Aspen Community Vision

Printed From: http://www.aspencommunityvision.com/page_17

Transportation

The Aspen community has supported walking, bicycling and the use of public transit as modes of transportation that should be supported in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles coming into town. The 2000 AACP includes a goal of keeping the number of vehicles crossing the Castle Creek Bridge at 1993 levels as a way to drive alternatives modes of travel. There are more than a dozen transportation-related projects at different stages of planning and implementation in the Aspen area:

Traffic engineers are generally amazed to learn that Aspen has actually managed to keep traffic at or below 1993 levels over 15 years. In 2007, the Average Annual Daily Traffic at the Castle Creek Bridge was 5.7% below the 1993 target levels.
But the dynamics of Highway 82 are in flux - the volumes of traffic up and down the 82 corridor increased to almost the same amount as those at the Castle Creek Bridge for the first time. That means congestion is expanding up and down the valley and is lasting for longer periods during the day.
Adding a bus queue from the airport to Buttermilk, and adding two new lanes dedicated to transit between Buttermilk and the roundabout is predicted to shave 15-20 minutes off the bus ride. The new lanes open in November.
After an extensive public process in 2006-07, three options for completing the Entrance to Aspen project are still on the table. In addition to the 1998 Preferred Alternative, the City is evaluating the "Split-Shot" and a "Reversible Lane" concept. The studies are expected to be complete in November.
The Roaring Fork Transit Agency (RFTA) is pursuing a Regional Bus Rapid Transit system, which operates like a rail system while using buses. Finding ways to bypass congested intersections valley-wide and building more and bigger park n' rides are two key parts of BRT. A funding election is scheduled in November.

Linkage to Other Issues

There are precious few issues in the Aspen area that exist in a vacuum. Here are a few topics that are directly related to the question of transportation

The Economy. If the Entrance to Aspen is actually resolved and BRT is a success, and the regional transportation system functions well, will there be a change in the community's concern about job growth as a negative impact?

Environmental Quality. It is estimated that the RFTA system saved 8,023 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the environment in 2006.

Housing. Affordable housing at Burlingame and in the future at BMC West, as well as plans for the Inn at Aspen and at the AABC, may be driving the need to expand free City bus service to the airport.