Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation | Facebook Website
On Monday, June 17, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Wyoming, where he joined Governor Mark Gordon, WYDOT Director Darin Westby, and Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins. During the visit, Secretary Buttigieg received operational updates on the emergency response to the landslide that shut down a portion of Teton Pass on June 8. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has been closely coordinating with WYDOT to support emergency repairs for this vital route.
Secretary Buttigieg also reviewed progress on a project on U.S. 30 in Cheyenne, which is supported by $15 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The project aims to reconfigure the road and make several safety enhancements, including a new bike/pedestrian path under U.S. 30 and new turn lanes and signals. Mayor Collins noted that without federal funding, it might have taken years for the city to undertake the project.
After a news conference, Secretary Buttigieg visited WYDOT’s Transportation Management Center to understand its operations and significance to Wyoming's traveling public, especially during winter storms. He thanked Wyoming transportation employees for their work and learned about additional infrastructure projects underway across the state.
Buttigieg also toured improvements being made to the I-25/I-80 interchange, which recently received a $13 million competitive grant from President Biden’s infrastructure package. Other notable investments in Wyoming include a major wildlife crossing project in Southeastern Wyoming and hundreds of new truck parking spaces along U.S. 89.
Before departing, Secretary Buttigieg provided updates on his observations during his time in Wyoming.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Buttigieg saying: “There’s no such thing as a Republican bridge or Democratic potholes... Transportation is about getting people to where they need to be.” He emphasized that safety must remain a top priority as Wyoming continues to invest $1.4 billion in federal funds in transportation projects.
Oil City News highlighted Buttigieg's discussion on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and its impact on Wyoming during his visit.
The Cheyenne Post noted that local officials cited positive working relationships at various governmental levels as contributing factors to successful transportation projects funded by federal dollars.
Wyoming News Now – KGWN reported that $1.4 billion federal dollars are allocated towards efforts in the state, with $15 million specifically for safety work on US30.
Cowboy State Daily quoted Buttigieg: “You can’t have a one-size-fits-all approach... What’s going to work in Baltimore isn’t the same as what’s going to work in Cheyenne.” The publication mentioned that $3.8 billion has been provided to Wyoming from the $1.2 trillion package passed in 2021.