Aspen Police Department continues West End traffic enforcement pilot program

Following the successful launch of a focused traffic enforcement initiative in 2025, the Aspen Police Department has announced that it will continue its traffic enforcement pilot program throughout the summer season with the aim of improving safety in Aspen’s West End neighborhood and addressing community concerns.

The pilot program was first implemented from Aug. 25 through Oct. 30, 2025, in response to resident concerns about speeding, increasing traffic volumes and traffic control violations, according to a press release. These concerns focused in on the West End, what the release calls “a high-traffic corridor during peak evening hours.” During the 2025 program, Aspen police increased patrols and assigned a traffic officer to focus solely on education and traffic enforcement during their shift.

“The results of this pilot program demonstrate that focused traffic enforcement can make a meaningful difference in improving safety and addressing community concerns,” Aspen Police Chief Kim Ferber said in the release. “Our goal is not simply to issue citations, but to encourage safer driving behaviors, increase awareness of traffic laws, and help create safer streets for everyone — whether they are walking, biking, driving, or rolling through our community.”

Over the course of the pilot program, the release confirms that officers conducted 357 traffic stops, including 251 stops in the West End neighborhood. The enforcement effort resulted in 168 citations.

The most common violations cited during the program, according to the release, were speeding and stop sign violations.

“Officers focused on enforcement efforts by targeting areas and times identified through resident feedback and traffic observations,” the release continues.

The traffic enforcement pilot aligns with the city’s broader Street Smart program, a collaborative initiative launched in 2025 involving the parks, police, engineering and communications departments.

“The program significantly expanded public outreach, education, enforcement, and interdepartmental coordination efforts to promote safer multimodal travel throughout Aspen,” the release reads. “By continuing the pilot program this summer, APD aims to maintain positive momentum in reducing traffic violations while supporting the city’s ongoing commitment to transportation safety and neighborhood livability.”

Residents are asked to drive attentively, obey posted traffic signs and speed limits and remain mindful of pedestrians and cyclists sharing Aspen’s roadways.