County receives $1M grant for pathway to park border

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

By Sam Petri

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Teton County was recently awarded a $1 million federal grant from the Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (ATPPL) program, offered by the Federal Transit Association, for the construction of a 4.2-mile pathway along Highway 89 and the fence that follows the border of the National Elk Refuge.
Construction should begin in the spring of 2008. 

The pathway, which will look similar to those that already exist in Teton County, will travel from the Flat Creek Bridge just north of the Jackson Hole/Greater Yellowstone Visitors Center to the south border of Grand Teton National Park, according to Tim Young, executive director of Friends of Pathways, who helped identify the funding opportunity for the project. Once the pathway reaches GTNP, it will be the park’s responsibility to connect it to its own pathway system The park plans to break ground this spring with a pathway from Moose to Jenny Lake.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, played an important role in securing the funds for the North Highway 89 project by communicating its importance to ATPPL program administrators. Of the 55 alternative transportation projects submitted to the ATPPL, Teton County was the only nonmotorized project to receive funding.

The Town of Jackson also has $1 million in funds to redesign the park just north of the Forest Service building on North Cache. The Town plans to redo the sidewalk, plant trees and connect the park with the new pathway.

Although a total of $2 million is available to complete the project, which will eventually connect pathways from Hoback Junction to the north end of GTNP, it is too soon to say how far this money will take the path north of town.

“It’s unsure if the funds will be enough to get up into the park,” said Young, “but it’s certainly enough to do a useful first phase.”

The path will travel along Hwy. 89, a Centennial Scenic Byway, and the National Elk Refuge. Interpretive signs are planned for the pathway, helping to educate people about the refuge and the road.

Teton County also received $200,000 through the state Transportation Enhancement Act Local (TEAL) program to fund planning and design to complete the pathway around South Park Loop Road between Melody Ranch and Three Creek Ranch. The money will also fund a bridge over Flat Creek on South Park Loop Road just west of Hwy. 89.
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County receives $1M grant for pathway to park border | Planet JH News Article: County News

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