JACKSON, Wyo. — A protected bike lane may be installed along the west side of Bruun Boulevard, between Broadway Avenue and Deloney Avenue, adjacent to the new Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum (JHHSM).
During the March 6 Town Council meeting, Town of Jackson Pathways Coordinator Brian Schilling presented preliminary designs.
The new one-block lane aims to further expand the “Willow Street Safe Routes Corridor,” a bike lane system that seeks to connect Snow King Avenue to the north end of town and the North 89 pathway.
Construction is currently underway for the new JHHSM campus at the corner of Broadway and Bruun. According to Schilling, the JHHSM construction manager approached the town this winter, offering to install a bike lane this spring while they do construction on the same block. For the town’s end, they would have to provide design and funding for the additional work.
Schilling said a long-term goal is to also add a protected bike lane on the east side of the road but told the councilors, “we have not had a discussion with the property owners on the east side, and this conversation came up due to the museum project. The contractor approached us.”
Part of the approved design plan for the new museum is to add a loading zone on Bruun Boulevard. Schilling suggests that the bike lane be built next to the sidewalk to eliminate conflict points between cyclists and vehicles.
According to the staff report, there is funding in the current Pathways Capital Budget. But if construction is done after July 1, the start of the town’s fiscal year, funding will be requested from the town for the 2024 budget.
The Town Council approved the project so far and directed Schilling to bring back the final designs and cost information at a future meeting for approval.
Last summer the Town installed seasonal bike lanes using bollards along Willow Street between Snow King Avenue and Gill Avenue. On March 20, Schilling will present a review of the seasonal bike lanes to the Town Council.
A ceremonial JHHSM groundbreaking event was held in September 2022. Councilors approved the museum’s draft plan in October 2021. The new 13,000-square-foot museum is being funded by a combination of 2019 SPET dollars, federal grants and private fundraising.
