Teton County approves 90% design for Wilson multimodal plan with targeted changes
January 07, 2025 | Teton County, Wyoming
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The Teton County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved the 90% design for the Wilson Active Transportation Improvements Project, the county’s implementation of the 2022 Wilson multimodal transportation plan, while directing engineers to make a number of site-specific adjustments to reduce impacts to wildlife and business access.
The vote follows a four-hour public discussion and a staff presentation by Brian Schilling, the county pathways coordinator, who said the presentation was “a follow-up from the September 30, 2024 workshop” and summarized how the 90% design reflects the approved plan and Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) requirements.
The plan keeps the 3-lane roadway profile WYDOT required through downtown Wilson and adds separated pathways on both sides of Highway 22, which Schilling and other staff said is needed to provide safe, direct connections to businesses, transit stops and neighborhoods. Schilling told the board the 3-lane / 11-foot-lane design was a concession WYDOT accepted after lengthy negotiations and called it “probably the most significant traffic-calming feature in the project.”
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the project advances several county goals in the comprehensive plan and the Safe Streets for All initiative — notably safety, equitable access and reduced vehicle dependence — while responding to residents’ concerns about wildlife movement and the town’s character.
Key design directions approved by the board
- Keep the downtown north‑side pathway in the core so the multimodal network serves destinations on both sides of 22; allow short constrained segments to be narrowed to 8 feet where existing utilities or right‑of‑way make 10 feet infeasible, but retain 10 feet in most locations to allow safe passing.
- Preserve bus pullouts at Hungry Jack’s and the Fish Creek Center to accommodate START and other transit service; the board directed staff to seek ways to manage shared use (loading, deliveries) without removing transit capacity.
- Pursue surface finishes that signal a change in context: staff will pursue stamped or colored asphalt and consider concrete treatments in key, high‑pedestrian locations to aid traffic calming and wayfinding while balancing lifecycle costs.
- Eliminate specified retaining walls and railings in front of Stagecoach and Nora’s where grading changes can achieve the same elevation and improve wildlife permeability, subject to engineering review and any necessary property agreements.
- For the Edmondson Springs location, pursue a hybrid approach: retain a short north‑side wall where it minimizes wetland fill and provides a stable bank, and use a graded slope or short headwall on the south side where practicable to improve wildlife crossing, subject to permits and property owner discussions.
Public comment and wildlife concerns informed several changes. Jana Stearns, a long‑time Wilson resident, urged the board to adopt the plan to make crossing and walking safer, saying “I think it’s incredible that no one has been hit by a car and killed on that highway.” Wildlife and conservation groups urged limiting hard retaining walls and avoiding plantings that would attract browsing moose next to the roadway; the county accepted language directing the design team to minimize walls and consult Game and Fish on plantings and permeability measures.
Other project details
- Estimated 90% construction cost before contingencies was presented around $3.75 million, with additional right‑of‑way and construction‑administration costs bringing the preliminary project total to roughly $4.6 million. Staff said current grants and YDOT TAP funding total about $4.2 million and that the board would need to close a remaining shortfall as design moves to final.
- The board requested staff continue conversations with WYDOT and other partners about timing and the longer‑term Fish Creek bridge connection; commissioners noted the bridge replacement and any corridor NEPA are multi‑year efforts that could enable further north‑side connectivity in the future.
What the board voted to do
The board voted to approve the Wilson Active Transportation Improvements Project 90% design and to direct staff to advance final engineering and bid documents incorporating the adjustments discussed at the meeting. Commissioner comments praised staff engagement and emphasized the need to balance safety, wildlife permeability and Wilson’s small‑town character.
What’s next
Staff will return with final design and cost updates incorporating the board’s directions, and will continue permitting coordination with WYDOT, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (where wetlands are affected), and state wildlife staff. Construction timing depends on final funding allocation and WYDOT approvals.
The vote follows a four-hour public discussion and a staff presentation by Brian Schilling, the county pathways coordinator, who said the presentation was “a follow-up from the September 30, 2024 workshop” and summarized how the 90% design reflects the approved plan and Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) requirements.
The plan keeps the 3-lane roadway profile WYDOT required through downtown Wilson and adds separated pathways on both sides of Highway 22, which Schilling and other staff said is needed to provide safe, direct connections to businesses, transit stops and neighborhoods. Schilling told the board the 3-lane / 11-foot-lane design was a concession WYDOT accepted after lengthy negotiations and called it “probably the most significant traffic-calming feature in the project.”
Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the project advances several county goals in the comprehensive plan and the Safe Streets for All initiative — notably safety, equitable access and reduced vehicle dependence — while responding to residents’ concerns about wildlife movement and the town’s character.
Key design directions approved by the board
- Keep the downtown north‑side pathway in the core so the multimodal network serves destinations on both sides of 22; allow short constrained segments to be narrowed to 8 feet where existing utilities or right‑of‑way make 10 feet infeasible, but retain 10 feet in most locations to allow safe passing.
- Preserve bus pullouts at Hungry Jack’s and the Fish Creek Center to accommodate START and other transit service; the board directed staff to seek ways to manage shared use (loading, deliveries) without removing transit capacity.
- Pursue surface finishes that signal a change in context: staff will pursue stamped or colored asphalt and consider concrete treatments in key, high‑pedestrian locations to aid traffic calming and wayfinding while balancing lifecycle costs.
- Eliminate specified retaining walls and railings in front of Stagecoach and Nora’s where grading changes can achieve the same elevation and improve wildlife permeability, subject to engineering review and any necessary property agreements.
- For the Edmondson Springs location, pursue a hybrid approach: retain a short north‑side wall where it minimizes wetland fill and provides a stable bank, and use a graded slope or short headwall on the south side where practicable to improve wildlife crossing, subject to permits and property owner discussions.
Public comment and wildlife concerns informed several changes. Jana Stearns, a long‑time Wilson resident, urged the board to adopt the plan to make crossing and walking safer, saying “I think it’s incredible that no one has been hit by a car and killed on that highway.” Wildlife and conservation groups urged limiting hard retaining walls and avoiding plantings that would attract browsing moose next to the roadway; the county accepted language directing the design team to minimize walls and consult Game and Fish on plantings and permeability measures.
Other project details
- Estimated 90% construction cost before contingencies was presented around $3.75 million, with additional right‑of‑way and construction‑administration costs bringing the preliminary project total to roughly $4.6 million. Staff said current grants and YDOT TAP funding total about $4.2 million and that the board would need to close a remaining shortfall as design moves to final.
- The board requested staff continue conversations with WYDOT and other partners about timing and the longer‑term Fish Creek bridge connection; commissioners noted the bridge replacement and any corridor NEPA are multi‑year efforts that could enable further north‑side connectivity in the future.
What the board voted to do
The board voted to approve the Wilson Active Transportation Improvements Project 90% design and to direct staff to advance final engineering and bid documents incorporating the adjustments discussed at the meeting. Commissioner comments praised staff engagement and emphasized the need to balance safety, wildlife permeability and Wilson’s small‑town character.
What’s next
Staff will return with final design and cost updates incorporating the board’s directions, and will continue permitting coordination with WYDOT, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (where wetlands are affected), and state wildlife staff. Construction timing depends on final funding allocation and WYDOT approvals.
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