In January 2016, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s “Colorado the Beautiful” plan identified 16 critical trail gaps, missing trail segments and undeveloped trails across the state to elevate those to priority status for public awareness, funding and completion.
The proposed Carbondale to Crested Butte trail is one of the 16 trails on the list.
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails announced three meetings to focus on planning a Carbondale to Crested Butte bicycle trail next week.
Meeting 1: Tuesday Sept. 5th 3:15 p.m. in the Pitkin County Library in Aspen:
How the Clear Creek Canyon Trail in Jefferson County, which serves as a case study on trail construction in an environment not unlike the Crystal River Valley.
Tom Hoby and Scot Grossman of Jefferson County will present information on the planning, design and construction of the Clear Creek Canyon Trail during a presentation to Pitkin County Commissioners and the Open Space and Trails Board on Sept. 5th at 3:15 p.m. in the commissioners’ Pitkin County Library meeting room. The session will be televised on GrassRoots TV and available for later viewing at www.pitkincounty.com.
Meeting 2: Wednesday, Sept. 6th 5:30-7:30 at the Redstone Inn
Meeting 3: Thursday, Sept. 7th 5:30-7:30 at the Carbondale Firehouse
Sept. 6th and 7th, are a pair of presentations that will provide the public with its first look at the analysis that has been done on potential alignment of a Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail.
Both sessions will include presentations by the consultants, followed by a short question-and-answer session. Each evening will conclude with an open house, during which attendees may ask questions of individual consultants and Open Space staff members, peruse displays and provide written comments.
The presentations will kick off a public comment period during which citizens are invited to fill out an online survey with their comments regarding potential trail alternatives. The compiled data and survey will be posted to www.pitkinostprojects.com following the two presentation evenings. The deadline for comments is Oct. 2.
How local mountain bikers can make a difference
An informed mountain bike community is a strong mountain bike community. While most RFMBA members consider new singletrack options always a good thing, not everyone agrees. These town halls and open houses are the best ways to become involved with the trail planning and building process and to get more dirt trails approved.
You can make a difference.Come to the meetings and give your input to the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails board and Pitkin County Commissioners. They want to know what you want in this amazing trail proposal. So come out to the meetings and let them know.
After the comment period closes, a draft trail plan will be produced. It will be presented Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. to the Open Space and Trails Board, Pitkin County Commissioners and the Carbondale Town Board. The meeting will take place at Carbondale Town Hall.
A second round of open houses, focused on the draft plan and its recommendations, will be held during the first week of November, followed by another round of public comment. The final plan is scheduled for presentation to the Open Space Board and County Commissioners on Dec. 12.
The drafting of the Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail Plan is a year-long effort that began in January with open houses to collect initial public feedback.
While work has continued on a plan for the trail within Pitkin County, trail route efforts have also been underway in Gunnison County. A single-track connection between Crested Butte and the top of McClure Pass is partially constructed and planning work is ongoing for the missing segments. In Pitkin County, the possibilities for a paved or crushed gravel trail have been explored between the terminus of the existing Crystal Trail and Redstone. A single-track connection from Redstone to the top of McClure Pass has been studied.
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