Cody Public Works Gets Special Recognition for School Crossings
Written by Andrew-Rossi on May 23, 2023
The Cody City Council declared May 21 – 27 National Public Works Week. The declaration recognizes the Public Works Department’s continuous dedication to effectively planning, building, managing, and operating Cody’s communities. National Public Works Week is the American Public Works Association’s (A.P.W.A.) nationwide celebration of public works entities’ contributions to improving living standards for the residents they serve.
The City of Cody Public Works Department‘s efforts in this regard were recently highlighted at the A.P.W.A. Rocky Mountain Chapter Spring Conference, where it received the Public Works Project of the Year Under $3 million for its exemplary work on the “Cody Sidewalk and Pedestrian Ramp Improvements” project.
This collaborative effort with the Park County School District #6 improved crosswalk visibility with a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (R.R.F.B.), provided additional pedestrian space and visibility with new bulb-outs and installed a new sidewalk to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for school-aged children.
The project award included improvements near Cody Middle School, Cody High School, and Eastside Elementary School.
At Cody Middle School, sidewalks along Cougar Avenue were improved, and a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (R.R.F.B.) pedestrian crossing was put in place crossing Cougar at the main C.M.S. entrance. In addition, crossings across Beck Avenue at 9th Street and 10th Street to Cody High School and the 17th Street crossing at Eastside Elementary School were also improved.
“We are very proud to receive the A.P.W.A. Small Project Award, as it highlights the great partnering this project accomplished between the City, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, Morrison-Maierle, Two Sisters Construction, and Park County School District #6,” said Public Works Director Phillip Bowman. “I believe this project highlights how we can produce meaningful pedestrian safety improvements for our community, regardless of the size of the project.”
The Cody Public Works department plays a critical role in ensuring that the city has the infrastructure and services needed to support a high quality of life for its residents and visitors. By managing and maintaining the city’s streets and pedestrian infrastructure, solid waste management, water and sewer systems, and electrical service, the department helps to ensure that the city is safe, functional, and environmentally sustainable.
The next significant school-crossing project in Cody is the ongoing effort to install a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (P.H.D.) across Big Horn Avenue. A P.H.D. is like a traffic signal – flashing yellow and red lights inform drivers to slow down or stop like a traffic signal. However, vehicles can proceed once the crosswalk is clear of pedestrians.
W.Y.D.O.T. is currently pursuing funding to construct the P.H.D. to ensure the safety of Cody Middle School students crossing the four-lane highway to get to school.
