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Residents ask Littleton board to oppose 16-foot concrete trail, restore senior transit and fix crosswalks
Summary
Public commenters urged the board to reject proposed 16-foot concrete paving on the Spur Trail, asked for more scheduled senior transit rather than ondemand paratransit, and requested safety upgrades at a Datura crosswalk near Bradley House.
During public comment, residents raised three recurring concerns: opposition to a proposed 16-foot-wide concrete trail through Jackass Gulch (Spur Trail), reduced senior transit service since COVID, and unsafe crossing conditions at Datura near Bradley House.
Mark Flank, who said he has walked local trails for 35 years, urged the board to advise City Council against a proposed 16-foot concrete trail through Jackass Gulch. He said he conducted a walkability analysis and told the board that trail users “no one thinks that a 16 foot wide concrete trail in open space is a good idea and that it will be a waste of public funds.” Flank described conversations with trail users who preferred softer surfaces or a dual-surface trail (a paved surface plus a softer parallel path).
Connie Cantrell, a long-time Littleton resident, said current ondemand omnibus services do not meet many seniors’ needs. She explained that the city’s on-demand service requires advance reservations and waits of multiple days for some trips and that many seniors prefer a scheduled fixed-route bus that comes on predictable days. Cantrell said, "Having a bus that comes to certain places at certain times is much better for many seniors than having to do a reservation." She said she is working with South Metro Housing stakeholders to identify busing needs.
Robert Wazinski, who represents residents near Bradley House, asked the board to investigate the Datura crosswalk near Bradley House and Lisonbee Court. Wazinski said signs had been obscured by trees and that parking near the sidewalk forces pedestrians into the road; he related a personal crash experience and urged enforcement or design changes to improve sight lines and crossing safety.
Other commenters echoed broader safety and multimodal concerns. Robin Bernstein recommended prioritizing walking and biking connections over investments in parking garages, and Kim Sheppard urged an inclusive approach to mobility that accounts for riders of all ages and abilities.
Board and staff responses in the meeting included notes that the board or staff will reach out to South Suburban Parks and Recreation for input on trail design and that staff told a commenter the city would "keep the dual surface in mind for future projects." No formal board action was taken on these public comments during the meeting.
Ending: Staff and board members noted follow-up options (contacting regional park agencies and monitoring open projects); the board directed staff to continue incorporating public feedback into TMP work and future project scoping.
