The underpass to be constructed at East 32nd and Fourth streets is just another sign that the Durango city government is out of touch and wastes too much of our tax money on unproven, unnecessary projects that are destroying viable trees, increasing housing unavailability and ignoring lower costs and more effective tools that could help.
Lowering the speed limit from Main Avenue to 32nd to 10 miles an hour and enforcing it would be an easy first step. This would also help City Market and other surrounding businesses. Increasing the visibility and training drivers to stop for flashing lights at the crosswalk would be extremely effective. Again, it’s also cheap.
There’s also an accessibility problem with the plans I’ve seen of this supposed underpass: How are people in wheelchairs or with mobility impairments going to access it? There's the problem; they likely won't.
Durango doesn’t get disabled people and quite frankly, this shows just how serious a problem this is.
No to the underpass, yes to the trees, and to more accountability from local government.
Christa Turnell
Durango
