Teton County lies in one of the nation’s largest intact ecosystems and serves as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge. The County’s Comprehensive Plan is centrally “organized around stewardship of our ecological resources.” According to the Plan, “wildlife, along with natural and scenic resources, draw both residents and visitors to this special place and are at the core of our heritage, culture, and economy.” The Plan clearly states our desired core community character and commits us and the County and Town governments “to protect and enhance the ecosystem in which we live.” With this Plan, the community has recommitted “to our legacy of responsible Ecosystem Stewardship to ensure that the abundant wildlife, quality natural resources and scenery, open space, and climate that we experience today last long into the future.” This mission is at the heart of what we consider to be responsible growth.
Prudent transportation planning must be consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and respect the core community character and values upon which we agreed.
The Four Principles of Great Transportation Policy:
Analyze
The best transportation policy decisions are based on facts and thorough analysis of complete and up-to-date traffic data. The public and elected officials must identify and assess all of the benefits and detriments to the community before proceeding.
Evaluate Impact
Any new transportation project must be evaluated for potential negative impact on the safety of those who live, walk, and bike nearby, as well as damage to the environment and harm to our abundant wildlife.
Explore Alternatives
All reasonable alternative solutions should be evaluated before any recommendations are made to expand or build new roads.
Inform and Engage
The community should be informed of and understand the implications of specific transportation capital projects and their input should be sought and meaningfully considered.