Project History
The towns of Ranchester, Dayton, Parkman, and other surrounding areas comprise the TRV. As far back as the 1990s and the early 2000s, many people in the TRV have discussed ideas of building a multi-use pathway in the area. In 2005, Melissa Butcher, director of the Sheridan Wyoming Chamber of Commerce at the time, discussed potential pathway locations and funding options with the district engineer from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) based on previous work with them. Again in 2010, Erin Kilbride with the Tongue River Valley Community Center (TRVCC), Mike Butcher and Melissa Butcher with Confluence Collaborative, and the Town of Ranchester discussed the feasibility of constructing a walking path between Dayton and Ranchester along Wyoming State Highway 14 (HWY 14). WYDOT was again contacted to discuss the idea of the pathway, however, the idea was tabled.
In 2018, Brad Bauer with Sheridan Community Land Trust (SCLT), Erin Kilbride with TRVCC, and Ranchester Mayor Peter Clark attended a pathway conference in Colorado. In December of 2018, the SCLT received a non-monetary grant from the Nation Park Service (NPS) – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to help kickstart the pathway planning. The grant provided for a NPS employee to visit the area and assist with the planning stages, which resulted in the formation of the TR Path Committee (Committee), comprised of members from the Town of Ranchester, Town of Dayton, and the TRVCC.
In April of 2019, the Committee conducted a community survey and held two community meetings to discuss the pathway concept. Another meeting was held with WYDOT, the Town of
Ranchester, the Town of Dayton, and other key stakeholders. From this meeting the Town of Ranchester, acting on behalf of the Committee, applied for a Transportation Alternatives Programs (TAP) grant through WYDOT in July of 2019. Sheridan County and the Town of Dayton were in support of the grant application and the three entities evenly split the $25,000 funding match required for the grant. The Committee was awarded the TAP grant in December 2019 and in June 2020 contracted WWC Engineering (WWC) to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a pathway along HWY 14 between the towns of Dayton and Ranchester. This Study provides the Committee with an assessment of potential alignment options; permitting requirements; design, permitting, construction, and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs; and potential funding opportunities should this Study advance to construction of a pathway project (Project).
Feasibility Study
The Pathway Committee hired WWC Engineering to conduct a feasibility study for this project. You can view the full report below
Further Details
Study excerpts provided by WWC Engineering in Sheridan
The Tongue River Pathway Study also known as the TR Path Study, or Study, was
conducted to determine the feasibility of construction of a pedestrian pathway between the
communities of Dayton and Ranchester, Wyoming located in the Tongue River Valley
(TRV) within Sheridan County. Since the 1990s - 2000s and early 2000’s, people within the
TRV have discussed the possibility of a pathway between the two communities. The
following is a summation of those efforts.
In December 2019, the Town of Ranchester received an 80/20 matching $125,000
grant through the Wyoming Department of Transportation Alternative Program (TAP)
to perform a research and design study (the Study) to identify the feasibility of
constructing a pathway between the communities of Dayton and Ranchester.
Highlights of the Study include:
• Two pathway alignment alternatives within the right of way of US Highway 14
between Dayton and Ranchester. The Study compares the estimated cost,
capacity, potential environmental impacts, and permitting requirements for
each alternative and provides a 30% preliminary design for the preferred
alternative.
• Potential funding sources were evaluated along with their requirements for
potential funding of final design and construction of the pathway. The funding
sources evaluated include local, state, and federal loan and grant programs
with a discussion of availability, magnitude, specific requirements, and other
pertinent information for consideration to fund future design and construction
activities. Additionally, operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements have
been evaluated.
• The Study documents the results of a public involvement process that included
public meetings, a web-based project portal, print and web-based comment
forms, and data/opinion collection. One public meeting was held in each of the
communities of Dayton and Ranchester, with several members of the public in
attendance. Based on the public comments forms along with surveys held
during previous public meeting prior to this Study it is determined that there is
strong support for the TR Path Project (Project) by the local residents and
business owners.
