Kronberg: Think again on Referendum 2

There is one thing 100% of people agree on: The Colorado Highway 82 gridlock from the Pitkin County Aspen airport to Aspen is untenable and in need of solutions.

What can be done?

First, to the people who think the 30-year-old “straight shot” known as the Preferred Alternative (Referendum 2) is the solution or a part of the solution to the Entrance to Aspen corridor … let’s think again.

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1. Referendum 2 does nothing to create solutions to the daily gridlock of Maroon Creek and Castle Creek roads entering the roundabout; the untenable gridlock in front of the airport, Lumberyard/Burlingame housing, Owl Creek Road, Buttermilk, and the Truscott light.

2. Did you know that there will only be one bridge connecting to the roundabout as part of the “straight shot” Preferred Alternative Referendum 2?

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3. The second bridge, the existing Castle Creek Bridge, will be a dead end to the roundabout.

Why? The Cemetery Lane right-hand turn is gone. The stretch of Highway 82 currently going from Cemetery Lane to the roundabout used by thousands of vehicles daily will be replaced by a land bank.

Then the only way for those thousands of cars headed to the hospital, schools, airport, three ski areas, Snowmass Village, and downvalley will all have to drive back into Aspen through the existing S-curves to the new Hickory House stoplight at Seventh and Main.

4. Why a new stoplight at the Hickory House? The thousands of cars coming from Cemetery Lane through the S-curves would get stuck in more gridlock trying to make a right-hand turn to the roundabout or crossing Main Street to get into town.

5. Can you imagine during a wildfire, hazmat evacuation, or 4th of July celebration … thousands of cars from the Cemetery Lane neighborhoods, West End, and Starwood driving back into town to get out of town.

This forcing of cars to come back into town to get out of town defies common sense and would put thousands of people at risk of burning.

6. The 400-foot cut-and-covered tunnel will be the only way to get in and out of Aspen to the roundabout. (Remember, the existing Castle Creek Bridge will be a dead end to the roundabout due to Cemetery Lane’s right-hand turn being replaced by a land bank).

7. What happens when there is an accident in the tunnel, closing it for months for repairs or even for one day, and there is no more “straight shot” between Aspen and the roundabout?

Everyone trying to get through the roundabout will be forced to double-back, loop around 10 extra miles along Hwy. 82, Smith Hill Road, McLain Flats Road, Cemetery Lane, through the S-curves.

8. Castle Creek Bridge is owned by CDOT. The bridge is not falling down but is in need of repairs, which CDOT is actively monitoring. Referendum 2 does not address the bridge repairs when needed.

9. Funding. CDOT does not have funding in their 10-year vision plan for any funding for the “straight shot” the Preferred Alternative Referendum 2.

So, what are the solutions to the Hwy. 82 gridlock?

We need an asphalt ground solution, and, if we really want to save our snow, get rid of Hwy. 82 gridlock and get people out of their cars into mass transit (like me); we need an aerial gondola mass transit system connecting Aspen, the airport, Buttermilk, Snowmass, Highlands, and Brush Creek Park & Ride. (That is another guest column on the aerial gondola mass transit system)

We can’t do anything without CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) approvals. They own Highway 82.

Chuck Marsh, CDOT regional communications manager for Region 3, said, “We have advised the City of Aspen that if they provide sufficient reasoning to FHA and CDOT, then a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process could be approved.

“If there is valid reasoning to enter into a new EIS, the existing Record of Decision would be vacated, and a new one would be drafted based on the findings of that EIS.”

Now that is really good news. We can work together to find a sustainable solution.

Don’t worry: Your voice will be heard. Public comment, which there is plenty of, is required to develop the “sufficient reasoning” outlined in a “purpose and need” statement to show CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration why the Record of Decision should be reopened to look at sustainable solutions.

Mayor Torre, Council members John Doyle, Bill Guth, and Sam Rose have already started the process to submit the City of Aspen’s “intent to reopen” the ROD to CDOT and FHA for sustainable solutions with plans to submit in early June.

NOTE: Pitkin County Airport is required by the FAA to conduct an Environmental Impact Study for the new airport layout design. Aspen and Pitkin County can work simultaneously on their Environmental Impact Studies.

There is hope, and through reopening the ROD, we can achieve getting rid of the nightmare of Highway 82 gridlock from the Pitkin County Airport to Main Street Aspen.

Toni Kronberg is a longtime Roaring Fork Valley resident.