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Resident urges re-evaluation of Highway 133 design, citing heavy daily traffic
Summary
At public comment, former e-board member Patrick Hunter urged the Environmental Board to reopen discussion about converting Highway 133 to four lanes or adding roundabouts, citing state traffic counts and daily congestion he observed at the 502 diner.
Patrick Hunter, introduced to the board as a former e-board member, told the Environmental Board he has tracked Highway 133 planning and local traffic patterns and urged reconsideration of an earlier four‑lane design.
"It was there 2 hours, and I never saw the traffic stop," Hunter said after describing two hours of observation at the 502 diner. He told the board that an online state resource (OTIS) lists roughly 18,000 vehicles per day for the corridor in 2024 and reminded members that earlier plans had contemplated three roundabouts and a four‑lane cross‑section that was later narrowed to three lanes with a center turn lane. Hunter suggested re-opening the lane‑count conversation, arguing additional lanes or roundabouts could improve turning and crash outcomes.
Board members and meeting participants exchanged differing views: one member warned of induced demand if lanes are added, while others proposed alternatives such as an HOV lane, improved transit, or demand‑management measures. The chair noted that traffic and transportation are on the board’s agenda for follow‑up with staff, and Emily’s presentation later in the meeting emphasized transportation as the largest sector in Carbondale’s emissions inventory.
The public comment was recorded during the meeting’s public‑comment period; no formal motion or trustee action followed directly from Hunter’s remarks.
