JACKSON, Wyo. — Jackson town councilors agreed to sign a letter to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) in support of US Bicycle Route 76 running through town on local pathways and streets.
The route would run from Oregon to Virginia and pass through Teton County. Locally, it would follow a series of pathways and local roads from N Highway 89 at the Gros Ventre River to the parking lot at the top of Teton Pass.
“We recognize that bicycle tourism is a growing industry in North America, contributing over $50 billion a year to the economies of communities that provide facilities for such tourists,” the letter to WYDOT reads. “As a city, we stand to benefit from this opportunity both economically and from the health and environmental-related benefits of encouraging bicycle travel in our region.”
A staff report found that the designation “not have a significant impact on the Town of Jackson” beyond the cost of a few signs and a “very minor increase in the number of cyclists coming through Jackson.”
Route 76 would be part of a growing network bicycle routes on U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS), led by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Adventure Cycling Association. The ACA needs WYDOT approval to move forward, and WYDOT needs an agreement from the Town and County to grant such approval. All states east of Colorado have already designated the route.
To date, there are 17,873 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes through 31 states.
Town councilors voted unanimously to sign the letter of support addressed to WYDOT.
