Tetonia council approves transportation plan update with Safe Routes to School add-on

The Tetonia City Council on Oct. 8 approved an update to the city's Transportation Plan and added a Safe Routes to School study as an optional add-on not to exceed $6,000.

Rob Heuseveldt of Sunrise Engineering presented the scope and timeline for the Transportation Plan update, telling the council the full update could take roughly six to eight months. He outlined potential add-ons including Safe Routes to School, pavement management and an impact-fee analysis. Councilmembers discussed which add-on would most directly benefit local priorities and identified Safe Routes to School as the best immediate fit.

Councilmember Ryan Bonilla moved to accept the Transportation Plan proposal with the Safe Routes to School add-on and a not-to-exceed additional cost of $6,000; Mandy Rasmussen seconded and the motion passed. The add-on will fund analysis and recommendations intended to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety for students and routes to local schools.

The plan update will serve as a guidance document estimating transportation needs over five, 10 and 20 years and will include public input. Heuseveldt was asked to return with a more detailed scope and schedule at a subsequent meeting; staff estimated the project duration at six to eight months once begun.

Next steps: staff will finalize the contract amendment for the approved add-on and schedule the consultant's work plan; the council did not identify additional funding sources at the meeting.