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Council members urge exploration of alternatives, stress limits on open-space impacts
Summary
Several council members urged more study of alternatives to the previously proposed preferred alternative, pressing to protect Merle Thomas open space, avoid new traffic lights at 7th & Main and prioritize mass transit and wildfire evacuation in the Entrance to Aspen planning.
Multiple council members used the Dec. 16 workshop to press for alternatives and clarifications about the previously proposed preferred alternative (PA). Concerns focused on preserving open space (Merle Thomas and the golf course), preventing neighborhood traffic creep through the West End and getting single-occupant vehicles off the road through stronger transit or HOV options.
One council member summarized priorities that many on the dais echoed: "Better traffic flow. A traffic flow with no use or limited use of open space, including Merle Thomas and the golf course," and a need to "vet wildfire evacuation" and plan for bridge maintenance if a second bridge is considered. Councillors also questioned features of the PA such as a proposed signal at 7th & Main and the cut-and-cover tunnel envelope, and asked staff for clearer renderings of any modified split-shot alternatives so voters and residents can better evaluate tradeoffs.
Council members said they support keeping the light-rail envelope for future flexibility but want alternatives studied that reduce impacts to open space and neighborhoods. Staff and Jacobs said the modified split-shot and other variants could be further developed as "reasonable alternatives" during a new EIS if FHWA and CDOT agree a new process is warranted.
