HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.032-99 RESOLUTION # 32
(Series of 1999)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, REGARDING
CONGESTION IN ASPEN AND THE DESIRE TO LESSEN THE PROBLEM
BY HOLDING BUS, AUTO AND TRUCK TRAFFIC AT NO MORE THAN
TODAY'S LEVEL IN ORDER TO ENHANCE MAIN STREET AS A
BEAUTIFUL AND PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY ENTRANCE TO ASPEN.
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen, Pitkin County and the Town of Snowmass
Village passed a joint resolution affirming the policy of holding traffic on
Highway 82 entering Aspen to levels experienced in 1994; and
WHEREAS, the above entities have agreed to plhns and policies which will
ensure that traffic entering Aspen will not increase beyond levels experienced in
1994, including implementing paid parking and contributing to an excellent
transit system serving the Roaring Fork Valley; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Transportation has completed an
extensive Environmental Impact Report on the Entrance to Aspen and has
concluded that the only feasible alternatives which meet federal environmental
standards and qualify for state and federal funding are those which will not
increase traffic entering Aspen; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Aspen is concerned about the
increasing number of trucks and buses in Aspen which increase noise and visual
pollution and degrade the air quality on Main Street and in town; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Aspen is concerned about "bus
congestion" in and around the Rubey Park Transit Station and the increasing
frequency of "block-length" bus line-ups along Main Street and Durant Street;
and
WHEREAS, the Aspen Area Community Plan of 1993 calls for a "less
congested downtown core" and notes that "the growth of the commuter culture...
has degraded both the air quality and the quality of life for both residents and
visitors... ;" and
WHEREAS, the Aspen Downtown Enhancement and Pedestrian Plan of
1998 calls for a more pedestrian friendly downtown, strives to minimize the sense
that automobiles, trucks and buses dominate the downtown area, and seeks to
"maintain a balanced mix of successful commerce, lively public spaces and civic
character which is uniquely Aspen"; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wants to achieve that mix of commerce,
lively places and civic character along Main Street and within town and believes
that increased traffic of buses, trucks and cars will lessen our ability to make
Main Street a special place; and
WHEREAS, the over 800 buses entering and leaving Aspen on a daily
basis are projected to increase to over 1500 buses per day by the year 2015--a
level which would be intolerable given today's congestion;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO:
That any transportation alternative for the entrance to Aspen, Main Street
and within the town must achieve a balance by both holding traffic at 1994 levels
and providing a quiet, efficient, non-polluting form of mass transit. This balance
may be achieved by rail, clean and quiet articulated buses or transfers outside the
City limits.
Dated: ~ ,~--7--
/ ~ j~~ohn S.~e~
I, Kathryn S. Koch. duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that
the foregping is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopt.ed by the City
C~uncil ofthe city of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held c/'~ffJdt~'~-
__, 1999.
~ Kathrff-n/S. Ko'ch, 'City Clerk~-~