The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
15 mph unless otherwise noted
[ By Kendra Walker ]
Speed limits in the town of Mt. Crested Butte have been amended to 15 miles per hour (mph) unless otherwise listed. During their November 15 meeting, the Mt. Crested Butte town council voted 6-1 to approve the ordinance amending traffic speed regulations in town. Councilmember Dwayne Lehnertz voted against without comment.
“It’s very confusing what’s stated in the code,” explained town manager Greg Sund. “Because Mt. Crested Butte does not have sidewalks on our residential streets, I think it is important to slow allowable speeds a little from 20 mph to 15 mph,” Sund said in a memo to the council.
Sund suggested the town lower the speed limit to 15 mph on residential streets, while it would remain 30 on Gothic Road from the southern town boundary to Snowmass Road, 25 on Gothic Road north of Snowmass Road and 25 on Prospect Road. “Regardless of the speed limit, drivers are expected to reduce their speed to a reasonable and prudent speed depending on street and weather conditions,” reads the ordinance.
At a previous meeting, councilmember Steve Morris noted that the Pitchfork neighborhood HOA has posted 5 mph signs, and asked if a subsection could be added to officially lower the speed limit in Pitchfork to 5 mph.
After looking into the request, Sund said Municipal Judge Ben Eden weighed in and said that 5 mph is unenforceable. “It does no good to have an official speed limit that the Judge considers unenforceable,” said Sund. “The recommendation is to keep Pitchfork at 15 mph.”
“They’re not legal speed signs either,” added assistant town manager and community development director Carlos Velado regarding the unofficial 5 mph signs.
New signs related to the new traffic speed regulations will be posted throughout the town where applicable.
