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Resident accounts of dangerous crosswalks prompt joint letter to YDOT; staff to present draft by Feb. 20
Summary
A public comment on deadly and near‑miss pedestrian crashes prompted the council and county commission to direct staff to draft a joint letter to YDOT asking for safety improvements and to explore funding avenues such as Safe Streets for All and TAP; the boards asked staff to present a draft before Feb. 20.
A public plea about dangerous downtown crosswalks led the town council and county commission on Jan. 5 to ask staff to draft a joint letter to YDOT seeking safety improvements and partnership.
"For 10 years now, I've been sending an email saying that we have really dangerous pedestrian crosswalks," said Dale Hoyt, an East Jackson resident, who urged push‑button crossings and flashing lights after recent serious crashes. Hoyt also raised concerns about traffic movements related to upcoming Forest Service housing near Nelson Drive.
Commissioner Gardner, citing public concern and the recently completed Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan, proposed a joint communication to state highway authorities and suggested forming a small working group of elected officials and staff to pursue funding and implementation options. Brian Schilling, Pathways Coordinator for Teton County, said the Safe Streets for All program and federal grant programs such as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) could support off‑system pedestrian improvements, though permitting on state highways would remain a constraint.
The boards voted to direct staff to draft a joint letter to YDOT regarding crosswalks and pedestrian safety and to present the draft to both boards prior to Feb. 20. The motion passed on the town side by unanimous vote and was adopted by the county as moved and seconded.
Officials said the draft letter will be reviewed jointly, and that the letter would not commit either jurisdiction to specific funding without subsequent budget discussion; commissioners asked staff to provide cost estimates and options so elected leaders could consider funding commitments during the next budget cycle.
Votes at a glance: the joint bodies also approved the consent calendar, directed staff to prepare an RFP for the comprehensive‑plan update (see separate story), opened an application period for the Jackson Hole Airport board and recessed to an executive session for volunteer‑board appointments. The meeting adjourned later the same day.
