Cheyenne outlines Del Range, 15th Street, Belvoir Ranch trailhead and summer construction plans

Director Cobb presented several specific projects and schedules to the council during the FY27 engineering work session and answered council questions about traffic impacts, contractor capacity and project phasing.

Belvoir Ranch Trailhead: Cobb said the trailhead is complete except for a kiosk that has been ordered and that the mayor has sent proposed rules to the sheriff for enforcement review; an opening is tentatively scheduled for July 1, 2026. Maintenance for the facility will be procured through an RFP paid from recreation funds for the interim and to the end of the administration’s term.

15th Street and railcars: Cobb said two dining/business cars and a caboose are being painted out of state and transportation to 15th Street is tentatively scheduled for June 2026. Faux‑track installation bids were around $24,000 (one bid came in at ~$24,000 versus an expectation of ~$22,000), and the plaza phase 1 will include water and sewer stubs for future connections; grease‑trap sizing remains unresolved and would be deferred until development interest emerges.

Del Range / Yellowstone and Van Buren projects: Cobb described intersection operational improvements at Del Range and Yellowstone (added right‑turn lane, lane reconfiguration) and a long‑planned Van Buren to College Drive project that will add signals and auxiliary lanes. The Del Range/Yellowstone work uses older fifth‑penny funds and is moving into contract; construction was described as likely in 2027.

Converse at Pershing roundabout: Cobb presented an alternate (single‑lane elements on some legs) and screening concepts intended to slow speeds and reduce property‑damage accidents; he said the proposals are preliminary and will be refined by a design consultant based on traffic data.

Summer program and capital list: Cobb said roughly $9.4M is programmed for maintenance work (overlays, crack‑seal, patching) and about $11.6M for capital construction (including a 5th & Deming bridge replacement and other projects). He also cited a dredging contract of approximately $458,000 for drainage work and experimental vegetation management using goats for Crow Creek.

Council members asked whether lane reductions would worsen backups and how state DOT funding shortfalls or a surge in WYDOT projects might affect local contractor availability; Cobb said some federal funds (STPU) had previously enabled work and that state funding shortfalls could increase local costs or shift more expense to the city. He emphasized that many of the shown configurations are initial designs subject to later consultant refinement.

No votes or contract approvals occurred during the work session; the council will consider contract modifications and first readings in regular sessions as projects advance.