Siegel: Look forward remain tied to the past?

Aspen City Council has been provided voluminous materials to assist in deciding whether to pursue a new environmental impact statement or advance the preferred alternative. The critical point for each option can be summarized:

1. A new EIS that considers all existing conditions (i.e., roundabout, Buttermilk) and future changes (i.e. airport and Lumberyard) in the Colorado Highway 82 corridor and arrives at a comprehensive solution.

2. Re-evaluation of the 28 year old PA in the hope that such a project can advance more quickly than any other alternative.

Both are decades away from completion. The first choice may take longer but it is inclusive by factoring existing conditions and future changes. The second choice advances a known solution that is badly flawed in terms of actually offering any substantive improvements.

Does the City Council wish to look forward or remain tied to the past?

Neil B. Siegel

Aspen