Bighorn Basin: WYDOT Hosting Public Meetings on Future Road Projects
Written by Andrew-Rossi on July 12, 2021
If you want to hear and speak about future W.Y.D.O.T. projects in the Bighorn Basin, a series of public meetings is the best chance you have to have your say.
A series of annual public meetings are scheduled to address future highway improvement projects in northwest Wyoming, and a self-guided online meeting to allow citizens to provide input launches on July 26th. Over the next few weeks, three meetings will occur in several locations in the Bighorn Basin.
This is one of the central aspects of the State Transportation Improvement Program, a prioritized construction plan for the 1,326 miles of highway in northwest Wyoming. This 6-year effort of the Wyoming Transportation Commission involves providing citizens and regional officials a chance to give their input on WYDOT’s planning process and priorities.
Wyoming Department of Transportation District Engineer Pete Hallsten, P.E., of Basin calls it “a snapshot of existing and expected projects and their schedules.” Projects enter the S.T.I.P. process based on complex long-range planning and needs analysis process, along with public input on known development issues that impact highway capacity.
“These in-person meetings provide an opportunity for local officials and citizens to provide input into WYDOT’s planning process and to maintain and improve our excellent partnerships with counties and cities and towns. Please plan to attend,” Hallsten said. “The STIP is a 6-year program approved by the Wyoming Transportation Commission. It provides a snapshot of existing and expected projects and their schedules, and it is continually updated.”
Public involvement is a crucial component of WYDOT’s mission to provide a safe, high-quality, and efficient transportation system.
WYDOT has planned in-person public meetings, as part of regular county commission meetings, to receive input and answer questions:
- 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at Park County Courthouse, County Commission Chambers in Cody
- 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at Washakie County Courthouse in Worland.
- 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at the Hot Springs County Government Annex Building in Thermopolis.
The self-guided online meeting can be accessed at www.wydotSTIPmeeting.com, where citizens can learn more about the STIP and other transportation improvements. The online meeting also offers an opportunity to provide feedback, pose questions, or express concerns. The online meeting is available beginning July 26, 2021, and will close on Aug. 30, 2021.
Information is available by contacting WYDOT public relations specialist Cody Beers at (307) 431-1803 or the WYDOT STIP project team at info@wystip.com.
