The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is considering expanding the HWY 22 corridor from two lanes to four or more lanes. This would be shortsighted; it would harm an established conservation easement, threaten wetlands and wildlife, and would NOT alleviate traffic congestion.
Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance does not support the WYDOT plan to expand Highway 22. For these reasons:
- A plan of this scale requires an EIS (Environmental Impact Study). The current proposal calls for an EA (Environmental Assessment), which is a much less thorough examination.
- This plan shows no intelligent alternatives to address congestion, such as adding turn lanes, acceleration lanes, and traffic circles, rather than just widening the road between bottlenecks.
- This expansion fails to consider the concept of induced demand: when roads are widened, more people will drive on them, ultimately leading to expanded roads becoming just as congested as before.
Short video explaining the concept of Induced Demand:
Stay tuned as JHCA engages with WYDOT, and county level officials to open a dialog. We will encourage decision makers to explore options that protect the established conservation easement, wetlands and wildlife, and provide a meaningful solution for congestion.
