Pitkin County

USFS Could Approve Redstone Trail

The U.S. Forest Service released a draft decision last month for approval of a pedestrian and biking trail from Redstone to the summit of McClure Pass, the Aspen Daily News reported.

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott

Fitzwilliams wrote in a decision notice that he is prepared to approve the proposal by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails for a 7-mile trail.

As proposed, the trail would run about 2 miles along the west side of Highway 133 from Redstone to Hayes Creek Falls, a popular tourist destination just off the highway. The trail would then follow a historic wagon road for about 1.5 miles through the Bear Creek area before rejoining the road corridor at Placita area for six-tenths of a mile. The new trail would follow the Old McClure Pass Roadbed for 2.2 miles before crossing under the highway at a new underpass and continuing 0.7 miles to the summit. A key condition imposed by the Forest Service is a seasonal closure on nearly 5 miles of the trail south of Hayes Creek Falls and below the underpass near the summit. That section would be closed to all uses from Dec. 1 through April 30 “to protect elk for winter range use.”

Report Details Explosive ShortTerm Rental Rise

The number of traditional tourist accommodations in Aspen and Snowmass Village increased modestly between 2015 and 2022 while the number of rental-by-owner units exploded, according to an updated tourist accommodations inventory released and reported by the Aspen Daily News. There were 3,898 units in lodges, hotels, condominium properties, private-home and bed-and-breakfast accommodations in Aspen and Snowmass in 2015, compared to 3,948 units as of July 31, 2022. That is an increase of 50 units, or 1.2% over the seven years.

Meanwhile, properties advertised through Airbnb and Vrbo soared from 575 in Aspen and Snowmass in 2015 to 3,731 as of mid2022. That is growth of 3,156 units — or 550%. The study found that 69% of the properties advertised for rent through Airbnb and Vrbo are traditional commercial units that also use the popular platforms to spur business.

2022 Almost Record Year for Commercial Flights

2022 was almost a record year for the AspenPitkin County Airport as total passenger numbers trailed those achieved in prepandemic year 2019 by 2.3%, the Aspen Daily News reported.

Last year solidly took the runner-up position in the history of the Aspen airport, surpassing 2021’s numbers by nearly 22%. In all, 611,848 passengers arrived and departed on commercial flights at ASE in 2022. That compares with 626,124 in 2019.

$7.5 Million Grant Awarded for Brush Creek Park & Ride

The number of paved parking spots at the Brush Creek park-and-ride lot will double to approximately 400 this summer with the projected completion of a $7.5 million project being supported by federal and local money, the Aspen Times reported. Preliminary site work starts in April, after a yearlong delay to break ground. Two rounds of bidding produced three above-budget proposals for the project.

To lower the cost, the Elected Officials Transportation Committee, opted to eliminate the bathroom facility and trafficflow improvements from the project plan. The city of Aspen and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority lease the 27.2acre site from the Colorado Department of Transportation. It provides free parking to visitors and commuters, and free RFTA bus rides to Snowmass Village and Aspen. The project is receiving $3,766,672 from the Federal Lands Access Program, or FLAP, and a matching amount approved in the EOTC’s 2023 budget.