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Council weighs trade‑offs on Old Ranch Road trail, narrowed lanes and whether to bury power lines
Summary
Council and staff debated lane widths, roundabout needs, a dog‑leg trail alignment to reduce private impacts, and whether Rocky Mountain Power poles should be relocated underground to accommodate the new trail and shoulders; staff will analyze pole easements, relocation costs, and options and return with a detailed plan.
Summit County staff presented preliminary options on April 12 for Old Ranch Road: narrower travel lanes for traffic calming (proposed 10‑ft lanes), paved 5‑ft bike lanes, a separated south‑side trail, and two potential roundabouts. The design aims to balance safety, resident impacts, right‑of‑way acquisition and construction cost.
Council members questioned several elements: whether a mid‑block east roundabout was necessary given low traffic volumes at the intersecting legs; whether 10‑ft lanes are appropriate where approaches are wider; and whether to relocate existing overhead utility lines underground to avoid significant private property takings. County staff said Rocky Mountain Power’s easement and franchise terms will determine whether the utility must bear relocation costs; the county’s franchise agreement language (cited by staff) reserves the county’s…
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