Box Elder planning commission reviews transportation chapter, prioritizes Cheyenne Boulevard and sidewalks

City engineers and planning staff walked the Planning and Zoning Commission through draft updates to Chapter 5 (Transportation) of the comprehensive plan, emphasizing a new federally funded master transportation study and priorities for arterial corridors.

The planning director, Laurie Patton, introduced city engineer Scott Lang, who said the new study will replace the 2014 strategic plan and provide detailed design guidance and funding-ready data. Lang told commissioners the city’s 2025 capital program is “probably gonna end up about $21,000,000 in in 2025,” and listed priority corridors including Cheyenne Boulevard, a Westgate–Cheyenne connection, and Northern Lights. Lang said some corridor extensions will be developer-driven rather than paid for directly by the city.

The commission focused on multimodal connectivity and safety. Patton noted the draft adds emphasis on sidewalks after recent community engagement; staff said Tower Road ranked highest in resident prioritization. Commissioners debated the scope of a Complete Streets approach, with Lang saying it should primarily apply to arterials rather than local streets. Several members recommended separated facilities (boulevard trails or a curb) rather than trail segments immediately adjacent to pavement to improve winter snow storage and user safety.

Commissioners also reviewed the major street plan graphic and discussed roundabouts as a potential tool: Lang said roundabouts can slow vehicles while keeping traffic moving but that right‑of‑way costs and detailed design will determine if they are feasible. Members requested clearer labeling and swapping of certain map pages (notably pages 95–97) so truck routes, future local routes and trail connections read more logically in print and digital form.

Lang and Patton acknowledged that many project dates on the capital improvement pages (98–99) are contingent on funding; staff recommended prioritizing projects for budget planning rather than hard calendar dates. The commission asked staff to incorporate council workshop prioritization for sidewalks and to prepare the master transportation study so it can support grant applications and design funding.

The commission took no formal land‑use actions on the transportation items; staff will revise the draft chapter, correct labeling and formatting issues, and continue coordination on the master transportation study and intersection designs (including Liberty/North Ellsworth).