JACKSON, Wyo. — The Town Council approved the concept design for improvements to the Scott Lane-Maple Way corridor between Snow King Ave and Elk Run lane but the timing of the project remains up in the air.
The improvements include a new bike lane that is separated from the road by a one to two-foot buffer and a new six-foot sidewalk adjacent to the bike lane. A new sidewalk on the north side of Snow King Ave will be built so that there are sidewalks on both sides of the street.
The improvements also include ADA compliance updates, most notably curb ramps and sidewalk cross slopes.
The town was awarded a grant from the Wyoming Department of Transportation in 2020. The grant requires the town to complete the design and environmental clearance by Dec. 31, 2022, and construct the project within 10 years.
“This is really one of the most if not the most important corridors in terms of the town of Jackson’s active transportation network,” Pathways Director Brian Schilling said.
According to the staff report, The corridor on Snow King Avenue/Scott Lane/Maple Way, which connects downtown to the Garaman Pathway, is the primary bicycle route across Jackson and averages over 900 trips per day during summer months.
Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive of the project with many sharing concerns about safety for children traveling to school.
Schilling explained that the project would likely align with sewer and waterwork projects in the area that are planned but not scheduled but there is always an option to fast track the project if the council decided it was a priority.
“We are struggling with our capital projects across the board,” Vice Mayor Arne Jorgensen said. “When it happens, I can’t speak to that. It’s something we are going to have to struggle with over the next few years but that doesn’t prevent us from moving this forward and being prepared to implement it as soon as we can.”
“It’s at least a few years out. For the moment it looks like 2026 or 2027,” Town Administrator Larry Pardee said.
