A trial run for a Second Street road diet seems all but dead.
The plan to slim down the roadway from 4J Road to Highway 59 needed a test run before the city of Gillette and Wyoming Department of Transportation could decide to make the change permanent.
It was estimated that the trial run would cost anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000.
WYDOT twice unsuccessfully attempted to secure funding through a grant for the test run. One funding source, the Highway Safety Improvement Program, would be able to provide permanent striping and signal improvements, but not for a test trial.
The idea for the road diet, or narrowing the roadway from four lanes to three, was first introduced to the Gillette City Council in late May.
The reason for changing highways through a city usually is to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers, as well as convenience for drivers sharing the roadway, city staff said.
City numbers show that in 2015, the number of daily travelers on Second Street east of Gillette Avenue averaged 13,500, 14,000 east of Brooks Avenue and 12,600 for east of 4J Road.
In the last five years, there were 211 reported crashes on that strip of Second Street, an average of 42 a year. According to an analysis done by the planning and engineering firm DOWL, the road diet could potentially reduce crashes in the area by 18 to 22 per year.
Several downtown business owners were in favor of the change, including employees and owners of the Railyard, First National Bank and Teachers Corner/Kids Mart.
Because the funding for the test run would be the city of Gillettes full responsibility, Development Services Director Dustin Hamilton is suggesting the city abandon the idea for now.
There are infrastructure priorities on city-owned facilities that are of higher importance to be funded with city dollars, Hamilton says in a letter to the council.
Excerpt from:
Second Street likely not to go on a 'road diet' - Gillette News Record
