Elk Avenue returning to two-way next week

Weather has certainly helped extend the experiment

[  by Mark Reaman  ]

The great summer of 2020 Elk Avenue reconfiguration experiment will come to an end on Tuesday, October 20 with the town’s main thoroughfare returning to two-way traffic. The reconfiguration was originally expected to be completed in September, but the weather and general success of the one-way Elk Avenue traffic was extended into the fall. This week’s nice weather forecast convinced the town to let it ride until Tuesday.

“Elk Avenue will be closed in the morning on Tuesday, October 20 until the breakdown is complete,” explained Crested Butte planner Mel Yemma. “All street seating areas will need to be cleared of personal items by end of day on Monday, but all personal items in the brick paver areas or on the sidewalk will need to be removed by Friday, October 23 at the latest.  The town will also be painting over the one-way lines and bike markers in the center lane with asphalt gray paint.”

Once all of that is completed, the street will be opened to the normal two-way traffic. Yemma said a few businesses—including Little Sparrow, Niky’s Donuts and Coal Creek Grill—had asked for the areas in front of their establishments to be broken down earlier.

After much discussion and community outreach the town council allowed the reconfiguration in mid-June in an effort to help local business expand their capacities. While receiving some initial pushback, most businesses came to like the change.

“I rate this experiment as complete success,” Blake Woodward of Mabuhay wrote the town. “I hope it is repeated and improved upon next year.”

“I am so grateful that you were bold and took this opportunity to help local restaurants and bars survive this very crazy time,” wrote Karen Hoskin of Montanya Distillers. “I believe it has helped reduce the spike in the virus here to encourage people to sit outside. Is it perfect? Of course not. I wish I could invest more to beautify and cultivate my seating area but I am not sure if it will continue so I must be prudent. I would love to see the council extend this seating through September 2021 so I can invest in and improve it. I believe we will need this option for some time to come. My customers love it and I do not know of any disadvantages from staff and locals.”

“The reconfiguration has been great for us. It has allowed us to have increased safer capacity. Sales are still way off, but we’re surviving,” wrote Mike Knoll of Kochevar’s. “The capacity limitations are a real concern this fall and winter. My only suggestions are, in coming up with and enforcing guidelines, please take into account that people have businesses and families that need to somehow survive in the safest possible manner. [The reconfiguration] made a considerable difference in our surviving.”

Council has had no discussion about doing a reconfiguration of Elk Avenue next summer, with or without coronavirus influence. But it is likely to be a topic of discussion between now and next spring.