Wyoming Pathways

Programs: Wyoming pathways substantially met the four key program goals of its work plan for 2017: expand the movement, increase funding for community bicycle, pedestrian and trail systems, improve policy and safety, and build safe and inviting facilities. The base of supporters increased along with the capacity to manage advocacy efforts though an improved outreach system. Over 1200 supporters regularly receive communications and action alerts, and the social media outreach was expanded. The staff and board completed dozens of meetings with state and local government agencies, and met with community groups, clubs and advocates around wyoming. Staff also visited many public lands offices, with significant partnership efforts with the us forest service in laramie and lander on trail programs.

wyoming pathways regularly educated officials on the benefits and needs of biking and walking including the wyoming legislature, state agencies, and with governor mead's office. The impact can be seen by the successful service on the governor-appointed bicycle and pedestrian system task force and leadership as chair, development of a major new report for the legislature. Continued progress with key state agencies resulted in measurable impact in staff training, program improvement, and budget choices to better support bicycle, pedestrian and trail programs and policies. Departments of health, wydot, parks, wbc, state lands, governor's office are all engaged, and continued progress is evident.

wyoming pathways participated meaningfully in the public planning process of a number of state and federal agencies, to improve agency policies and plans. Over the grant period this includes comment efforts with the national park service for pathways in grand teton, forest service partnerships helping plan the pole mountain trail system on the medicine bow nf that serves laramie and cheyenne, and starting a successful partnership with the shoshone nf for trail planning and improvements. Wyoming pathways programs supported protecting our public lands while enhancing access to enjoy them, and helped with the successful keep it public campaign.

specific funding wins for biking and walking projects included wyoming pathways continued success on the teton pass trail section of the greater yellowstone trail, which over the past several years has resulted in a combined success of $6 million in pathway grants for construction starting in 2019. Wyoming pathway secured another federal trail grant for medicine bow pole mountain trails project that will reach $125k value. Wyoming pathways led the $50k partnership effort to help prepare the wyoming bicycle pedestrian task force report, which studied wyoming's bike, walk, trail opportunities and benefits for communities. Policy and safety accomplishments include securing new eligibility for bike walk modes for federal safety funds managed by wydot.