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Aspen council narrows 'Entrance to Aspen' resolution, orders voter poll and retains NEPA work
Summary
The Aspen City Council amended Resolution 113 to remove immediate schematic-design spending for a two- or three-lane Castle Creek Bridge and directed staff to begin NEPA/SEIS work and issue an RFP for polling of Aspen registered voters; the motion passed 3–2.
The Aspen City Council on Sept. 10 voted to amend Resolution 113, directing staff to move forward with a NEPA/SEIS process for the Entrance to Aspen corridor and to issue an RFP for outside expertise to conduct a poll of registered Aspen voters before the deadline to submit questions for the March 2025 ballot. Council removed a separate directive that would have funded schematic design work for two- and three-lane bridge alternatives.
Senior project manager Jen Newton told the council that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will inspect the Castle Creek Bridge on Sept. 25 and that two recent inspections (one by CDOT, one by the city) “show that there’s not any impending failures,” though she warned repairs will likely become more frequent as the bridge nears the end of its useful life. Pete Rice, the city’s director of transportation and parking, and other staff recommended beginning the NEPA process first so a federal/state environmental review can inform design choices.
Council debate focused on whether to run NEPA and targeted design work concurrently. Council member Bill (addressed in the meeting as Bill) urged action on near-term work for the existing bridge while others argued for letting NEPA narrow alternatives before spending on schematic designs. The council ultimately amended the resolution to delete the item authorizing additional schematic-design spending and to direct staff to issue an RFP for a voter poll; the motion passed on a roll-call vote (Councilor Doyle — Yes; Councilor Guth — No; Councilor Hauston — Yes; Councilor Rose — No; Mayor Tory — Yes).
Newton and Rice told the council they expect the CDOT inspection report to be completed by late November or December, though staff said CDOT may expedite given the bridge’s stature. The amended direction keeps both the environmental review path and a polling effort active while delaying discretionary design spending until more information is available.
The amended resolution retained staff direction to start the formal NEPA-related process, pursue outside legal counsel with NEPA expertise as needed, and solicit a polling contractor through an RFP; council members said the poll would help gauge community sentiment before any final ballot language is drafted.
