Almont bus stop conflict could delay project

Homeowner wants to look at mountains, not buses

by Mark Reaman

In an effort to quell some angst from a homeowner in Almont whose house is located next to a proposed bus stop, the Gunnison County Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) board has agreed to explore an alternative location for the bus stop.

The new location would require an easement from the upset property owner and if that plan doesn’t work, the board is ready to continue placing the stop where originally proposed, north of the Almont Resort facility and in front of the neighbor’s house. RTA special projects manager Anthony Poponi said engineering estimates came in within the cost estimates and the goal was to have the new stop and shelter in use by August 31.

Homeowner William Easely has protested the new location of the proposed bus stop that would be in front of his house next to the Almont Resort. At the February 28 RTA board meeting he angrily demanded the board move the stop to where it has been in place informally for more than 10 years, in front of the Almont Resort building. He said he took photos and measured the site and there is plenty of room for a full-on bus stop with a shelter.

“The new plan moves it from a public place with restrooms to private property,” he told the board, while directing his ire particularly at RTA executive director Scott Truex. “I want to see the mountains from my home, not buses. You cannot commercialize my property, period. I asked for a professional appraisal of the impact and it came in that I would lose about 50 percent of the property value. You know the difference between public and private? Who will want to buy it when there are 28 buses stopping there from 7:15 in the morning to 11:50 at night? I’m telling you, don’t do this.”

RTA board chair Janet Farmer informed Easely several times that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) engineers chose the new site based on safety concerns and the alignment of the road. The site is located entirely within the CDOT right-of-way and does not physically impinge at all on the Easely property.

“We have worked with CDOT to determine the best site in terms of safety. We are very aware and understand your concerns. Our data indicates that that stop is used about 35 percent of the time to drop off or pick up passengers,” Farmer said.

Truex told the board that a potential second site south of the proposed location could be viable but would require a retaining wall be built in part on the Easely property and thus require an easement from Easely. Truex said Easely had rejected that alternative.

“I don’t want any part of it on my property,” said Easely. “It’s an asset for the Almont Lodge. I want to see mountains, not buses.”

RTA board member Jim Miles told Easely CDOT would not allow the current stop to become a permanent location.

“We have to take into account safety and CDOT is not happy with the safety impacts where the bus stops now,” added Farmer. “We are aware of your concerns.”

RTA attorney Kathy Fogo reiterated to Easely that the decision was made by CDOT. “The decision has already been made based on their analysis. Months of planning have taken place. The location was chosen based on the comments Janet said focused on safety issues. If Mr. Easely is willing to have a retaining wall and easement on his property it could change the landscape but that idea has not been received well by him.”

“Mr. Easely, if you are interested in giving us an easement on your property we can have that discussion,” summarized Farmer. “If not, there’s nothing more to talk about.”

The discussion concluded and Easely and his supporters left the meeting room. Fogo followed them to discuss the idea of the easement and she reported to the board at the end of the meeting that Easely was “willing to look into the idea” of the retaining wall on his property. “He understandably wants to look at the details like the size and location,” she said.

Truex said moving the stop could postpone construction of the bus stop and shelter and be more expensive than currently estimated. “We would have to go back to CDOT and rebid everything,” he told the board. “It will cost us a lot more but we want to have good will with our neighbors in such situations.” If moved, the shelter might not get completed until 2021.

Fogo said she would recommend that the board not postpone the project yet. “He may or may not agree to this solution but he is willing to consider it. The impact to his view corridor would be lessened.”

The board will not change the project at this point but agreed they would consider a new site if Easely was willing to help make it happen.