Vision Statements for a Balanced Corridor

Wyoming Idaho

Realizing the Teton County Comprehensive Plan vision for stewardship, managed growth, and ecosystem preservation will require residents, businesses, and local leaders to come together to advocate a push for non-traditional solutions in the WY22 and WY-390 corridors. Case studies from cities around the Western U.S. show that simply adding auto capacity in the WY-22 corridor is certain to add traffic and move Teton County further from its goals.

Innovative, community-driven solutions start with a clear statement of intent. Our Interviews with the community and local stakeholders call for future investments that drive toward a WY-22 and WY-390 corridor that: ends at a gate to Grand Teton National Park.

• Balances preservation of scenic corridor, safety for wildlife and people, and regional and interstate mobility needs.

• Considers the “roadway” as part of an ecosystem that includes residential communities, wildlife corridors, sensitive habitats and wetlands, and economic systems.

• Puts WYDOT and Teton County at the forefront of innovation in delivering a state highway project that is developed through community partnership and recognizes human, wildlife, and ecological needs.

WY-22 is a two-lane highway that cuts through the steep Teton Pass. Widening the highway west of Wilson could cost billions of dollars and have massive environmental impacts.

Solutions that move more people in vehicles are needed.

Beyond Teton Village demand will always be limited.

390

The intersection of WY-22 and Highway 89 – known as “The Y” - is highly constrained and a point of congestion during summer months.

Downtown Wilson is a charming place with many pedestrians and cyclists.

Slow speed tra c and improved pedestrian crossings are important to Wilson.

“Solving” challenges at The Y may mean grade separation if vehicle volumes continue to increase. Highway ramps and overpasses are incongruous with Jackson’s small-town character.

Wyoming Highway 22

Wyoming Highway 22 runs just over 17.53 miles from the Idaho state line to where it intersects US Highway 89/191 in Jackson. Along that span it winds through a high pass of the Tetons, serves as a main street for the community of Wilson, intersects with WY-390, crosses the Snake River, and passes through ranch land before reaching the western edge of the town of Jackson.

Notable is a lack of parallel travel routes along the entirety of its course. During the summer peak travel period, WY-22 can carry over 20,000 daily auto trips. This exceeds the functional capacity of a 2-lane highway with limited and inconsistent left-turn lanes. As such, morning and afternoon/ evening traffic congestion is a regular occurrence during peak season. Traffic demand modeling conducted for this effort shows that traffic is expected to grow by 15% through 2035 if no additional action is taken in the corridor (beyond planned and funded projects).

Four alternatives were developed and evaluated to test alternative futures for WY-22.

Evaluating Alternatives

The four alternatives were evaluated using range of criteria that align with community and stakeholder input, the ITP, and the Comprehensive Plan vision.

Evaluation Measure Measurement Approach

Conservation

Community Character

Climate

Cost or Scale of Investment

TDM Effectiveness

Reliable Travel

Safety

Political Viability

Construction and permanent footprint of roadway

Supports walkable community scale in Jackson and Wilson

Based on vehicle miles traveled from the Teton County Travel Demand Model

Potential cost/scale of project

Supportiveness of transportation demand management measures

Reduces peak season congestion

Cross section reduces exposure risk for humans and wildlife

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