Aspen Airport Business Center Traffic Solutions Discussed

The Pitkin County Commissioners are gathered in a work session, surrounded by maps and diagrams of the Aspen Airport Business Center. Andrew Knapp, the county engineer, stands before them, discussing the findings of a public outreach campaign. "We heard a lot about speeding in the AABC," he says, "high speeds, especially larger vehicles traveling at high speeds... failure to yield behavior. And we heard over and over and over again, there were parking challenges within the AABC, and there was a strong feeling that there was not enough parking."

The commissioners are here to discuss potential solutions to the traffic and parking issues plaguing the area. County staff has come up with two options: one would make certain roads one-way, converting them into on-street parking and traffic calming measures, while the other would keep the roads two-way, adding limited parking and similar traffic calming measures. The one-way option would increase available parking from 120 spots to 179, while the two-way option would add only four new parking spaces.

As the discussion unfolds, it becomes clear that the preferences of residents and businesses in the area are at odds. Residents are less enthusiastic about additional parking, while businesses are pushing for more. "The residents were less enthusiastic about additional parking, not necessarily because they didn't want it, but because they were concerned about the impact it would have on the area," says Chloe Ward, an engineer with Alta Planning + Design, which was contracted by the county to analyze and develop plans for the project.

The cost of the two options is similar, with the one-way construction coming in at $3.8 million and the two-way construction estimated at $3.2 million. But the commissioners are also considering the potential impact of the Lumberyard affordable housing project, which is expected to increase traffic and parking congestion in the area.

This is not the only development project in the works for the area around the airport. The Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission recently reviewed the airport modernization project and found significant portions of it to be non-conforming with local Master Plans. The commission took issue with the proposed expansion of the runway from 100 feet to 150 feet, as well as the planned parking expansion for the new terminal.

"I don't feel that we have enough information based upon the schematic design and renderings that we saw to make that determination as to whether or not that portion of the terminal design is in compliance with the Master Plan," said Planning and Zoning Commissioner Joe Krabacher. The commissioners are concerned that the project may promote additional growth and exceed the vision outlined in the Master Plans.

As the commissioners deliberate, the sound of cars driving by on Highway 82 provides a constant reminder of the traffic and parking challenges facing the area. The smell of freshly poured asphalt wafts through the air, a sign of the ongoing development and construction in the area. The commissioners must balance the needs of residents, businesses, and the environment, considering the local Master Plans and development projects that will shape the future of this area.

The sun is setting over the Aspen Airport Business Center, casting a golden glow over the buildings and roads. The sound of cars grows fainter, replaced by the hum of generators and the occasional bark of a dog. The commissioners' work session has come to a close, but the discussion is far from over. The future of the area, and the traffic and parking challenges that come with it, remains a topic of debate and concern for the community.