Public comment was gathered at meetings in Kemmerer and Afton on Oct. 29 and 30. Lincoln County Engineer Amy Butler and Avenue Consultant representative Thomas McMurtry discuss the transportation plan at a public hearing in Afton at the Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Office. SVI PHOTO/DAN DOCKSTADER
• Transportation Plan comments call for more trails.
As the Lincoln County Transportation Plan moves forward gathering public comments from Opal to Alpine, there is a new found interest in trails coming in with the responses.
Lincoln County launched the plan late in the summer with Avenue Consultants putting together the schedule and organizing meetings with municipal leaders, followed by a plan to gather public input in the Fall.
The consultant’s work is coordinated through Lincoln County Planning and Zoning and the county engineer’s office.
Following a two hour meeting in September with municipalities, school and federal agencies, Thomas McMurtry, consultant spokesman advised, “We’re kicking off a Lincoln County Transportation plan and will be working on it through July of next year.” He added, “We’re focusing on the road network, car, trucks, bikes and walking, everything that encompass transportation in Lincoln County. And, then focus on the improvements we need.”
Lincoln County Engineer Amy Butler and Avenue Consultant representative Thomas McMurtry discuss the transportation plan. SVI Photo/Dan Dockstader
McMurtry said the plan encompasses several components throughout the county.
“We’re working on county roads, paved and gravel and we will even look at off-road trails and how they access the forest,” he said. “We’re looking at all of those elements to come up with a comprehensive plan for Lincoln County.”
This week following public meetings seeking public input in Kemmerer and Star Valley, Amy Butler, county engineer summarized the comments and noted a new found interest in trails.
“There are some concerns about safety on the county roads and the traffic,” she said in an interview with the SVI Weekday Wake-Up program. “And, we’re hearing a need for trails throughout the county. Bike trails, walking trails, and we have heard about snowmobile trails to reach the public lands.”
She added, “It has expanded from cars and trucks to walking and bicycles,” noting the increased interest in the plan.
She emphasized the need for the public to comment now during the early stages to bring a plan together. (See the related link.)
“We’re excited for this to come together and to have the plan completed for Lincoln County,” Butler concluded.
