The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to direct staff to ask the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to advance a reduced build of the Teton Pass Trail (option 3), seek unspent Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) federal funds for the project and pursue private philanthropic commitments that could restore a larger scope.

The vote follows a multi-hour staff presentation and public-comment period focused on escalating construction estimates, changes in local revenue and competing county capital needs. Commissioners directed staff to prepare a white paper for the FTA that requests moving forward with the 80/20 federal-local option (option 3), to include a bid alternate for the Coal Creek underpass (option 2A) on the condition that private philanthropy fill the funding gap, and to seek approximately $1 million in federal build-savings from the Idaho Transportation Department for use on the Teton Pass Trail.

Why it matters: The project is part of a 13-component regional BUILD grant (Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements) awarded in 2020. County staff told commissioners that updated design and market estimates have raised the project cost for the Trail segment from earlier figures to an estimated $13.4 million, increasing the county's local share to roughly $7.2 million under the original scope. Losing federal or FLAP funds or cancelling the component would reallocate those federal dollars to other regional projects but would also end the county's portion of the cross-state connectivity vision.

Staff briefing and options

Heather Overholster, director of public works, reviewed the background, grant structure and six alternatives staff developed. She said the BUILD grant includes $5,151,000 assigned to the Teton Pass Trail component and an additional $1,000,000 awarded under the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) specifically intended to help fund an underpass at Coal Creek. Overholster told the board the FLAP money would be forfeited if the county did not build a connected trail and underpass as proposed.

Overholster said the project was 95% designed but was not put into right-of-way acquisition after an earlier direction to pause. She warned that current cost estimating and the design's retaining walls and structure work drive most of the new price growth.

Key numbers cited in staff materials and discussion

- BUILD allocation for component: $5,151,000
- FLAP award for Coal Creek underpass: $1,000,000 (conditional on connected trail)
- Current 95% cost estimate for Trail segment (design plus construction): $13,400,000
- Estimated local share under full scope (staff estimate): about $7,200,000
- County budgeted fiscal-year 2026 local contribution (net): roughly $3,400,000
- Rough order of magnitude for a standalone Coal Creek underpass: about $1,400,000

Public comment and safety arguments

More than a dozen residents, trail advocates and officials from Teton Valley and the City of Victor addressed the commission. Speakers framed the project as both recreation and safety infrastructure that connects existing trail networks on the Idaho and Wyoming sides of Teton Pass.

Nate Carey, executive director of Valley Adaptive Sports, said the project would improve safety year-round and added, "If this pathway and tunnel saves even 1 life, it'll be worth it." Tim Young of Wilson and the Wilson Advocacy Group urged the commission to preserve regional credibility with federal partners and said, "Every mile of pathway could save a life." Other speakers from mountain-bike and trails organizations described how the trail would complete multiuse links and reduce dangerous roadside crossings.

Staff recommendation and constraints

Staff recommended either full removal with federal redistribution (option 4/4A) or the reduced 80/20 option (option 3), noting FTA's review could take four months or more. Overholster emphasized that bidding without secured right-of-way or federal sign-off could be done "at risk" but would raise procurement and schedule complications.

The board's decision and motions

Commissioner Karlman moved and Commissioner Gardner seconded a motion directing staff to submit a white paper to the FTA requesting approval of option 3 (the reduced 80/20 build) and to advance that scope to bidding. The motion also asked staff to include option 2A (the Coal Creek underpass) as a bid alternate on the condition that private philanthropic funds fill the funding gap between option 3 and option 2A, and to seek the approximately $1,000,000 in federal build savings from the Idaho Transportation Department for use on the Teton Pass Trail. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Implementation steps and timeline

Staff said it would finalize the white paper for the FTA and expected an FTA response in about four months. The commission directed staff to proceed with design and (conditional) bidding preparations so the county could bid the work this winter if the FTA concurs; staff also said they would pursue right-of-way acquisition and continue interagency coordination with the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho partners.

The county included a deadline in the board's direction: the motion asks staff and partners to pursue private philanthropic commitments (to elevate option 3 to the larger option 2A) with a target of raising the gap by New Year's Eve 2025.

What the motion does not do

The direction does not obligate the county to spend more than its approved budget until a future appropriation or budget amendment is approved. Commissioners said the vote preserves federal BUILD funds assigned to the region while allowing the county to seek supplemental funds from ITD, philanthropic donors and partners on the Idaho side.

Next steps

Staff will prepare and submit the white paper to the FTA, attempt to secure the ITD federal savings reallocation, continue right-of-way/easement work with the Forest Service, and begin procurement steps contingent on FTA guidance. The board expects staff to report back as those federal, philanthropic and intergovernmental discussions progress.

Speakers

Heather Overholster, Director of Public Works (Teton County government)
Chairman Newcomb (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Karlman (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Gardner (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Probst (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Macker (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Commissioner Pope (Teton County Board of County Commissioners)
Nate Carey, Executive Director, Valley Adaptive Sports (nonprofit)
Tim Young, Wilson Advocacy Group (citizen/advocacy)
Chris Brule, Executive Director, Mountain Bike the Tetons (nonprofit)
Dave Burghart (Victor resident)
Jeremy Vesperis, City of Victor (city administrator)
Sue Muncaster, Victor City Council (city council)
Catherine Dawson, Executive Director, Friends of Pathways (nonprofit)
Dan Verbaten, Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (nonprofit)

Authorities

- BUILD grant (Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements) ' referenced_by:["teton-pass-trail-decision"]
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA) ' referenced_by:["teton-pass-trail-decision"]
- Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) ' referenced_by:["teton-pass-trail-decision"]
- Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) funds (unspent federal build funds) ' referenced_by:["teton-pass-trail-decision"]
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ' referenced_by:["teton-pass-trail-decision"]

Actions

- {"kind":"other","motion":"Direct staff to submit a white paper to the FTA requesting approval of option 3 (reduced 80/20 scope), advance option 3 to bidding, include option 2A (Coal Creek underpass) as a bid alternate conditioned on private philanthropy funding the gap, and seek approximately $1,000,000 in federal build savings from ITD","mover":"Commissioner Karlman","second":"Commissioner Gardner","vote_record":[{"member":"Chairman Newcomb","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Karlman","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Gardner","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Probst","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Macker","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Commissioner Pope","vote":"yes"}],"tally":{"yes":6,"no":0,"abstain":0},"outcome":"approved","notes":"White paper to FTA; staff to pursue ITD reallocation and private philanthropy target by New Year's Eve 2025; FLAP funding for underpass contingent on connected trail"}

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: extended staff briefing on scope, costs, federal requirements, right-of-way and public safety; many members of the public urged keeping the project or at least a safety-oriented underpass at Coal Creek.
- Direction: staff to prepare a white paper for the FTA for option 3 and to pursue ITD funds and private donations.
- Formal action: unanimous vote to approve the motion and direct staff as described.

Clarifying details

- County staff said the project is 95% designed but has not begun right-of-way acquisition because the board previously paused work.
- Cost estimates have risen substantially since the BUILD application; staff cautioned that the current figure is an estimate and final costs will be known only after bidding.
- Staff noted that FLAP funds are limited to the underpass and would not be available if the county abandons the connected-trail element.

Proper names

Teton Pass Trail, Coal Creek Underpass, Teton Mobility Corridor Improvements (BUILD grant), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Valley Adaptive Sports, Mountain Bike the Tetons, Friends of Pathways, City of Victor, Wilson Advocacy Group

Searchable tags

[teton-pass-trail,teton-county,build-grant,flap,FTA,ITD,coal-creek,trail-safety]

Provenance

{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_2858","local_start":0,"local_end":327,"evidence_excerpt":"Onto item number 6. This is consideration of the Teton Pass Veil over on the West Side of Teton Pass Going to review alternatives, review the budget related to this project, make sure we understand the impacts of each alternative. So we'll have the presentation from staff. It's obvious that a lot of you in the room today are interested in this item. So after presentation from staff and questions from the commissioners to staff, we'll take public comment.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_10897","local_start":0,"local_end":104,"evidence_excerpt":"All in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed? The motion does carry unanimously.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}

Salience

{"overall":0.90,"overall_justification":"Regional BUILD funding, large local cost-share increase and a direct public-safety argument generated high local importance and many public speakers.","impact_scope":"regional","impact_scope_justification":"Connects Idaho and Wyoming sides of Teton Pass and uses federal BUILD funds.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Lengthy public comment, multiple partner jurisdictions and federal review required.","legal_significance":0.30,"legal_significance_justification":"Requires federal grant modification and interagency easements; NEPA and right-of-way processes apply."}