Cheyenne hosts U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Published on June 18, 2024

Cheyenne and Wyoming were the focus of a visit by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Monday afternoon, June 17, giving local and state officials a chance to discuss transportation projects, issues, and opportunities across the state.

Mayor Patrick Collins, Gov. Mark Gordon, and WYDOT Director Darin Westby joined Buttigieg for a transportation-focused press conference at the new U.S. 30 Greenway underpass, which is a component of the larger WYDOT-led U.S. 30 widening project in eastern Cheyenne.

Many transportation projects in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the rest of the United States use federal transportation dollars to help cover the cost of design and construction, and officials cited positive working relationships at the local, state, and federal levels as contributing to the success of such projects.

“The roadways connecting these new neighborhoods to the central business district are not adequate for the new traffic volumes and frankly don’t meet our critical safety needs,” Collins said, referencing growth in the Cheyenne area. “We have a great partnership with WYDOT & Laramie County to upgrade these vital connections, but without the millions of dollars in federal funds these projects would not be happening today, and I frankly believe it would be years before we would have the ability to tackle projects of this size.”

“This site is a perfect example of the force multiplier your partnership has in our funding and creating a robust transportation system,” Collins said, referencing the U.S. 30 project and the contribution of USDOT funds.

Buttigieg emphasized the importance of supporting local communities and said his trip to Cheyenne contributed to a better understanding the specific needs of communities and how different parts of the U.S. have different transportation solutions. He also cited Cheyenne’s recent passage of a Vision Zero policy goal and the importance of increasing highway safety.

Collins also included in his remarks the various transportation opportunities for Cheyenne in the future, including growth at Cheyenne Regional Airport, road improvements for residents and businesses, and passenger rail connecting Cheyenne to other Front Range communities.