Jackson, WY – At a Tuesday meeting of the Teton County Board of County Commissioners, officials approved an Owner/Consultant Agreement with consulting firm Kimley‑Horn and Associates to conduct a transportation safety analysis and update the county’s “High Injury Network” within its Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The contract, valued at no more than $115,379, was approved unanimously; Commissioner Wes Gardner was the only commissioner absent, according to Buckrail.
The move follows a fatal car crash on Teton Pass on July 7 that claimed two lives. Commissioner Luther Propst said the tragedy was the primary motivation for the study, adding, “I want to make sure that we don’t underemphasize the Pass, which has such a long history of … serious accidents.” The analysis is a building block for the county’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) initiative, which seeks to reduce severe crashes across Teton County.
Transportation Manager Charlotte Frei presented the contract and outlined the project’s timeline. The consulting firm will deliver an updated High Injury Network by April 2027, identify eight to ten priority locations with high injury and fatality rates by June, and issue a final report with cost estimates and recommendations in September. The study will draw on historical crash data from the Wyoming Department of Transportation, summarize frequencies that exceed expectations, and pinpoint locations where safety improvements have the greatest potential impact.
Potential countermeasures identified in the contract include near‑term, mid‑term, and long‑term solutions such as raised crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and curb extensions, depending on roadway configuration. Frei explained that the team will review prior plans, assess why earlier recommendations were or were not implemented, and seek ways to advance effective measures.
Commissioners emphasized that the analysis will serve as a diagnostic tool for crash and safety risk factors, guiding future investments in road infrastructure. The contract’s deliverables are designed to provide the county with actionable recommendations that can be moved forward by involved agencies.
What’s next: Kimley‑Horn will begin its data collection and analysis immediately, with priority locations slated for identification by June. Residents can expect a comprehensive final report with cost estimates in September, which will inform the next round of safety improvements under the Safe Streets for All program.
Sources: buckrail.com
