The long-term closure of Teton Pass following major damage caused by a landslide will have far-reaching economic impacts on the region, residents, and visitors.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation announced on Saturday that part of Teton Pass, “a crucial highway weaving through the mountains of western Wyoming,” collapsed in a massive landslide, according to an CBS News article. The landslide “effectively destroyed a whole section of the surrounding highway,” writes CBS reporter by Emily Mae Czachor. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Officials have not released a timeline for repair but said it will likely be closed long-term, which is a major concern for the surrounding region because the pass is the primary transit route between Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming, and provides “vital access to Teton County, which includes Jackson, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, for workers who commute there from eastern Idaho,” Czachor reports. Because of the mountainous terrain, the detour route roughly triples the normal 30-minute travel time between Victor and Jackson.
The region is bracing for economic consequences. According to the CBS article, workers who live in Idaho and commute to Teton County make up about 40 percent of the county’s workforce. A long-term closure will have both impacts on those workers, as well as services for visitors and locals in Teton County during the height of the summer tourist season.
FULL STORY: Part of Wyoming highway collapses in landslide, blocking crucial commuter transit route
Los Angeles to Test Road Closure Through Scenic Griffith Park
After a driver killed a cyclist on Griffith Park Drive in April, the city of Los Angeles is studying safety upgrades on streets in its famous park. The L.A. Times says the changes are part of a growing movement.
Report: Collapsed Mexico City Train Line Had Major Structural Flaws
A New York Times investigation uncovered years of government documents showing that officials ignored warnings about major structural flaws and poorly performed work on the train line before its fatal collapse in May.
Blaming ERCOT
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the nonprofit, independent power grid operator for 90 percent of the nation's second-largest state, has become the convenient fall guy for the epic power failure caused by an extreme weather event.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research