Pitkin County delays vote on resolution urging reevaluation of 'Entrance to Aspen' record of decision

Pitkin County commissioners on Wednesday, May 14, continued consideration of an informal resolution asking the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to reevaluate the Entrance to Aspen record of decision rather than immediately opening a new environmental impact statement. The board set a date-certain of May 28 to revisit the resolution.

The resolution, drafted after an April work session, would ask CDOT and FHWA to undertake a reevaluation that could be the first administrative step toward implementing the project known as the preferred alternative — a modified alignment that includes two general-purpose lanes, two dedicated bus lanes, a cut-and-cover tunnel and restoration of green space across Murrell Open Space. "The authority over the record decision in the entrance to Aspen rests with CDOT and FHWA," said Brian Pettit, Pitkin County public works director, during the presentation to the board.

The board and staff framed three formal options: do nothing; request a reevaluation of the existing record of decision and move to implement the current preferred alternative; or seek a brand-new environmental impact statement (EIS). Andrew Knapp, Pitkin County engineer, reviewed the project’s original purpose-and-need language…