Dear Action Line: When, if ever, will the no-left-turn sign at north City Market be replaced or repainted, so traffic pulling out of the store parking lot on to Main Avenue does not try to kill everyone with a left turn across six lanes of traffic? The sign has been there a long time, but it might as well be invisible, at the moment. I know this question has been asked before, but still no action! – Wannabe Traffic Cop
Dear Wannabe: There is sort of an answer coming, but first, Action Line is going to share information learned along the long path of getting to the bottom of this seemingly simple question.
Let’s go way back, to when Jimmy Carter was just beginning his presidency. In 1977 when the store was opening, City Market acquired a permit from the Colorado Department of Transportation to use that access onto Main Avenue (U.S. Highway 550), and it’s possible that sign is that old.
Action Line contacted CDOT, Durango’s streets division and City Market, and everyone agrees that the sign is City Market property and City Market’s responsibility. CDOT spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes dug into the situation and, with the help of her “Traffic & Safety Program team” found the original permit from 1977. It indicated, “Signing will be accomplished by City Market forces.”
Yes, City Market has “forces.”
A newer, 2001 permit specifies that this is a “full-movement access” and makes no reference to signs, Schwantes found. It seems that, although it’s a really bad idea to turn left there in most circumstances, neither CDOT nor the city can dictate that they not be allowed. City Market, it seems, has control. Over the last 20 years, north City Market has become a busier, more populated place, and so has Main.
Schwantes got this from CDOT’s traffic and safety program manager, Jennifer Allison:
“CDOT cannot close (or adjust) an access based on ‘engineering judgement.’ The private property would have to change their use (for example, change from City Market to a hotel), which would trigger a new access permit application. THEN CDOT can review all access points and require any necessary changes.”
Action Line was encouraged, after chatting briefly with store manager Audie Morris, that some action might soon be taken. Officially, Morris could only say “no comment,” because all official comments must come from corporate offices. Action Line contacted corporate, but did not get a response.
It seems that City Market is under no obligation to do anything, but Action Line is hopeful that it will act as a good neighbor and replace the sign. On the phone, Morris seemed like a helpful person and a good neighbor. So before Action Line gets in trouble by sneaking over to north City Market at 2 a.m. and repainting the red circle, for now we’ll just go with that.
Dear Action Line: Why has the city stopped street sweeping? Isn’t it required to sweep streets periodically under its stormwater discharge permit? The winter grime is still here in Skyridge ready to be carried down the storm drains with the next rain (maybe in August). – Looking for a Clean Sweep
Dear Clean: To clarify, this question was written about a day before actual rain began to fall a couple weeks ago, shocking us all. But that doesn’t change the answer. As Action Line suspected, there is a “best of all possible worlds” answer, and the more realistic, COVID-era, “we’re doing what we can with what we have” answer.
From Mike Somsen, city of Durango street superintendent:
“When fully staffed, we try to sweep each street in town weekly, using two full-time employees and two street sweepers. Sometimes, they get swept bi-weekly, if they have not accumulated much debris. This normally takes place the day after trash day in each neighborhood.”
Somsen went on to explain that currently, because of being short-staffed, street services have been greatly reduced and in some cases temporarily eliminated. One street sweeper runs a few days a week, and twice this year it has been in the Jenkins Ranch subdivision. It was scheduled to be back in the area on Wednesday. Spots may be skipped if vehicles are parked along the street, Somsen noted.
The city’s stormwater, or MS4, permit “is not specific on the amount/frequency of street sweeping to be completed each year, but we do implement street sweeping as a best management practice for pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations,” Somsen said.
On the bright side: Isn’t it good to have some stormwater to worry about?
Several weeks ago Action Line wrote about how to dispose of prescription drugs and containers. (Try Walgreens in Town Plaza.) Some may be concerned that their name, etc., is on the bottle. Using a black marker may not totally obscure the information.
“A great way to remove one’s personal information is to use a lighter on the label as the ink in the plastic will burn black, permanently removing the information,” wrote Beach Edwards. “It’s quite easy, convenient and quick.”
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. As Yogi Berra might say, “Nobody goes to north City Market anymore. It’s too crowded.”
