Sublette County Doesn't Have A Stoplight — And They Like It That Way

Sublette County is larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined, is the sixth biggest county in Wyoming, and has more than 1,500 miles of county, state and federal roads.

It also doesn't have a stoplight.

Pinedale, the county seat with a population of about 2,050, is historically recognized as one of the most isolated towns in the nation. In 1912, it was pinpointed as being the farthest incorporated town from a railroad.

That it remains among a shrinking number of counties in the United States without a stoplight has long been a source of pride for many locals, though some say there are spots overdue for a stoplight.

The sentiment around whether stoplights are warranted in Pinedale, the county’s largest town, is mixed and has been for decades.

Whether traffic on the town’s main drag of Pine Street (which is also U.S. Highway 191) is problematic depends on who you talk to. Asking whether a stoplight is needed is an emotionally charged question for residents.

“From what I’ve heard, there’s definitely a split perspective,” said Abram Pearce, Pinedale native and head of the town’s Public Works Department.

It’s a debate that goes deeper than numbers and traffic studies, where stoplight holdouts view them as giving up part of the county’s rural lifestyle and charm.

Main Street Safety Improvement Project

In its most recent comprehensive transportation master plan completed in 2024, the town and local engineering firm Jorgensen Associates evaluated traffic patterns and volume on the main artery through town, Pine Street.

Pine Street is part of U.S. 191, connecting Interstate 80 to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

The U.S. 191/Pine Street Complete Street Safety Improvement Project was expected to cost upward of $4 million, which will be paid for with a combination of state and federal money, including grants.

As part of the project, the town also collected public feedback about in-town traffic, identifying problems and possible solutions.

“Interest in traffic signals on Pine Street to slow people down and provide gaps in traffic” was listed as one of seven top concerns from the feedback.

In a community survey, 40% of respondents reported that traffic congestion was “somewhat of an issue during rush hour” and 24% said it’s a “major issue all the time.”

“During that study we looked at, are signals warranted or not?” Pearce said.

Tracking Main Street Traffic

Traffic on Pine Street has long been a conundrum.

Pinedale’s traffic balloons in the summer months as travelers make their way to and from the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.

In the early 2000s, the town’s population swelled from around 1,200 to about of 2,000, with the exploration and extraction of natural gas in two gas fields south of town.

During the peak of its natural gas boom between 2005 and 2010, the town experienced significant traffic increases that prompted discussions about a stoplight.

But the town held out on installing one at that time.

Meanshile, a $17 million community aquatics and recreation center replaced the former town swimming pool. Three new banks opened up shop in one year, and a 100-room hotel locals dubbed the “Halliburton Hilton” sprang up on the west end of town to house oil field workers. 

According to Jorgensen Associates, traffic in Pinedale has averaged a 3.75% annual increase since 2000. The town’s population, however, has shrunk since the oil field boom.

Traffic growth has also fluctuated over time, the firm reports.

“Pinedale’s traffic is challenging right now because through traffic is very, very high,” Pearce said.

The Comments

Public comments on the study show just how divided residents are on the stoplight issue.

“It’s probably 50/50,” Pearce said. “Some are like, ‘Don’t you dare put a stoplight here,’ and others are like, ‘We really need a stoplight.’”

Chief among the traffic concerns is the ability for a vehicle to turn left onto Pine Street during the busier summer months.

Pedestrian crossing on Main Street is another high concern.

In 2011, the town installed red crosswalk indicators at two intersections along main street. Called HAWK lights (high-intensity activated crosswalk), the lights stop traffic for 25 seconds when a pedestrian pushes the “walk” button.

Names were not included with the comments in the public report, but the sentiment is there.

One comment reads, in part: “Do not add any traffic signals anywhere in the town of Pinedale of Sublette County. It is a privilege, honor and something I want to keep forever the fact that there isn't one stop light in the entire county. I don't even think the pedestrian crossing lights are necessary.”

The person also summed up the emotional connection people in Sublette County have with being rural and independent.

“Adding stop lights means that Pinedale is becoming Californicated, growing too much, and we have lost a gem of a Western town, a tradition that is fast becoming extinct in America,” it says. “They are not necessary and would ruin the charm and appeal of Pinedale.”

Another comment suggests multiple stop lights on Pine Street would help the flow of traffic and particularly aid vehicles in making left turns.

“It is hard to get onto Pine Street from most side streets, especially if you must cross the lanes,” it says.

“We need actual stop lights along Pine Street,” adds another resident. “I really don't know what the answer is to help with transportation, when the drivers won't follow the current laws, except that with traffic lights, they would have to slow down or stop for other traffic and pedestrians.”

No Stoplights … Yet

No stoplights are planned within the scope of this latest transportation project, Pearce said.

While he said he understands the divisiveness over the stoplight issue and residents’ concerns — both for and against — he said he remains focused on following the numbers.

“My job is to follow design standards and do what’s best analytically for town of Pinedale,” Pearce said.

No traffic signals are warranted now, Pearce said.

According to Jorgensen’s report, various intersections along Pine Street were reviewed during peak hour conditions to see if a stoplight was warranted.

Of the intersections analyzed, the firm determined a signal was not justified — for now.

“Come future development and regional growth, some intersections may warrant signals,” the report says.

Pearce agreed: “Is there a time when I think that will be necessary? Absolutely.”

And Crook County, Too

Crook County in northeast Wyoming also doesn't have a stoplight. The closest thing it has is a traffic warning light in Devils Tower National Monumnet.

Kate Meadows can be reached at kate@cowboystatedaily.com.