Thank you, Mayor Melissa Youssef and Councilors Dean Brookie and Chris Bettin, Parks and Recreation and Multimodal advisory board members and all the Durango citizens who stood up and spoke up for the northern extension of the Animas River Trail by connecting the eastern and western sides of the trail via completion of the long-planned 32nd Street pedestrian bridges project.
It is, an important project for the entire city, as Youssef indicated at the budget hearing. The social, environmental, economic and public health benefits are numerous and an important investment in our city.
By providing an additional option for all residents to safely cross 32nd Street, by separating motorized and pedestrian traffic, the project will:
Increase access, improve connectivity and mobility throughout the city and ensure the safety of all users, especially children.Encourage alternatives to driving.Support increased use with a new trail section available to residents and visitorsDraw people to north Durango and increase commerce on north Main AvenueImprove public healthCreate a new amenity in north Durango.This is the intended purpose of the dedicated sales tax funding this project, to make improvements to our community.
The proposed 32nd Street safety study and design will further enhance the benefits.
Thank you to everyone who supported these improvements in the north end of town.
Ellen SteinDurango
