Sheridan Transportation Planning Study

Moving Forward - a message from Mayor Dave Kinskey

In 2007, the City of Sheridan commissioned a transportation planning study to serve as a guideline for addressing current issues and planning for the future.  A transportation plan is intended to provide the city with a framework for:

• Identifying transportation goals and policies to help shape the transportation network
• Consistently and systematically approaching transportation problem-solving
• Obtaining funding for improvement projects

The City Council and I wish to thank the more than 250 community members who invested their time last spring to provide input into the public process that accompanied the study. Sheridan is blessed with a populace that takes responsibility for its community and demands a high level of participation in the decisions that affect that community.

As the public outreach process for the transportation plan culminated last April, community members began to ask a pivotal question:

Should a transportation plan be developed before the City and County comprehensive plans are completed?

The answer, quite clearly, was no. Land use and community priorities for growth provide the foundation for a transportation plan. We listened to your concerns, and elected to suspend work on the transportation plan pending completion of the City and County comprehensive plans.

We also listened to your concerns about the need for a change in the way the City of Sheridan conducts the public participation process. You challenged us to provide opportunities for more open and meaningful dialogue when considering plans for the future of our community.

With the comprehensive plans now adopted, we are preparing to revisit the transportation plan with your challenge firmly in mind. While the technical data and public comments gathered during last year’s period of study are valid and useful, we want to take a step back and listen to your answers to more fundamental questions:

What are our values as they relate to transportation? How do we weigh our priorities in making transportation decisions?

These are open questions – and it is an open dialogue.  Under this new approach, “transportation” is broadly defined to include not only cars, but also bikes, walkers, public transit – all means of transport.

More globally, how might we plan our growth to reduce the demands on traditional roadway systems?  There are no preconceptions as to the outcome of the final plan.  The primary rule is this: to listen – intently – to the public.

In the coming weeks, you will be invited to participate in discussions on these and related questions through a survey and a series of public workshops. I urge you to seize this opportunity to help shape a transportation plan that truly reflects the values and priorities of our community.

Follow this link to complete the survey, and bookmark this site to check future meeting dates and times, to read more about the transportation planning process, or to submit further comments. Printed surveys are available at Sheridan City Hall, the Sheridan Senior Center, the Trails End Motel on North Main, and at the Mill Inn on Coffeen Avenue.

The City of Sheridan is also seeking citizen representatives to serve on the Transportation Plan Steering Committee. If you are interested in participating at this level, please send a letter of interest to my attention at City Hall, 55 Grinnell Plaza or an email to me at dkinskey@sheridanwy.net. We heard you, Sheridan, and we’re looking forward to hearing more.