Littleton council approves Phase 1 of Mineral Mobility project amid debate over 16-foot concrete trail in Jackass Gulch

The Littleton City Council voted 5–1 on May 20 to award a construction contract for Mineral Mobility East Phase 1, a multimillion‑dollar multimodal project designed to improve pedestrian and bicycle access between the High Line Canal and the Littleton Mineral RTD station.

The vote advances Phase 1 contract work that staff said must be completed this year to meet grant deadlines. "The Mineral Trail will provide year‑round, high‑comfort bicycle and pedestrian facilities for all ages and abilities," Brent Soderlund, director of public works and utilities, told council during the project presentation.

Why it matters: the project bundles safety upgrades — a mill and overlay of Jackass Hill Road, buffered bike lanes, traffic calming at two intersections, and improved High Line Canal crossings — with plans to pave a 16‑foot‑wide path through Jackass Gulch. Staff and some residents said paved surfaces are necessary to meet ADA requirements year‑round and to satisfy maintenance and grant conditions; opponents warned that a wide concrete…