HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS4A EOTC Letter for signature 05.19.2026
Paul Teicher
Program Manager for the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
April 28, 2026
RE: Letter of Support for the City of Aspen’s Buttermilk-to-Truscott Vulnerable User Safety Project
Dear Mr. Teicher,
On behalf of the Elected Officials Transportation Committee (EOTC), we are writing to express our
enthusiastic support for the City of Aspen’s application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
Implementation grant to fund the Buttermilk-to-Truscott Vulnerable User Safety Project.
As the regional body responsible for coordinating and allocating funding for a safe, efficient, and
multimodal mass transportation system within the Roaring Fork Valley, the Elected Officials
Transportation Committee (EOTC) supports investments that improve transit access, enhance user
safety and security, and encourage shifts away from single-occupant vehicle travel. This project directly
aligns with EOTC’s organizational goals by addressing documented safety challenges along a key transit
corridor, improving conditions for people accessing fixed-route transit, and strengthening regional
connectivity between workforce housing, employment centers, and transit services.
Our organization recognizes that the safety of our residents and visitors—particularly those walking,
biking, and utilizing transit—is of paramount importance. The corridor between Buttermilk and Truscott
serves as a critical connection for our community, linking high-density workforce housing at Truscott and
Burlingame with the Buttermilk ski area and essential regional transit stops along Colorado State
Highway 82.
This corridor currently presents significant safety challenges. As detailed in the City’s 2024 Aspen Safety
Action Plan, this area is a documented high-injury hot spot where modal conflicts frequently threaten
the lives of commuters and recreational users. The City’s proactive approach to addressing these
hazards through the evidence-based Safe System Approach is exactly the type of intervention needed to
eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries in this corridor and contribute to a safer regional
transportation system.
We believe this project is vital for the following reasons:
• Enhancing Equitable Access: By improving safety for those accessing affordable workforce
housing and transit, this project directly supports our community’s commitment to equity and
sustainable transportation.
• Applying Proven Strategies: The City’s commitment to implementing design-based solutions
that separate vulnerable users from high-speed vehicular traffic is a necessary step to
modernize this essential artery.
• Improving Regional Connectivity: This project will provide a safer, more reliable experience for
employees, students, and visitors, encouraging shifts away from single-occupancy vehicle use.
The Elected Officials Transportation Committee is proud to support the City of Aspen in this effort. We
believe that this investment will yield immediate and long-term benefits for the safety, health, and
connectivity of our community. We respectfully request that the Department of Transportation look
favorably upon this application.
Sincerely,
Rachael E. Richards Jeffrey H. Woodruff Alyssa Shenk
Mayor Board Chair, Commissioner Mayor
Aspen Pitkin County Snowmass Village
Board of County Commissioners