Interchange – January 2022 by WYDOT

Interchange January 2022

Vol. 50, Iss. 1

Want Road Conditions?

Photo: Adobe Stock

Just ask Alexa

The “Traveler Information Skill” application allows Alexa to access current conditions By Mark Horan An application known as the “Traveler Information Skill” has been developed to provide the public with Wyoming road conditions through Amazon Alexa devices. Through a partnership between the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) and Trihydro, an environmental and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Laramie, the public can now use the Traveler Information Skill through any Alexa-enabled technology such as the Echo and Echo Dot. In addition, several car companies such as GMC and Hyundai have integrated Alexa into many of their new models, so travelers can use the information skill to access current road conditions while driving. Once enabled, the Alexa skill pulls travel information messaging from WYDOT’s Transportation Management Center (TMC) database. This means that the same road

information that WYDOT puts out on its 511 website and phone app, such as road closures, winter conditions and road construction, is now available to access hands-free through Alexa. “Alexa is widely used by a lot of people so incorporating WYDOT data into that line of products seemed like a logical first step, but the information can be shared with anyone,” said Shane Zumpf, who leads up Trihydro’s Technology Services and Solutions Business Unit. He noted that Trihydro is currently developing similar skill sets for other platforms. “The Alexa skill set is up and running now, and we’re looking to roll out similar apps for Google’s Android Auto and Apple’s Siri by April or May of 2022,” Zumpf said. Vince Garcia, who oversees the TMC, echoed Zumpf ’s comments. “The information we provide is all public information. So now, for the first time, we’re putting it into a Situation Data Exchange that allows anybody to use that information.”

Garcia noted that there is no fee to use the Alexa skill, nor did the State incur any expense in the design. “The cost of this is nothing, and taxpayers are paying nothing for this. We’re just making the information available, and Trihydro has taken that and turned it into a production system using Alexa. It’s pretty interesting that a Wyoming company has taken this and is leading connected vehicle technology throughout the country,” Garcia said. Currently, Wyoming is the only state that is actively sharing its road information through the system, but Zumpf is hopeful that will change. “The sharing system we designed is set up so that it can support any number of states, and we’re in talks with California and Colorado and a few other states to start getting their data in as well,” Zumpf said. “Our vision for this is that all 50 states will start sharing their data so that the skill can be used nationwide.” Initially, users must install the Traveler Information Skill, either by asking Alexa Continued on page 3

Contents Features

1 Want road conditions? Ask Alexa through new app

6 Honoring the people of Wyoming WYDOT retiree and wife donate bronze sculpture to downtown Cheyenne

7 WYDOT receives national recognition AASHTO “Sweet Sixteen” 2021 award for truck traffic research

8 A visit to Sybille Wildlife Research Center WYDOT and WGF building collaborative relationships with NGOs

Interchange Vol. 50, Issue 1 Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents. Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340 or send an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Staff WYDOT Director: K. Luke Reiner

Programs & Partner Agencies

Public Affairs Manager:

Employee Safety.............................................................................................. 9

Editor:

Game & Fish...................................................................................................12 Highway Safety...............................................................................................11 HR Happenings................................................................................................ 8 State Parks...................................................................................................... 9 Training.......................................................................................................... 14 Travel & Tourism............................................................................................ 18 U.S. Forest Service........................................................................................ 10 Wyoming A&I..................................................................................................13

Also in this issue District Briefs................................................................................................... 3

Doug McGee Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors: Jordan Achs Matt Groth Mark Horan Carlie Van Winkle Andrea Staley Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Jeremy Beck

Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol

Photography: Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.

By the Numbers............................................................................................... 3 District News................................................................................................. 15 Awards............................................................................................................17 Letters............................................................................................................17 Passings........................................................................................................ 18 WTDEA........................................................................................................... 19 Outdoors........................................................................................................ 20 Break Time.................................................................................................... 23 2 Interchange

January 2022

A WYDOT PUBLICATION

Alexa continued from cover story to “Install the Traveler Information Skill”, or by manually installing the skill from the Alexa app. Users will then be asked to grant location permissions on their device. After the skill has been installed, users can say things such as: • “Alexa, ask Traveler information about the roads to Cheyenne.” • “Alexa, ask Traveler Information if the roads to Casper are open.” • “Alexa, open Traveler Information… How are the roads between Rawlins and Rock Springs?”

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Users will need to remember that it’s necessary to always preface each question with “Ask Traveler Information” or “Open Traveler Information” in order to get authentic messaging from Wyoming’s 511 system. Trihydro is already looking for ways to expand the Alexa Skill’s capabilities according to Zumpf. “We have a couple features we’re hoping to add on in the future, such as notifications and specific route settings.” Zumpf said, adding, “We have a great partnership with WYDOT, and we’re excited about being able to expand on new technologies and new ways of getting information out to the public.” n

District Briefs Headquarters

Commission awards more than $33.6 million in contracts in December CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded over $33.6 million in contracts for six Wyoming Department of Transportation construction projects during its December 9 business meeting. The commission awarded a $4.5 million bid to Simon Contractors out of Cheyenne for a project involving grading, paving, wearing course, bridge rehabilitation, guardrail and other work on almost 7 miles of the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Carbon County. The contracted completion date is October 2022. Oftedal Construction, Inc., out of Casper was awarded a nearly $4 million bid for a project involving grading, paving, slide stabilization rock, aggregate columns and other work on a small

section of Wyoming Highway 296 in Park County. The contracted completion date is June 2023. The commission awarded a $5.2 million bid to Mountain Construction Company out of Lovell for a project involving grading, milling, paving, chip seal, bridge rehabilitation and other work on approximately 10.5 miles of Wyoming Highway 230 in Carbon County. Mountain Construction Company was also awarded a bid of about $4.3 million for a project involving grading, milling, paving, guardrail and other work on approximately 8 miles of U.S. Highway 14 in Sheridan County. The contracted completion date for both projects is October 2022, and both are funded primarily with state dollars. Two of the six jobs awarded during the meeting were awarded to out of state contractors: • Riverside Contracting, Inc. out of Missoula, Montana, was awarded a bid of almost $14 million for a project Briefs continued on page 4

WHP Total number of employees: As of December 6, 2021

1,839

One month ago

1,838

One year ago

1,926

Total number of highway fatalities: As of December 10, 2021

108

One year ago

122

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involving grading, draining, milling, paving, a wearing course, bridge rehabilitation and other work on almost 11 miles of Interstate 25 in Natrona County. The contracted completion date is July 2023. • Coldwater Group, Inc. out of Pleasant View, Utah, was awarded a bid of $1.76 million for a project involving milling, paving, bridge rehabilitation, guardrail and other work in various locations within Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs and Park Counties. The contracted completion date is November 2022. Almost all WYDOT projects are awarded to the lowest bidder. There was an average of three bids per project, with a total of 14 bids from Wyoming contractors and four bids from out-of-state contractors. Four out of the six projects are funded primarily with Federal dollars.

District 1

2021 Laramie County Shop with a Cop CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office, Wyoming State Parks, Cheyenne Police Department, and Pine Bluffs Police Department teamed up again this year for the Cheyenne area “Shop with a Cop” event on Dec. 17. The Shop with a Cop (SWAC) program was started in Laramie County, Wyoming, by the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA) in 2015 and involved the aforementioned law enforcement agencies. SWAC or similar charitable giving events happen in almost every community in the state throughout the holiday season, thanks largely to the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association. The idea is to have the child shop with a law enforcement officer to build trust with our young people while assisting families in need. Each Laramie County Elementary School selects a student will participate in SWAC. The child chosen is given $150 to shop for themselves with the officer, deputy or trooper. The staff in each elementary school in Laramie County select the children because they know their needs and stories in their respective buildings. In 2019,

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SWAC was able to raise more than $6,100 for this cause. Law enforcement officers took 31 students shopping and assisted countless students with free lunches. School counselors, social workers and faculty join officers in donating to this cause. Other businesses and individuals also expressed a desire to contribute to the program. The WHPA, a registered non-profit organization, established an account for the event making the donations tax-deductible. Any additional funds that are received go to the school districts to pay for school lunches for students who cannot afford to do so on their own. It also helps fund the “Breakfast After the Bell” program at McCormick Junior High. These programs will continue going through the school year as long as funds exist. The children are also provided with the fixings for a complete Christmas dinner to take home to their families for a holiday meal. Wyoming’s First Lady’s Hunger Initiative also partnered with SWAC throughout the state to ensure each participating child and their family did not go hungry through the holiday season. Walmart had a checkout counter designated specifically to our SWAC event. Once the checkout was complete, the officer escorted the student outside Walmart to meet their parent/guardian.

WYO 70 over Battle Pass closed for winter season LARAMIE – Highway 70 over Battle Pass in the Sierra Madres has officially closed for the season. Wyoming Department of Transportation crews in Baggs and Saratoga decided weather forecasts and road conditions warranted closing the section of WYO 70. WYO 70 through Battle Pass (mile markers 27-50) closed Dec. 9 due to strong winds as well as drifting and blowing snow. WYDOT crews in Saratoga and Baggs decided the added wintry weather the area received overnight, including heavy snow and strong winds, warranted the start of the seasonal closure. Last year, WYO 70 closed Nov. 14. In previous years, WYO 70 closed Dec. 2 in 2019, Nov. 23 in 2018, Dec. 23 in 2017, Nov. 28 in 2016, Dec. 14 in 2015, Nov. 24 in 2014, Dec. 4 in 2013 and Dec. 8 in 2012.

WYO 70 will remain closed until WYDOT crews can work to clear the accumulated snow in the spring.

District 3

WYDOT hosts two virtual meetings on Snake River Bridge Project JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation hosts two virtual public meetings on the Snake River Bridge Replacement Project. The first was Dec. 9 and the second is slated for Jan. 6. There was a short presentation, followed by an open format for questions. The meeting had information about WYDOT’s plans to replace the Snake River Bridge and improve the intersection of WYO 22 and WYO 390. Information is available on the bridge and intersection design, as well as the project design and public involvement process and the next phases.

Photo: WYDOT

Briefs continued from page 3

A bird’s eye view of the Snake River Bridge project area.

District 5

Slide stabilization work completed below Upper Wind River Canyon Campground THERMOPOLIS – Slide stabilization work has been completed adjacent to US 20/WYO789 between Shoshoni and Thermopolis at the north edge of the Upper Wind River Campground. The work was completed Dec. 16 by slide stabilization subcontractor Condon Johnson and Associates, Inc., of Kent, Washington. “The 179 aggregate shafts are in

Work inside Wind River Canyon – slide stabilization and construction of rockfall basins.

Crack sealing project in Big Horn County BASIN – A Big Horn Basin crack seal project began Nov. 29, in Big Horn County. Motorists were warned of traffic delays of up to 20 minutes. In the coming months, work will take place at various locations in Big Horn and Park counties. The project kicked off on WYO 30 between Otto and Burlington (mileposts 112.0 to 125.59). Prime contractor on the $399,000 contract is Z&Z Seal Coating of Billings, Montana. The project has a completion date of April 30, 2022.

Agencies presented plans to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions in Dubois area DUBOIS – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation invited interested citizens to attend a public meeting as the final mitigation strategy was presented concerning wildlife/vehicle collisions along US 26/287 east and west of Dubois. The public meeting was held Dec. 16, at the Headwaters Arts and Conference Center in Dubois. A virtual option was available over Zoom The US 26/287 study area includes eight mitigation segments, east and west of Dubois. From 2015 through 2019, wildlife/ vehicle collisions accounted for 74% of all vehicle crashes between mileposts 48-73 on US 26/287. Each year, on average,

there are 28 reported wildlife-vehicle crashes reported to law enforcement and an additional 131 recorded animal carcasses removed from this section of roadway. The annual cost of these collisions is estimated at $791,400, including property damage, accident response, cleanup costs, and the value of the wildlife killed in the crashes. Consequently, this stretch of highway is one of the most dangerous and costly in the state in terms of wildlife/vehicle collision risk and has been identified as a top priority in the Wildlife and Roadways Initiative. To evaluate the collision-reduction possibilities on this stretch of highway, Julia Kintsch from ECO-resolutions, LLC, was hired as a consultant. Kintsch has 15 years of experience helping wildlife and transportation agencies mitigate wildlife movement. Kintsch will present the final mitigation strategy developed by the project partnership, which is available for review on the project website: https:// wgfd.wyo.gov/DuboisRoads “Funding for these wildlife-crossing mitigation strategies will be actively pursued in the future,” said Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lander Region Wildlife Management Coordinator Daryl Lutz. “The mitigation plan and effort in this area was launched in response to the numerous wildlife/vehicle collisions and citizen requests to address them along this stretch of highway. The mitigation strategy will be used as a basis for project fundraising and implementation.” n

Photo: WYDOT

place and are each six feet in diameter. They were installed 40 feet below the level of the Wind River to catch the toe of the deeper slide, and they will act as shear key to hold the slide in place,” said Wyoming Department of Transportation project engineer Jordan Erz of Worland. “The contractor used 33 working days to stabilize the 700-foot slide area as quickly and safely as possible to prevent further damage to US 20/WYO 789.” Erz said the slide near the Upper Wind River Campground is unusual because it was moving during the fall and winter “due to the river level dropping and uneven water pore pressures that makes the slide want to move/follow the river level.” Prime contractor on the $8.78 million project is Oftedal Construction Inc., of Casper. The Wind River Canyon slide stabilization project includes slide repair, grading, slide stabilization rock (SSR), manual rock scaling, rock fall mitigation and other work on US 20/WYO789 beginning at milepost 115.9 through 123.12 inside the canyon between Shoshoni and Thermopolis. After the holidays, the prime contractor will begin excavation silt from the hillside near the campground. “A larger slope will be built with about 40,000 cubic yards of material excavated from other areas in the canyon,” Erz said. “The larger slope will provide resisting force to help hold the deeper slide in place.” Near the north end of the canyon, the contractor is beginning excavation of two large catch basins to catch future debris flows. Rocks and dirt taken from the areas are being used to rebuild the slide near the Upper Wind River Canyon Campground. The catch basin construction work is between mileposts 122.54 and 123.12, 10 miles south of Thermopolis. “The catch basins are being built where a large slide covered the highway over Memorial Day weekend in 2014,” Erz said. “Development of these catch basins will allow WYDOT maintenance crews to remove future debris flows, and should prevent future road closures caused by large rainfall events.” Erz said the contractor’s goal is to complete dirt work on the Wind River Canyon project this winter, weather permitting.

A mule deer crossing a highway in northwest Wyoming.

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Honoring the people of Wyoming By Jordan Achs Retired WYDOT employee Jim O’Connor and his wife, Phyllis, recently contributed to a new city of Cheyenne initiative called The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project as a way “to honor all Wyoming has done for us.” The Capitol Avenue Bronze Project started in October 2021 with the goal of installing bronze statues along each intersection of Capitol Avenue from the remodeled Union Pacific Train Depot on Lincolnway up to the Capitol building, totaling 28 statues. Different families or organizations have donated funds to install the statues, which showcase various themes of Wyoming living and heritage. “Cheyenne is the Capital City of the Old West,” said Mayor Patrick Collins on the project’s website. “Its citizens and those of the state are proud of its heritage and its role in the growth and development of the West. … The bronzes will be a permanent tribute to ‘The Magic City of the Plains,’ the state of Wyoming, and the pioneering spirit of its people.” Jim and Phyllis donated the statue “Dakota Wind” by artist Martha Pettigrew, which depicts a Native American woman bundling up in the Wyoming wind. A distinguished artist, Pettigrew has been featured in exhibitions and collections throughout the Great Plains and Mountain West, including Arizona, Nebraska and Colorado. “Dakota Wind” was also an installation at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 2010. Now, the piece is located on the northwest corner of Lincolnway and Capitol Ave. The O’Connors both said as soon as they heard about the project, they wanted to be a part of it. They had seen similar art initiatives in other towns during their travels, and thought it was a great way to bring even more character to downtown Cheyenne. Once they saw “Dakota Wind,” they knew it was “the one.” “It just felt right,” Phyllis said, noting the impacts Native Americans and women’s rights have made on the state. “We knew we wanted our contribution to respect and honor all the different people of Wyoming in a way that families can enjoy for years to come” Residents of Cheyenne since 1977, Jim was employed with WYDOT for over 30 years before retiring as Support Services Administrator. Phyllis retired from the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center after a 32-year career. “Cheyenne has been extremely good to us,” Jim said. “This was an ideal way to give back and to honor all the city and the state of Wyoming has done for us and for everyone else who has visited or made a home here.”

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Photo: WYDOT

WYDOT retiree and wife donate bronze sculpture to downtown Cheyenne

Jim and Phyllis O’Connor standing beside the bronze they contributed to the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project titled “Dakota Wind.”

For more information about the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project, visit: https://capitolavenuebronze.org/ n

WYDOT receives national recognition for high value research project By Mark Horan This past summer, WYDOT received an award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) at their annual conference. Each year, AASHTO’s Research and Advisory Committee (RAC) asks states to identify and document recently completed “high-value” research projects which address top transportation concerns and identify solutions at the state level. The RAC publishes an annual compilation of all the submitted projects, and selects four submittals from each of its four regions to form the “AASHTO Research Sweet Sixteen Awards.” WYDOT was among the 2021 Sweet Sixteen award recipients for sponsoring a project studying heavy truck traffic along I-80. The project, titled “Safety and Operational Analysis with Mitigation Strategies for Freeway Truck Traffic in Wyoming”, was conducted by three principal investigators from the University of Wyoming’s Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering: Milan Zlatkovic, Khaled Ksaibati and Muhammed Tahmidul. The study was approved for funding by a research advisory committee within WYDOT and was supported by the agency’s Highway Safety Division. “We felt this research would be potentially valuable to our ongoing studies on I80 truck traffic, said State Highway Safety Engineer Matt Carlson, who championed the project. “The study

will help inform our decision making on future safety improvement projects, and it will hopefully be helpful to other DOT research communities as well.” The main objective of the research was to explore the effectiveness of climbing lanes on I-80. Due to high truck traffic, Wyoming currently has about 14 miles of climbing lanes at different locations along the Interstate. The results show that the addition of climbing lanes reduces delays and increases overall traffic speeds on upgrades, and can reduce the total number of crashes by as much as 34 %, depending on the location. Furthermore, the study analyzed other factors contributing to truck crashes along I-80, such as icy roads and snowy weather. The analysis showed that driving too fast and driving in an improper lane contributed to approximately 45 % of total truck related crashes. Findings from this study are expected to help WYDOT transportation managers and policy makers to take necessary actions and decide on management strategies for I-80 in Wyoming, as well as other similar highway facilities carrying a large percentage of trucks. This is the fifth time that WYDOT has received AASHTO’s Sweet Sixteen Research Award. Awarded projects are featured in AASHTO events and publications. n

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Photo: Wyoming Game and Fish

The facility is not open to the public, but mornings are good times to see the wildlife from WYO 34.

A visit to the Sybille Wildlife Research Center By Andrea Staley On Dec. 4, District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton and myself were able to tour the Sybille Wildlife Research Center with the Game & Fish and Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation. Divided up into groups, we had a tailored tour of the sheep handling facility, visited the elk and bobcat pens, learned about viruses and illnesses affecting the bighorn sheep populations, and also saw and interacted with various animal ailments through the use of puppets. The rangers at the facility were incredibly knowledgeable and able to answer a whole host of questions. After a quick lunch, Al Branscom, maintenance foreman for Crew 1031 joined the group for a round table discussion regarding bighorn sheep hits on WYO 34. “The big horn sheep round table was another opportunity for WYDOT to collaborate with both Wyoming Game &Fish (WYGF), and a NGO (non-governmental agency) who desire to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. The group was especially

helpful at providing ideas for solutions that will be evaluated by WYDOT and WYGF personnel,” said District Maintenance Engineer Tim Morton. Whether it be wildlife signage, strategic wildlife fences around blind spots, or TMC alerts before the canyon, WYDOT and Wyoming Game and Fish brainstormed many options. The bighorn sheep population has been settled in the Sybille Canyon for generations, this is not a new issue for any of the parties involved. It is nice to be able to work towards a positive solution that serves the traveling public, and the migration routes of the bighorn sheep. WYDOT and Wyoming Game and Fish continue to build a successful collaborative relationship with meetings like these. Don’t overlook an opportunity to visit the Sybille Wildlife Research Facility on WYO 34. n

HR Happenings New and improved EAP

FEI introduced their new member portal on Dec. 13. The new portal offers instant access to benefits featuring enhanced digital tools and resources. The tools can be accessed via internet browser or phone app, giving employees access to thousands of articles, videos, webinars, podcasts and more in categories of family, health, finances, career and living.

well-being and develop soft skills. A new introduction video to the portal can be viewed at https://youtu.be/OPJYobBgaZc n

New member portal features

• 24/7/365 access to request benefits and referrals with options for phone, video or chat support; • Helpful information, including thousands of articles, videos, worksheets and interactive checklists; • Events calendar listing our latest webinars and online training sessions;

• Free online courses to improve personal

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Photo: WYDOT

• Resource locator to find local providers for child care and other services; and The introduction video gives a comprehensive look at the new EAP offerings from FEI.

Employee Safety Dangerous “road finds”

By Erik Brannigan, District 4 safety representative On Nov. 19, a WYDOT maintenance crew found a suspicious pipe, with a threaded cap on both ends. The employees suspected the pipe could be a homemade explosive device, and immediately contacted law enforcement. It is a very real concern that our employees may occasionally encounter explosive devices or device components while working in our right of ways. The state of Wyoming is home to several companies that deal in explosive sales, manufacturing or certified blasting. It is unlikely to encounter legitimate explosive components outside of a traffic collision, however, homemade explosive components are untracked, unmarked, and can be built using many different components from a variety of sources, making them difficult to identify. If you or a coworker find any device that you suspect may be an explosive or component – manufactured or homemade – do not touch or move it. Evacuate the area immediately if a suspected explosive device is found. The 2020 ERG guide book, page 373, instructs that

if a “pipe bomb” is found, the preferred evacuation distance is 1,200 ft. This evacuation process may include lane and /or road closures. Communicate with law enforcement and supervisors. Law enforcement will help direct further evacuation needs, identification of the device and will coordinate with a bomb squad if needed. Your supervisor will assist in direction for further communication (AMS, ATS, safety, TMC, etc.), traffic control and will provide additional resources to help maintain the evacuation distance. Evaluate the scene with law enforcement. Maintain evacuation distances and road closures until law enforcement reports the scene to be safe. Remember that explosives can be extremely unstable, especially when they are homemade. Adding to the danger is the unknown components the device may have been built from. Don’t take the risk! We want all of our people to be safe, and be able to go home at the end of the day. n

State Parks By Gary Schoene, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources According to the latest numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation helped bolster the state’s economy during the pandemic, as demand for certain outdoor activities increased significantly. During the height of the pandemic when most indoor recreation and entertainment options were unavailable and outdoor spaces were understood to be generally safer from COVID-19, millions of people rushed to the outdoors, particularly to destinations within driving distance of their homes. “Many outdoor activities saw significant growth, including snowmobiling and ORV riding, which saw an increase in permit sales of over 18% and 16% respectively from 2019 to 2020,” said Chris Floyd, Manager of the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation. “Although the overall outdoor recreation economic impact numbers declined, most of the losses in the sector were due to limits on a few activities, such as snow skiing and outdoor events, which experienced heavy impacts due to closures and other restrictions during the pandemic.” The total value added by outdoor recreation to the state’s GDP dropped from $1.69 billion in 2019 to $1.25 billion in 2020, with the percentage dropping from 4.2% to 3.4% of the total. Employment in the sector saw a decrease from 21,344 to 14,187 but the percentage of total wages declined only 0.1%. Snow activities, particularly at ski resorts, saw a decrease of

Outdoor recreation saw increase of visitors during 2020. This climbing enthusiast practicing bouldering with spotters.

37% or $40 million in economic impact, which wiped out many gains in other recreational activities. Equestrian activities and Outdoor recreation continued on page 10

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Photo: WYDOT

Outdoor recreation helped buoy Wyoming’s economy in 2020 despite pandemic

Outdoor recreation continued on page 9 hunting and shooting sports also declined by 28% and 21% respectively. Wyoming rose one spot to rank fourth nationally, however, in value added in both percentage of GDP and percentage of total wages in 2020, trailing only Hawaii, Vermont, and Montana. There were also increases in the economic impact of boating and fishing by a whopping 79%, bicycling by 13%, climbing/ hiking/tent camping by 6%, motorcycling and ATV riding by 5%, and RV camping by 2.5%. Many businesses reported strong sales of outdoor recreation equipment and vehicles, which would have been even higher had supply chains been able to keep up with the demand. “Our gross sales were up over 40% in 2020 compared to 2019 and it is continuing through 21 where we have surpassed 2020 gross sales year to date,” said Mark Black, owner of Cycle City Wyoming, a power sports business in Evanston. “Our issue now is the supply chain, where the manufacturers are limiting not

only quantities but models as well, and sometimes shipping incomplete units that are waiting on chips for instrument clusters. The demand has been pretty consistent and I don’t see it dramatically decreasing for the near future.” State Parks visitation in 2020 was up 41% over 2019 and other land managers reported similar increases in use, and these high numbers helped increase economic activity statewide as other economic sectors saw declines during the pandemic. Next year’s BEA report is likely to show that outdoor recreation activities played a strong role in the state’s economic rebound, particularly since most closures and travel restrictions were eased or lifted this year. For more information and to view the entire 2020 report, please visit https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/outdoor-recreation. n

U.S. Forest Service Winter recreationalists reminded of parking guidelines along WYO 130 LARAMIE – As snowpack in the Snowy Range builds, so too does winter recreation usage, particularly along the Wyoming WYO 130 corridor through the Medicine Bow National Forest. Parking for winter recreation users has historically been insufficient for the high level of use at some access points and recreation sites managed by the Laramie Ranger District along the highway and within the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) right-of-way. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) is involved in discussions with partners for both short and longterm solutions to parking and access issues along WYO 130. Consistent messaging between agencies has been identified as a key part of framing those discussions and informing the public. Following is general information for access and recreation sites along WYO 130 during the winter: • Parking in a designated fee area parking lot is different than parking alongside a state highway. • Developed recreation site facilities/services (such as at Green Rock) require payment of a day-use fee or display of an annual day-use pass. • Snowmobile trail maps are produced by Wyoming State Trails, provide broad information including designated parking areas, and are available online. • Real time conditions and parking availability can be viewed via a WYDOT web camera near the gate closure on the highway. • All Over Snow Vehicles (OSV) will display a current resident or non-resident Wyoming state snowmobile registration, including any OSV off-loaded in a Forest Service designated

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recreation site. • Snowmobile parking only in designated areas alongside WYO 130. • Do not park on the open roadway or in the turn around. • Users should note WYDOT and Scenic Byway signage along WYO 130. • No trailers in the Green Rock parking lot. • Alternate access locations with parking lots include the Albany Trailhead on WYO 11 or Tic’s Trailhead on WYO 230. • Day use sites are designated for occupancy between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Camping in day use areas is prohibited. • Annual day use passes may be purchased in advance at Recreation.gov or at USDA Forest Service District offices during normal business hours. Valid interagency or senior passes may also be used at day use sites. • Overnight parking is discouraged, as vehicles left overnight prevent plowing and decrease the availability of parking for other forest users. For more information about winter recreation opportunities, please call the Laramie Ranger District office at (307) 745-2300. n

Highway Safety Blow-Over Crashes

Overturn/Rollover crashes that occur during a severe wind weather event are a common problem on Wyoming highways. In Wyoming, during the most recent five-year period (2016-2020), 568 blow-over crashes were reported, averaging around 114 blow-over crashes per year. These blow-over crashes included 16 critical crashes, 148 serious crashes, and 404 damage crashes and resulted in 1 fatal injury, 16 suspected serious injuries, 119 suspected minor injuries, and 67 possible injuries. Wyoming often experiences powerful wind gusts, which pose a considerable problem for motorists on the major travel corridors of I-25 and I-80, especially for those with light or high profile vehicles susceptible to these wind gusts. Figure 1 shows the location of blow-over crashes reported for the years 20162020. The majority of blow-over crashes occur on I-25 and I-80, and historical blow-over crash “hot spots” include Wyoming Hill (I-25 MP 3-5), Bordeaux (I-25 MP 60-80), Arlington (I-80 MP 272-274), Cooper Cove-Strouss Hill (I-80 MP 278-284), and Casper’s Outer Drive (HWY 258 near I-25).

During the winter months, the state of Wyoming tends to experience an increase in severe wind weather events with more extended periods of wind in which wind speeds often reach 30 to 40 mph with wind gust speeds of 50 to 60 mph. Wyoming has also experienced occasional hurricane force wind gusts, or wind gusts in excess of 74 mph, and sometimes reaches wind gusts that would be classified as a Category 2 hurricane (96 to 110 mph). February experiences the most blow-over crashes (148, 26%), followed by December (112, 20%), November (89, 16%) and January (70, 12%).

During severe wind weather events, blow-over crashes pose a considerable risk to the safety of all motor vehicles traveling on the roadway. Drivers of light or high-profile vehicles are particularly susceptible to experiencing loss of control and/or blow-over which may cause damage to their motor vehicle, other motor vehicles, and may produce debris on the highway resulting in road closure. The type of motor vehicles most commonly involved in a blow-over crash for the years 2016-2020 were heavy trucks (>26,000 pounds) at 45% of vehicles involved and pickup trucks at 36%. Of the pickup trucks involved in a blow-over crash, 80% were pulling a non-commercial trailer (i.e. camper, utility trailer) at the time of the crash. n

Highway Safety Report WYDOT Crash Data December 1, 2021 vs. (December 1, 2020) Fatalities: 97 (118) Serious Injuries: 422 (410) Alcohol-Involved Fatalities: 27 (36) Bicycle-Involved Fatalities: 0 (0) CMV-Involved Fatalities: 12 (21) Drug-Involved Fatalities: 12 (27) Motorcycle-Involved Fatalities: 17 (19) Pedestrian-Involved Fatalities: 10 (7) Speed-Related Fatalities: 40 (45) Data current as of 12/10/2021 January 2022

Interchange 11

Game & Fish

Game and Fish stocks 6.5 million fish in 2021 By Sara DiRienzo, Wyoming Game and Fish The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is wrapping up fish stocking for the year. The department put more than 6.5 million fish in 368 Wyoming waters in 2021 to maintain the state’s top-notch fishing opportunities for anglers. The majority of fish — cold-water varieties of trout — come from the department’s 10 hatcheries and rearing stations across Wyoming. To offer more variety for anglers, Game and Fish trades trout or trout eggs with other states for cool and warm water species like catfish, bass, northern pike and walleye. These trades are necessary because Game and Fish does not have a fish hatchery capable of rearing these warm-water species. But, that capacity is slowly changing. In 2021, Dan Speas Fish Hatchery in Casper continued it’s cool/warm-water expansion trials to raise walleye, one of the most popular sportfish in Wyoming. “Put simply — these trials are incredibly innovative. Game and Fish’s culture section has recognized the increased popularity of these cool/warm-water species in Wyoming,” said Alan Osterland, Game and Fish chief of fisheries. “These trials are the first step in a continued effort to provide Wyoming anglers excellent fishing opportunities.” Enhancing capacity to meet anglers’ demands is important for Wyoming’s hatchery system. A big accomplishment for 2021 was reaching a landmark with the captive kokanee salmon broodstock at Tillett Springs Rearing Station. Kokanee, a native land-

locked salmon, are quickly becoming a favorite for many anglers. “We saw a strong year of raising kokanee. The broodstock produced about 2.5 million eggs this year,” said Guy Campbell, fish culture supervisor. “It’s remarkable because our program was previously dependent on Wyoming’s wild population for eggs, now we are very self-sufficient to raise kokanee for anglers. We should be able to meet all stocking demands for kokanee next summer.” Wyoming is the only state in the country with a captive kokanee brookstock as well as captive golden trout broodstock housed at Story Hatchery. Another standout for 2021 was the Bear River cutthroat. The species of native trout flourished and fish managers capitalized on the growth. Bear River cutthroat are raised at both Speas and Wigwam Rearing Station. “We stocked 425,000 Bear River cutthroat in 2020, and 839,000 in 2021,” said Travis Trimble, assistant fish culture supervisor. “A few years back fish biologists started noticing this species was showing up in the creel and in their sampling efforts more and more. Not only showing up, but also in great condition. Consequently, regional fish supervisors have been requesting this species in their region for anglers in greater numbers.” Healthy fish and hearty stocking numbers are key as Wyoming continues to satisfy resident anglers again and again, and keeps the state’s fisheries a favorite for nonresidents as well. Anglers can see the Game and Fish stocking reports online as far back as 1985 at https://wgfapps.wyo.gov/FishStock/FishStock n

Motorists reminded to watch for wildlife on North, South Fork Highways CODY – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds motorists traveling the North Fork (US 14/16/20) and South Fork (WYO 291) Highways near Cody to be cautious of wildlife on roadways during the winter months. “The areas west and southwest of Cody are crucial winter ranges for mule deer, elk and bighorn sheep,” said Cody area Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong. “During the winter months, wildlife congregate on these ranges and can often be found on or near roadways, making them vulnerable to vehicle collisions. High numbers of these collisions and loss of wildlife can lead to negative population impacts.” Local motorists frequenting the South Fork Highway are accustomed to the high numbers of mule deer moving along and across the highway during winter. “These deer can be especially difficult to see due to the tall sagebrush next to the road,” Mong said. As winter sets in and seasonal recreational activities on the North Fork begin, traffic typically increases along the North Fork corridor, which can lead to an increase in collisions with bighorn sheep, mule deer or elk. Game and Fish, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Shoshone National Forest and Sleeping Giant Ski Area are working collaboratively to raise awareness about wildlife on roadways

12 Interchange

January 2022

and minimize wildlife-vehicle collisions for the safety of motorists and wildlife. WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten of Basin said all drivers should take extra precautions this time of the year to enhance safety while traveling on local highways. “Slowing down, even just five miles per hour, can greatly increase a driver’s reaction time to avoid a collision with an animal,” said Hallsten. “This is especially important at dawn and dusk, when animals are more active and harder to see.” WYDOT plans to use variable message signs along the North Fork Highway to remind motorists of posted speed limits and the presence of wildlife. Sleeping Giant Ski Area is also taking a proactive approach to encourage slower speeds and greater vigilance on the highway. “We know that people get excited while driving up the North Fork on their way to the mountain. Folks might be playing music loudly or amping up their little one for a day at the hill. These are the moments we all want to soak in and remember for the years to come,” said Myranda Hamel, Sleeping Giant’s communications and marketing manager. “That’s why we’re encouraging our guests to be mindful of the wildlife and to #driveslowskifast. The Giant isn’t going anywhere; we’ll be here when you get here.” n

Wyoming A&I

Wyoming Comparative Cost of Living Index – Q2 2021 By Jordan Achs One frequently asked question we received in the most recent Town Hall meetings was regarding Cost of Living (CoL) adjustments. A&I’s Economic Analysis Division compiles a quarterly review of the COL index and inflation for each Wyoming county and publishes to their website: http://eadiv.state.wy.us/ The above table shows the Comparative Cost of Living Index, which compares each county’s cost of living in one period (not over time) to the statewide average. The Comparative Cost of Living Index represents each county’s price level compared to the statewide average (100) during a single period, in this case, the second quarter of 2021. For the second quarter of 2021, the Comparative Cost of Living Index ranked Teton (165) as the county with the highest

“All Items” value, which indicates that the cost of living in Teton County was estimated 65 percent higher than the statewide average in the quarter. This report is specifically used to calculate the housing allowance that is provided for individuals that live and work in Teton County. The State of Wyoming Compensation Policy currently does not have provisions for regional pay adjustments based on factors related to COL, but would likely rely on this or a similar report to implement such a plan. All general pay adjustments, including cost of living adjustments (COLAs), require action of the Wyoming Legislature. n

Index Number by Category: County

All items

Food

Housing

Apparel

Transportation

Medical

Recreation & Personal Care

Teton

165

112

225

131

103

101

105

Lincoln/Afton

105

100

108

103

102

105

Laramie

104

100

110

103

Sublette

103

111

101

118

104

101

Sheridan

100

103

102

100

103

102

Campbell

109

102

100

106

Converse

105

106

Albany

100

104

Johnson

112

119

101

106

Park

106

114

101

Natrona

100

Carbon

100

109

Fremont

100

112

Sweetwater

101

104

Crook

102

111

106

Uinta

103

106

Lincoln-Kemmerer

102

105

116

Hot Springs

108

107

100

Platte

113

102

Niobrara

104

100

102

Weston

101

100

107

102

Big Horn

110

109

100

Goshen

102

106

Washakie 87 (Statewide Average = 100)

102

100

January 2022

Interchange 13

Training

Leadership Academy Comes to WYDOT By Amy Bale, Training Services Yes, WYDOT University is the agency’s program that offers leadership development in the form of instructor-led classes – brick & mortar as well as virtual – structured programs like WY Supervise, on-demand eLearning, individual development plans and more. Now we’re bringing a structured leadership program to you – the WYDOT Leadership Academy, also known as WY Lead. We have been working with Executive Staff, members of a WY Lead planning committee and a curriculum review team over the past three years to develop a program believed to help WYDOT develop and inspire future agency leaders. You can check out the history of this project on our intranet page in the Training Services projects link under What’s New! Factors driving the development of a structured Leadership Academy included building a talent pipeline, engaging/retaining high performers, standardizing leadership curriculum, understanding technology shifts, managing risk and handling the diversity of the agency. The WYDOT Leadership Academy program is expected to launch March 2022, with a pilot group of existing WYDOT supervisors and leaders. This pilot group will go through the estimated nine-month program and help Training Services refine and finalize the entire process. In 2023, the program should be

WY Lead

WYDOT Leadership Academ y

open to all WYDOT employees. Over the next year, Training Services will provide more information about the new course including application, selection and launch dates. Special thanks to Executive Staff, and specifically Taylor Rossetti, plus the following WYDOT employees for helping with the development of this program: Andrea Allen, Eric Anderson, Mark Ayen, Lacey Bruckner, Jesse Burgess, Shawn Burke, Michelle Edwards, James Elliott, Kevin Erickson, Mark Falk, Mick Farrell, Isaac Finkle, Lisa Fresquez, Mark Horan, Doug McGee, Tory Meisel, Randy Merritt, Julie Newlin, Ali Ragan, Tim Rasnake, Sarah Rickgauer, Nathan Smolinski, Scott Taylor, Dan Tolman and Mark Wingate. As always, please reach out to dot-training@wyo.gov, or any member of the Training Services team if you have any questions. n

Training@aGlance

Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the WELL.

Coming in January: Start Date Development Stage Class Description 1/5/2022 Leading Self Challenging Conversations 1/10/2022 New Employee *Google/WELL Basics: Know WY New Employee Program 1/11/2022 Technical The Rules of Contract Interpretation 1/12/2022 Leading Self Listen Up! Becoming a Better Listener 1/12/2022 Leading Self MBTI: Embracing Change 1/18/2022 Technical Writing a Complete, Correct, Clear, Concise and Consistent Specification 1/25/2022 Technical Quantifying Delays When the Schedule is Poor 1/26/2022 Leading Others Developing Your Employees: The Practical Coach (Rescheduled from 11/16/21) Coming in February: Date Development Stage Class Description 2/14/2022 New Employee *Google/WELL Basics: Know WY New Employee Program 2/16/2022 Leading Others Developing Peak Performers: The Flexible Leader 2/23/2022 Leading Others Performance Management: Setting the Stage for Success 2/24/2022 New Employee *Know WY New Employee Onboarding Workshop

Class Hours 8:30am-10:00am 8:30am-11:30am 8:30am-10:30am 1/12: 11:30am-3:00pm 1/13: 8:00am-11:30am 8:30am-4:30pm 8:30am-10:30am

Location VILT VILT VILT VILT

8:30am-10:30am 1/26: 1:00pm-4:30pm 1/27: 8:30am-12:00pm

VILT VILT

Class Hours 8:30am-11:30am 2/16: 11:30am-3:00pm 2/17: 8:00am-11:30am 8:30am-4:00pm 8:30am-12:00pm

Location VILT VILT

*All new employees are assigned the Know WY Learning Plan and should register for one of these Know WY workshops in the WELL

Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information. 14 Interchange

January 2022

Cheyenne VILT

District News Headquarters

Welcome Jennifer Carter, GeologyAdministration; Yasmin Galindo, Driver Services-Policy and Records; Chandler Higgins, Driver Services-Laramie; Tanya Hill, Office Services-Mailroom; Natasha Larson, Financial ServicesDisbursements; Walt Ray, Patrol-Safety and Training; Erin Rhodes, PlanningTraffic Data Analysis; Tika Zipp, Financial Services-Revenue.

Equipment staff in Santa hats with bikes galore for the WYDOT Annual Bicycle drive for youth in Cheyenne. Aldridge

Welcome Roy Rushing, Douglas Maintenance; and Travis Sparks, Casper Maintenance.

Promotions and Transfers Jason Aldridge, Traffic; Erin Blackman, Right of Way-Engineering; Kari Fictum, Highway Safety-Data Analysts; Brianne Langdon, Highway Development-Project DevelopmentUtilities; Keren Pittman, Employee Safety; Menemsha Zotstein, Environmental Services.

Service Awards Harlan Edmonds, Right of WayNegotiations – 20 years; Rachael Pivik, PlanningProgramming – 15 years;

District 2

Fictum

Service Awards Zotstein

Edmonds

Cristy Bigelow, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title – 10 years; Melissa DeFratis, Management Services – 10 years; Brianne Langdon, Highway Development-Project DevelopmentUtilities – 10 years; and Ashley Tomas, Driver Services-Policy and Records – 10 years. n

Andrew Frye, Wheatland Patrol – 10 years; and Craig Graves, Wheatland Maintenance – 5 years. n

Frye

Graves

District 1

Welcome

Retirements

Jon Case, Laramie Maintenance; Connor Gill, Cheyenne Maintenance; and Benjamin Metcalf, Pine Bluffs Maintenance.

Richard Christopherson retired Nov. 12 from Elk Mountain Mechanics with 31 years of service to the state. Christopherson began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOTs predecessor agency, in October 1990 as an automotive Christopherson technician in Gillette. He retires as the Elk Mountain mechanics shop foreman. He attended WyoTech in Laramie after graduating from Sundance High School in 1986. Christopherson was involved with his community during his tenure with WYDOT. He was a volunteer and also represented his community first as

Promotions and Transfers Joshua Coley, Rawlins Maintenance.

Coley

Service Awards Bryan Miazga, Cheyenne Construction – 5 years.

Miazga

a council member for six years and then as the first 4-year term mayor. Christopherson had been involved with the Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster for six years. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife going on short trips to different places as well as helping his sons, Tyler and Austin – who at one time also worked for WYDOT, work on their muscle cars. He works on his own Mustang and looks forward to cruising through the Black Hills of South Dakota or the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in the summertime. James Franks retired on Nov. 18 from Rawlins Maintenance with six years of service to the state. n

January 2022

Franks

Interchange 15

District 3

Welcome

Service Awards

Retirements

Emily Jones, Driver Service-Jackson/ Afton; and Brett O’Dell, Jackson Maintenance.

David Kaufman, Jackson Construction – 25 years; Justin Moss, Jackson Maintenance – 10 years; and Brett Renick, Maintenance-Farson – 5 years.

Dennis Hinton retired from Evanston Maintenance on Nov. 2 with 26 years of service to the state. He began his career in December 1994 as a transportation technician in Evanston. n

Promotions and Transfers Tanner Passey, Driver ServicesJackson/Afton.

Hinton

Kaufman

Moss

Renick

District 4

District 5

Welcome

Keri Griffith, District 4 Administration.

Harry Laney, Cody Maintenance.

Service Awards Griffith

Jorgensen

Bennett

Dorran Larner, Sheridan Construction – 10 years; and Rebecca Terry, Port of EntrySundance – 5 years. n

Joseph Bennett, Sheridan Maintenance.

Service Awards

Jessica Mullins, Basin Construction – 5 years.

Mullins

Retirements Terry

David Bilderback retired on Nov. 2 from Basin Traffic-striping. He retires with nine years of service to the state. n

Bilderback

Photo: WYDOT

Erik Jorgensen, Sheridan Patrol – 15 years;

Larner

D5 Santa (a.k.a. John Farr of Lander maintenance) took time to plow snow (one of his jobs) before plowing snow over the holidays near Lander (his second job). We appreciate Santa and other WYDOT maintenance workers doing the extra things for us to be able to celebrate the holidays with friends and family.

16 Interchange

January 2022

Photo: WYDOT

Promotions and Transfers

Goals

Awards Service Award Recipients

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater. Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon (from left): Mark Falk – 35 years; and Larry Crosby – 35 years. Both gentlemen celebrated their milestone in September 2020 but weren’t able to attend the luncheon until December 2021.

Letters Mr. (Doug) McGee: You don’t know me but I wanted to say “great job” on the recent edition of Interchange newsletter for December. The articles were interesting and thorough. The articles by Shane Fox, Jordan Achs, Cody Beers and others were informative and timely. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely, Mark Hughes Wyoming Transportation Commissioner

The owners of Wyoming Wind Trucking are a local company and come through the port often. On the evening of Dec. 11, they were gracious enough to bring out about 20 pizzas and numerous cheeseburgers, cookies and water for the drivers parked in the parking lot with nowhere to go. They didn’t do it for recognition, but as a selfless service and good deed that all employees at the port feel needed to be recognized.

The Evanston POE

On Dec. 11, with one of the first closures of I-80 due to weather and road conditions, Evanston POE found themselves with a parking lot full of trucks. The Evanston port is about 3 miles outside city limits and most eateries will not deliver that far out.

Photo: WYDOT

Wyoming Wind Trucking fed truckers stuck at Evanston POE during December storm event Thanks to Wyoming Wind Trucking, truckers stranded at the Evanston POE during a storm event in December were able to share a nice meal with other truckers and POE staff.

January 2022

Interchange 17

Photo: WYDOT

Kudos for Interchange

Passings Raynald C. Taylor Raynald C. Taylor, 81, loving father, grandfather and brother, passed on Nov. 20, 2021, in Cheyenne at Davis Hospice Center. Taylor fought Parkinson’s with dignity and without complaint for more than 18 years. He was born Jan. 7, 1940, to Carl Hicks Taylor and Agnes Lucille (Armstrong) Taylor, in Mesa, Arizona. Among his many accomplishments Taylor received an honorable discharge from the Army where he earned the Qualified Marksman badge and Good Conduct Medal. Favorite memories of Taylor include shooting competitions followed by laughing around a campfire as he shared stories and laughing until all involved cried. He chose laughter and fun in almost every

Rides

situation. He was a gifted storyteller. Once, to entertain kids on a road trip, he created a convincing story based on the Falling Rock sign and made even the most skeptical listener a believer. Throughout his life, Taylor was an adventurous spirit, sprinkled with an ample dose of mischievousness. He enjoyed hunting and being a big game guide. He was an avid outdoorsman and always enjoyed wide-open spaces. Taylor was resourceful, highly capable, a creative problem solver as well as an artist. He became quite proficient in golf after he decided the golf course was not a waste of pasture. He was a real life cowboy and always played as hard as he worked. He would slow down to watch football, a good western, or to be the quality assurance tester of desserts. A celebration of life was held Jan. 7 in Ogden, Utah. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Freedom Hunters. https://donorbox.org/freedom-hunters n

Get those photos in!

Rides photos deadline:

02/15/22 carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Travel & Tourism Wyoming’s Western Museums True West Magazine recently recognized 11 western museums in Wyoming as the top western museums to visit nationally, regionally and for firearms and living history. From the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, to the Grand Encampment Museum, and everywhere in between, Wyoming’s history and the partners that have invested so much time in preserving it and sharing it are truly a great asset to tourism in the state. • Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Cody CenterOfTheWest.org

• Hot Springs County Museum – Thermopolis ThermopolisMuseum.com • Jim Gatchell Museum – Buffalo JimGatchell.com • Museum of the Mountain Man – Pinedale MuseumOfTheMountainman.com • National Trails Interpretive Center – Casper NHTCF.org

• Campbell County Rockpile Museum – Gillette RockpileMuseum.com

• Nelson Museum of the West – Cheyenne NelsonMuseum.com

• Cody Firearms Museum – Cody CenterOfTheWest.org

• West Texas Trail Museum – Moorcroft WestTexasTrailMuseum.com n

• Fort Laramie Historic Site – Fort Laramie NPS.gov • Grand Encampment Museum – Encampment GEMuseum.com

18 Interchange

January 2022

WTDEA

A good time was had by all at family Christmas party

Bryce McDonald, Port of Entry, Rowan McDonald, Shamika McDonald, Yasmin Galindo, Records, with daughter, Brianna.

Photo: Mark Horan

Brianna Galindo and Santa.

Erin Blackman, Right of Way-Engineering, with her husband, Patrick, son, Calvin, and niece.

Nick Hines (right), Environmental Services, and Ethan Martin, son of Heidi Martin, Right of Way-Engineering.

Photo: Mark Horan

Sydney Horan (right), daughter of Mark Horan of Public Affairs, with friend.

Photo: Mark Horan

Justin Mordahl, Geology, with daughter, Galena.

Photo: Mark Horan

Ariel Villa, Highway Safety, with her family.

Photo: Mark Horan

Ali Ragan, Grants and Contracts, with daughter, Gabby.

WTDEA Board (Seated from left): Justin Mordahl, Vice-President; Santa; and Stephanie Lowe, Secretary. (Standing from left): Chelsea Lindsay, Treasurer; and Heidi Martin, President.

Photo: Mark Horan

bags to go around, and Santa was on hand to visit with the kids. WTDEA has sponsored this event every year since 2006, with the exception of 2020 due to Covid. “We had so much fun at this year’s party,” said WTDEA President Heidi Martin. “We want to give a huge thank you to all the volunteers and participants.” n

Photo: Mark Horan

By Mark Horan More than 80 people laced up roller skates and no one broke any bones, so the annual WTDEA Family Christmas Party was deemed a success. The event was held Dec. 11 at Cheyenne’s Roller City. Family members of all ages enjoyed skating to Christmas music and playing games such as “Red Light, Green Light” and “Limbo.” There were plenty of prizes and goody

The Roller City lobby was decked out with a license plate themed tree.

January 2022

Interchange 19

Photo: Matt Sanders

Outdoors

Photo: Jason Aldridge

Matt Sanders, maintenance foreman in Lander, and his two sons harvested these three deer this past hunting season. From left, his son, Mark, then son, Zach, and finally Sanders.

Calvin Williams, retired from Jackson Engineering, had an encounter with a rhinoceros when visiting the Grand Canyon.

20 Interchange

January 2022

Photo: Calvin Williams

Jason Aldridge with Project Development ran his first marathon mid-October 2021. He participated in the Blue Sky Trail Marathon at Horsetooth Mountain in Fort Collins, Colorado. It was 26.7 miles (technically an ultra-marathon) of mostly single-track trails, with 3,500 feet of vertical gain. Aldridge confessed that he started running during the 2020 COVID lock down and set the goal of finishing a marathon upon turning 50 this year. Mission accomplished!

Calvin Williams got to drive a Ferrari 488 Pista when in Las Vegas. “It’s fun to be alive, cleared by doctors and well enough to hit triple-digit speeds,” Williams said.

Holidays at WYDOT Spreading holiday cheer By Jordan Achs The halls, cubicles, doorways, and buildings were brimming with holiday spirit this month as staff at WYDOT’s Headquarters in Cheyenne participated in the annual WTDEA Christmas Holiday Decorating Contest. The contest saw 18 entrants spanning three categories: Best Decorated Program, Best Decorated Door and Best Decorated Cube. The winners are as follows, “and I quote...” Best Decorated Program

WHP Commercial Carrier – Gingerbreadland

Financial Services – Christmas Cinema

Motor Vehicle Services – Whoville

1) Financial Services – Christmas Cinema 2) Motor Vehicle Services – Whoville 3) WHP Commercial Carrier – Gingerbreadland

Janelle Ladbury, Bridge – Santa

Stacey Gierisch, Highway Safety – Island Paradise

Stephanie Lowe/Casey Johnson, Environmental Services – Elf

Best Decorated Cube 1) Stacey Gierisch, Highway Safety – Island Paradise

“The WTDEA Christmas Decorating Contest Committee would like to personally thank each and every participant in this year’s 2021 decorating contest,” said Jason Bogstie, WTDEA headquarters representative. “There are so many creative people within WYDOT, and it really shows during this time.”

2) Stephanie Lowe/Casey Johnson, Environmental Services – Elf 3) Janelle Ladbury, Bridge – Santa Best Decorated Door

Jennifer Carter

Emergency Communications – Gnomeville

1) Emergency Communications – Gnomeville 2) Compliance & Investigation – Gone to the Beach Additionally, Candice Hearn out of Wamsutter received an honorable mention. n

Compliance and Investigation – Gone to the Beach Candice Hearn, Wamsutter

Chris Lummis, Traffic Program front desk

Jessica Woske, Traffic-Analysis

The Right of Way Program crew

January 2022

Interchange 21

22 Interchange

January 2022

Break Time See if you can find the following 25 words hidden in the grid to the right: 1. Blizzard

14. Jacket

2. Chilly

15. January

3. Chimney

16. Mittens

4. Earmuffs

17. Snowflake

5. February

18. Snowman

6. Firewood

19. Snow shovel

7. Flannel

20. Squall

8. Flurries

21. Thermometer

9. Hockey

22. Toboggan

10. Hypothermia

23. Windy

11. Ice Fishing

24. Whiteout

12. Ice skates

25. Wool sweater

13. Icy Answer to the December 2021 Break Time word search:

P Y O K H D J F O I W I B H H J C O R D E N G S H G U P H M S B W D J G F

H G U Y R G K I L B O R N R L S H U R B V F R J V L N P N J S J P K A R H

B V F B N B E A Q U B D L K E B I C Y C J T I S Y E T R G Q Y I E G N U Y

E L L E N I H F M C R K W F C I L D A J W M F Q P A R R J R C D H W L M P

F O I U B V W T E O I R W A H T L L G A F K F U F V U M W E P O O B E C O

V Z V Z B B M B Y P G E I E J D Y C B V X O I A V Q I Q F S J B T O V T T

I Y A L Z Z X W E F J G K E E Z T Q Y Y P P N L T K E I O C F R M L K B H

N K F L Q A O I R N M R Q R S U W H R N W H I L L E S K B X Z I X S V O E

O I B E H G R N S K Z C U E H R K N C K S X Z M Y H H N Y D O E Y W Q K R

A P S V B U K D O I C E S K A T E S E Z E O E H I H R M C O D N Q E L A M

H O L R C I H Y F B P T D P X B M D N D A B K N W T J C J F I L Z A H S I

Z D T N L R V N K M E Y E R S E G S K M C B G R V D T A G S Q R G T J F A

C O L B E R T A O C O A V T E E N H V K R D O K O B A E N Z G F A E Z G U

J U F V M I R Y U W D C A R S O N C E D E X M W Z E U O N U C H R R D Y H

T E G E H N X E H O F Y S J W U Q O L E S H J U E M W I C S A D N Z K R O

E K A G K T Q P P D S L D M I J T R E F T D H A M S R O L D B R A H Y M E

R V D R D I O D R Q I T A J D U C P T I G U P G H K J E E O V W Y J L W Y

X C H I M N E Y F B N N B K B L J Z T R C C E O M A H E R P X B F V I O V

C X N L T U W G N J P S C X E A F W E E N X V B U R A P H T P F J V R R Q

A H M F C W F S U P A G D I F Z A B R W K E A Y B L A W O L I V E R Z C S

V F E T B G L F E M Z C K G L O L X M O L P D E H H K B E R B L U N P E U

E R L P X V B U S Y W Q K N N K L N A O E C H K I J O V W H I T E O U T R

T D H A L L J M E R V W R E H Y O H N D N G R E J G U C I A W D M P D R M

T A S X N R A K H O Z J X S T G N U K Q O F B O G M G M K V A T G R L B D

K M B W O N L T F E B R U A R Y P B G A M P A A L L R I F E Y C U A F X K

S T W K K H E R M O M E T E R X W R Z O I R N A O C C P Y R Y M K H N O I

W F Q E E O G L C L B Q S L A H U F N T E D K I F C J D Z L E E G O L K L

Interchange subscription issue? Update your address:

1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or 2) Send an email to Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov. Add me to the mailing list

Retiree Employee

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Name Current address City, State, Zip Previous address City, State, Zip

January 2022

Interchange 23

Interchange Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24

Address Service Requested

TEACH PEOPLE TO BE

A R T I C U L AT E ,

B E C A U S E T H AT ’ S THE MOST DANGEROUS

T H I N G YO U C A N

P O S S I B LY B E .

T O A S T M A S T E R S C A N H E L P YO U B E “ T H E M O S T

D A N G E R O U S T H I N G .”

Yo u s p e a k t o t h e p u b l i c m o r e t h a n y o u t h i n k . Ta k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s 1 h o u r p e r w e e k m e e ti n g f o r p e r s o n a l g r o w t h .

Interchange – January 2022

Articles inside

Honoring the people of Wyoming

WYDOT receives national recognition