CDOT Blamed for Attempting to Halt Access to Local Businesses
Trevor Phipps
Business owners in downtown Woodland Park were shocked when they heard news that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) may be planning to revamp Hwy. 24 going through the city’s downtown area.
According to a group of local business owners, CDOT has discussed plans to permanently close the eastbound turn lane on Hwy. 24 that connects motorists on the highway to Park Street.
Upon hearing the idea, business owners in the region cried foul, saying that the move could hinder local commerce and affect access to their small businesses. And to make matters worse, nobody has been able to understand CDOT’s reasoning to shutter the turn lane.
According Jason Ledlie who owns the Solid Grounds Coffee Roasters shop, located just off Hwy. on Park Street, he first heard about the plans from local developers. “I was first made aware of it by the developers who are developing the property south of Bergstrom Park,” Ledlie said. “I cannot speak intelligibly to the rationale here, but as I understand it (which again could be somewhat mistaken) is that CDOT is making the closure of the eastbound turn lane off of (Highway) 24 onto Park Street somehow conditional to the development of that property.”
Ledlie said that the developers reached out to him and said that they oppose the turn lane closure. According to Ledlie, they had discussions with CDOT and hoped that they would reconsider the proposal. But, they didn’t.
Ledlie said that the developers of the Tava House property on the south side of Hwy. 24 told him they were concerned that if the turn lane was closed, it could prevent people from egressing into downtown businesses on the north side of the highway. Ledlie agreed.
“With our property situated at 108 N. Park Street, when I am there in the business and watching people pull in, half of the traffic to our business you can watch out of our front window uses that deceleration and turn lane to get off the highway and drive right into our parking lot,” Ledlie said. “So I was alarmed by it enough that I reached out to other local business owners.”
Ledlie first contacted Woodland Park Mayor Kellie Case to find out if CDOT’s plan was actually true. Case said that she had also heard of the possible lane closure, and asked what she could do to help.
Both Case and Ledlie then determined that the best way to handle this situation was to get local business owners on board with a petition or correspondence. Case told Ledlie to get signatures from local business owners in the region who opposed the lane closure. The mayor said she would then forward it to her contacts at CDOT.
Petition Circulated Against CDOT Proposal
Ledlie then put together a written correspondence that expressed his dismay with the fact that CDOT would consider a drastic change to the highway without getting feedback from local stakeholders. The letter asked that the business owners have a meeting with CDOT to discuss potential impacts of their plan.
Ledlie went to work going to business owners in the area. Once he started informing the business owners of CDOT’s plan, all of them agreed with Ledlie and signed the petition.
“It’s going to cut off a lot of traffic flow,” said Jessica Nichols, the owner of Jess’ Place, located on the corner of Hwy. 24 and Park Street. Nichols said she was also concerned that the Rambling Express bus, which transports people to Cripple Creek, uses that turn lane several times a day.
From what Ledlie understands, CDOT plans to block off the turn lane with a medium. “The thing I would be ok with was if they did away with the left turn off of Park Street because I hate getting stuck behind people right there,” Ledlie said. “It’s not people being able to leave my business I’m worried about, it’s getting into my business. If there was a solution needed that lessened people making their way through the middle of town, if people were not turning left at that intersection to get onto Hwy.24 I think that would be fine. But I still want people to be able to get off of Highway 24 and onto Park Street.”
Ledlie said that he is concerned people will choose not to come to their businesses, if it’s hard to get into, and instead, will just go to the next place down the road. “With the foreseeable impact of this proposal on our businesses, we are dismayed that CDOT has not solicited input from us on this proposal,” the letter states. “Moreover, this proposal gives the appearance of favoring new commercial development accessed off of South Park Street and South Center Street to the detriment of businesses in the business district on the north side of Highway 24. The opportunity to meet with CDOT Representatives promptly regarding this proposal would be greatly appreciated!”
Ledlie said that he also talked to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, who owns property near the intersection, to find out if he thought the intersection posed a danger. Mikesell agreed that he hasn’t witnessed anything that poses a major danger. Other business owners have stated that they have never seen any accidents or major safety issues at the intersection.
