillips Bench grade‑separated crossing, the Jackson/Teton County mobility hubs and a $260,000 line item for START bus infrared people counters. Commissioner Macker seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will adjust the resolution to reflect the added START counters and verify that the counters qualify as an eligible expense before submitting the application.
Votes at meeting: motion carried unanimously.
