WEDNESDAY, October 28, 2026|
Photo – A Walking Tour in Saratoga had participants walking in the streets – Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga officials say they will seek funding for sidewalk repairs as residents stress the need for improved pedestrian access.
During the October 21st Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner presented an Ability to Render Services agreement with the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The contract is related to WYDOT’s Highway 130 repaving project scheduled for 2030. Penner said the agreement will allow the town to install sidewalks in conjunction with WYDOT’s planned intersection work.
As part of the Highway 130 paving project, Penner said WYDOT will install new sidewalks and ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. He explained that the project presents a good opportunity to expand and improve Saratoga’s sidewalk network. However, Penner said the town must pay for any additional work done outside of those upgraded intersections.
Penner noted that sidewalk maintenance is typically the responsibility of adjacent property owners, but the town will pay to install new sidewalks in conjunction with WYDOT’s Highway 130 project.
Saratoga resident Richard Hodges asked if WYDOT plans to install sidewalks between Valley Foods and Bridge Avenue. Public Works Director Penner replied that any sidewalk improvements beyond the Highway 130 project’s intersection upgrades will need to be funded by the town.
Hodges asked if the governing body could find the funding to repair the town’s sidewalks. He said many of the walkways are in poor condition, making it difficult for his wife, who uses a mobility scooter, to navigate safely through town.
Hodges added that improved sidewalks will make Saratoga more accessible to visitors with mobility challenges. He encouraged the Council to pursue funding for sidewalk repairs and, ideally, build a walking path connecting Bridge Avenue to the south side of town.
In October 2022, the Town of Saratoga received a grant from the Wyoming Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive study of the community’s sidewalks and pathways and identify opportunities to improve pedestrian access. The original goal was to build a sidewalk connecting the center of town to Valley Foods, but the project proved too costly and complex. Instead, officials shifted their focus to developing a pathway along Elm Avenue between the elementary and middle high schools.
At the October 20th Saratoga Town Council meeting, resident Richard Hodges said he was part of the committee that determined the Valley Food sidewalk was unfeasible. However, he said accessibility to the south side of town still does not meet ADA requirements.
Mayor Chuck Davis said the town will search for sidewalk funding opportunities but could not guarantee that it will be possible to connect Bridge Avenue and Valley Foods. Mayor Davis said due to cost considerations, the sidewalk would most likely end near Maple Avenue at the base of the hill. Public Works Director Emery Penner added that he is working with WYDOT to secure another Transportation Alternatives Program, or TAP, grant for sidewalk construction.
Saratoga’s Discover Carbon County representative Ellie Dana asked if improved pedestrian access would encourage more visitors to stay in town. Penner agreed that it would.
Ellie Dana said Discover Carbon County has applied for a Destination Development grant through the Wyoming Department of Tourism to fund improvements at the Hobo Hot Pools. She added that the program may also be used to fund sidewalk upgrades, as it would make the town more appealing to visitors.
Public Works Director Penner advised the Town Council to review the Ability to Render Services agreement with WYDOT and bring any questions to a future meeting. He added that while 2030 may seem distant, planning for any sidewalk projects should begin now.
