Community Coalition for a 21st Century Airport: Embrace this opportunity

The unambiguous results of Pitkin County ballot questions 1C and 200 reflect the community’s resounding support for airport improvements and collective faith in our elected officials to make technical decisions on their behalf. We now have a clear path and an incredible opportunity to modernize our airport to uphold our shared values, community goals, and vision for a 21st-century facility. We can view this opportunity as a chance to embrace change together and set an example for creating the greenest airport in the world.

Please join us on this mission

Now, it’s time to turn our aspirations into actions. Over the next decade, Pitkin County will focus on securing federal grants, rebuilding the airport runway to meet FAA standards, constructing a state-of-the-art, net-zero terminal, and designing an integrated, multi-modal transit center. All of these will honor years of community effort and careful planning — resulting in something we are all proud of that will serve the community for generations.

What’s next?

In the near term, the county is advancing mission-critical decisions to keep the modernization on track. In the long term, the Community Coalition will seek ways to meet community goals and implement the Common Ground recommendations. We see this as looking to leaders representing the Airport Advisory Board and identifying ways to support these goals in future planning.

In the coming month, Pitkin County commissioners will approve the Airport Layout Plan (a technical document outlining the proposed improvements) and initiate a procurement process to kickstart the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport redevelopment. As part of FAA requirements, they will conduct a six-plus month supplemental environmental assessment of the ALP. A formal proposal process will also begin to select a design team for the terminal. These critical steps will unfold over the next two years, with the Community Coalition for a 21st Century committed to supporting and promoting community goals throughout each planning and development phase.

We sincerely appreciate everyone who has taken the time to learn about the airport, understand what is at stake, and recognize the critical work ahead. Your participation and dedication are invaluable. We look forward to moving forward, not backward, in our collective efforts for a modern, sustainable, and community-focused airport.

With gratitude and commitment,

Community Coalition for a 21st Century Airport:

John Bennett, Dan Blankenship, Ben Bohmfalk, Ruth Brown, Markey Butler, Steve Child, Patti Clapper, Stan Clauson, Chris Davenport, Andrew Doremus, Alan Fletcher, Michael Goldberg, Greg Goldfarb, Ward Hauenstein, Meg Haynes, Francie Jacober, Bill Kane, Mike Kaplan, David Knight, Donnie Lee, Cristal Logan, Bill Madsen, Evan Marks, Kelly McNicholas Kury, Ann Mullins, George Newman, Wally Obermeyer, Greg Poschman, David Ressler, Auden Schendler, Michael Solondz, Bill Stirling, Barry Vaughan.