JACKSON, Wyo. — Town Council unanimously agreed on Monday to approve an additional $1 million of the 2022 Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) funds for the Stilson Transit Center construction.
Town of Jackson Public Works Director Johnny Ziem presented the funding matter before Council, stating that the Stilson Transit Center is being funded through two primary sources: a federal BUILD grant and the 2022 Transportation Alternatives SPET. Of the $25 million awarded to Teton County from the federal BUILD grant, $7.2 million was allocated to the Stilson project. From the SPET fund, $7,388,892 was authorized for the project.
The Stilson Transit Center is a joint initiative between the Town of Jackson and Teton County, and both governments are required to authorize Transportation Alternatives SPET spending. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) also voted on the item at its Tuesday meeting, unanimously approving the allocation.
Teton County Director of Public Works Heather Overholser told Buckrail that the project is not over budget. The $7.2 million BUILD grant funding was originally intended for construction costs, but when $1 million was used for professional services, it left the construction budget short. Overholser is hopeful that the full $1 million will not be needed.
“When you do a project, you have planning; design; we had easement acquisition support; we’re currently having construction management performed by a consultant,” Overholser said. “All of those expenditures are eligible for BUILD grant reimbursement as part of the Stilson $7.2 million. … So because we’ve drawn down some of those BUILD grant funds, approximately a million dollars, we have a million-dollar gap for the construction.”
The construction project is a “completely appropriate and kind of perfect use” for the Transportation Alternative SPET account, according to Overholser. Stilson was mentioned specifically in the ballot language as one of the possible uses.
The Transit Center is expected to come in under budget due to the abnormal winter experienced in the valley — contractors typically budget for costs associated with winter conditions, and they did not utilize all of that money. The project is on track to be completed on schedule in July, according to staff reports.
Other projects that have recently utilized the Transportation Alternatives SPET funds include the Wilson to Stilson pathway with underpass at a cost of $3,192,089, and pedestrian sidewalks on Gregory Lane, which have yet to be expensed but cost $2,130,588.
