Rubey: Vote ‘yes’ on Referendum 2

Like all Aspen residents and visitors, I cherish our open space and parks. They represent the best of our town. I frequently Nordic ski, run and walk our dog in Marolt Open Space. I am grateful for the existing 50%+1 majority vote that protects and holds these lands in the public interest. This legislation has effectively held off threats to our open space since the 1970s when voters like you and me approved the half-penny tax to fund the program.

I am voting “yes” on Ref. 2 and “no” on Ref. 1 because I want a solution to our antiquated Entrance to Aspen that relieves traffic, is transit-oriented, provides for our open space and wildlife, and protects our community with emergency access and egress. 

So far, the Preferred Alternative, which was approved in 1998 and Ref. 2 reaffirms, is the best-rated travel and transit solution of all the options, offering the biggest benefit to travel times, congestion, and transit (Jacobs Engineering, 2024). It offers protected bus lanes all the way into town.

Ref. 2 also provides a land bridge that will create safe passage for wildlife and recreationists to connect the Marolt property with the golf course. It will honor historic uses of the Marolt open space, such as the Aspen Community Garden and the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum. And the two-bridge solution will allow for expedited wildfire evacuation and EMS access, while providing little to no impact on the traveling public during construction due to the Castle Creek Bridge being operational.

We will maintain open space in our front yard, in which we can ski, bike, and walk our dogs, while getting the best solution for our town’s entrance.

Please join me in voting “yes” on 2, “no” on 1 this March.

Meaghan Rubey

Aspen