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VOTE YES on Referendum 2 to:

1. Expedite Wildfire Evacuation

Building a second bridge will make wildfire evacuation faster and improve safety.

2. Optimize Travel + Transit

Shorter drive time out of Aspen, plus faster public transportation times to encourage adoption.

3. Minimize Construction Delays

Little to no impact on the traveling public by building a new, second bridge while keeping the Castle Creek Bridge operational.

4. Improve Air Quality + Safeguard Wildlife

Follows City and CDOT environmental goals to reduce air pollution and gives wildlife a safe highway crossing. 

69% of Aspen voters support an Entrance to Aspen that uses the Marolt and Thomas properties. 2024 Probolsky Research Poll. 

Passing Referendum 2 will:
  • Reaffirm the right to use the Marolt property for a second bridge and new entrance to Aspen.
  • Enable the City to finally move forward with their approved plan (1998 Preferred Alternative) OR a better, modern solution to address Aspen’s transportation needs.
READ THE BALLOT LANGUAGE

ASPENITES FOR ACTION is a group of dedicated citizens advocating for a modern, improved solution to how we access and leave our beloved town. Like you, we deeply value Aspen’s open spaces, but we recognize that action is needed. This measure ensures the Marolt property remains part of the conversation while supporting a collaborative effort between the City, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and our community to create the best possible solution for Aspen’s entrance.

Why Now?

For over 30 years, City Council has debated the Entrance to Aspen—a route that has become outdated, unsafe, and a costly burden on taxpayers’ time and resources. Now is the time to take action for several key reasons:

  • The Castle Creek Bridge is nearing the end of its usable life.
  • Getting into and out of Aspen can take hours causing extreme commute times and diminishing visitor experience.
  • The rise of wildfire danger.

More Reasons to VOTE YES for Referrendum 2:

  • 1

    WILDFIRE EVACUATION

    The Aspen Fire Department warns it could take over 14 hours to evacuate during a wildfire, putting residents and visitors in extreme danger. Passing Referendum 2 ensures a safer, faster evacuation route.

  • 2

    EMERGENCY ACCESS

    Faster emergency access for first responders, including fire, EMS, and law enforcement.

  • 3

    CONSTRUCTION IMPACT

    A one-bridge solution (simply rebuilding the existing Castle Creek Bridge) could be up to ten years of planning/construction with significant impacts on the local economy, downtown businesses and the commuting workforce.

  • 4

    CONSTRUCTION TIME

    Cuts construction time in half – Professional engineers estimate the 3-lane, one-bridge solution will take twice as much time to construct as building a new, second bridge.

VOTE NO on Referendum 1

The City of Aspen Open Space and Trails Board has taken a NO position on Referendum 1. Since the 1970s, the open space program has effectively held off threats to our community-owned land with a simple 50% voter approval. 

Why Referendum 1 is Bad for the Community

Referendum 1’s purpose is to prevent Aspen from utilizing the Marolt property for any entrance solution that requires a second bridge but has vague and dangerous unintended consequences. 

If Referendum 1 passes, it will STOP:  

  • Put 40% of voters in control of critical decisions, likely preventing any entrance to Aspen design
  • Prevent mass transit improvements to reduce traffic congestion
  • Prevent a second bridge for crucial emergency evacuation and EMS response

Plus, causes critical delays to countless projects that will impact private landowners, businesses and organizations. 

Why You Should VOTE NO

Critical Delays + Burdensome Process

Votes can only occur during November elections in even-numbered years, or March elections in odd-numbered years, delaying important upgrades or projects up to 20 months.

Ex. 1: The Aspen Golf Course built a new starter shack (small stick-framed building used seasonally) a couple years ago. It as not in the original approvals for the golf facility, so the city had to go through an amendment process to add the building. If Referendum 1 passes, it would also have to go to a vote (and get a 60% approval) that could be months away.

Ex 2: When the city recently changed the tennis courts to pickleball courts at the Aspen Recreation Center, it would have created delays, driven up cost and required a public vote and a 60% approval margin.

PLUS: Larger development and housing projects (think Lumberyard, etc.) could be held up with approvals if they include land used as open space.

Creates Supermajority Rule

Requiring a 60% supermajority creates unnecessary barriers, making even widely supported projects harder to approve and causing community gridlock, while putting the power in the hands of 40% of the community.

Existing Protections Are Enough

Aspen already requires a public vote for changes to open space and similar replacement properties to be provided. Adding parks and land used as open space or recreational purposes and the 60% requirement creates redundant and excessive restrictions.

REFERENDUM 1 EXPLAINED: 
Currently, voters approve changes of use for open space with a simple majority (50%). 

  1. Referendum 1 would change the current code from “property acquired for open space” to include property USED for open space and parks.
  2. It also requires a 60% supermajority approval for any sale, exchange, or change in use.
  3. Finally, it mandates votes can only occur during statewide general elections in November of even-numbered years or municipal elections in March of odd-numbered years, delaying projects up to twenty months.