Washington - Members of Idaho’s Congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, as well as U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, welcomed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) award of a $20 million grant under the competitive Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program to an Idaho-Wyoming partnership project. The funding for the Teton Mobility Corridor project will help implement multimodal improvements necessary along the state highway corridor connecting Driggs, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming, over the Teton Pass.

Risch, Crapo, and Simpson issued the following statement celebrating the announcement:

“The BUILD grant approved for the Teton Mobility Corridor will bring much-needed safety improvements to the Teton Pass highway region,” said Crapo, Risch, and Simpson. “These improvements will enhance mobility and commuter options for the local workforce, facilitate the arrival of new visitors and provide a sustainable transit link for the region’s mountain resorts, towns, and public lands areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Secretary Chao has made revitalizing Idaho’s infrastructure a priority, and we appreciate her and the Department of Transportation’s support.”

“This grant award will directly improve the safety and livability of our town, allowing us to expand and improve our pedestrian transit facilities and to make important safety improvements at several highway intersections,” said Driggs Mayor Hyrum Johnson. “The City of Driggs thanks Senators Crapo and Risch, and Representative Simpson for their leadership and legwork in advocating for this grant application. They have shown themselves to be tireless advocates for the needs of Idahoans and Idaho Cities. We are also grateful to Secretary Chao for acknowledging the need and importance of these projects to our community.

“This Administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, and this $1 billion in BUILD grants will repair, rebuild, and revitalize transportation systems across America,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao in reference to total national funding for the BUILD grant.

Background: Senators Risch and Crapo and Representative Simpson sent a letter to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao on July 6, 2020, in support of the application submitted by Teton County, Wyoming, in conjunction with the City of Driggs.

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